2001 Corsa brake fluid loss?

highest on the list of suspects is rear cylinders. leaking caliper is about the last on the list.

Ok.

And ok (thanks).

If it helps point the finger I tried the handbrake while driving this morning and it was pretty ineffectual (but balanced, so I thought the odds of it being both sides leaking would be pretty slim) but not really knowing the vehicle I didn't know if it was 'typical' or not.

The handbrake does seem to have quite a bit of movement before it bites but when it does the action is pretty solid (albeit not doing much etc).

The MOT before last (when it was owned by daughters, b/f's Dad (from new)) I think it needed a new brake drum (175K miles) but as they were going to sell it (and didn't think it would be to us) I think they only changed one (and I doubt it was a new one at that).

This was the garage that sent the car of with 3 tyres of one size ...

Cheers, T i m

I had both rear cylinders fail pretty much together on a Mk1 Golf.

To be losing that much fluid that quickly is major. I would suggest checking whether it's coming out of the master cyl and running down the pedal/behind the carpet. Also could be being sucked into the servo (Is it directly connected on the corsa? I think so) This can be found by filling up in the evening, and checking the level again in the morning.

If it is coming out of the rear cyls, then you will effectively have no rear brakes now, and I would expect to see fluid on the bottom edges of the drums.

I would call this car VOR until the leak is sorted, or it could easily be catastrophic.

Steve

When I tested the handbrake when on the move it had little impact but at the same time didn't 'pull' either side, suggesting whatever it was it might be both sides.

Now it's dried out a bit out there I've managed to have a quick look and the bottom of the n/s rear wheel looks like it's got a nice layer of brake fluid over it. ;-(

Quite and why the car hasn't been touched since and we took the kids to work this morning.

When I first noticed the low brake fluid level maybe 10 days ago it coincided with them reporting an occasional 'squeak' from the o/s front (disk). When this happened previously and we took the wheel off to check we found plenty of frictionable material and it was suggested that some aftermarket pads can do that and some pads come with beveled edges to prevent such? So, because they haven't done that many miles since then, I was slightly suspicious of this new (reported) 'squeak' being anything more. However, when the squeak turned into more of a graunching noise I then suspected pads. This sorta (potentially) explained why the fluid might be low as I don't have any history with Corsas to know if at 170+K miles things (drums, shoes + pads, disks) might have sufficient wear to cause am otherwise leak-free system to show 'low' on the reservoir. That or a piston on the extreme end of it's travel (again, exaggerated by wear) might allow a rusty / worn / scratched bit to enter the zone of the seals?

Anyway, it looks like it *is* the rear brake cylinder (as suspected by all of us ) so now it's gonna need a set of shoes and pair of cylinders possibly a pair of drums if they are particularly worn. It looks like you can get the complete kit for under 100 quid (on eBay) and that's not much considering how little she paid for the car in the first place and how much she likes it. ;-)

Of course there is a very good chance that a new set of disks and pads would outlast the car ... and even more so with new drums etc but brakes aren't something (of all things) I would normally take liberties with ...

Cheers, T i m

p.s. Am I right that a 2001 1.2 16v 'Comfort' 5 door could have ally or cast iron rear cylinders?

Oooerer, what are the chances eh?

I could see how you might have one side start to 'weep' and then you have the other side fail more blatantly so when you check both you see both sides failed as such?

As I mentioned elsewhere it now looks pretty clear it's the n/s rear and I would always do both sides in any case (unless there was a good reason not to ... like I was only going to then drive it to the scrap yard ...) ;-(

Cheers, T i m

I once had a capri 2.8 come in to me for some engine work, while I was underneath I noticed that one steel pipe to a rear brake had been cut and crimped. the owner said it had been like that for ages because that side had started to leak brake fluid.

No!

That's why I don't mind something that has just been un-loved, rather than worked on by someone who doesn't have a clue (or care).

Cheers, T i m

I have seen both types of cylinder, often aftermarket replacements are alloy. It really doesn't matter, only the bore size is important. (obviously they must be of the right general design)

I think the ones that were on there were ally and the replacements were cast iron.

But doing the job today, (disks and pads, shoes and cylinders and an oil and filter) demonstrated this thing about following up after people who may not be as vigilant as me / some.

Like, the o/s brake pads were down to the metal and the n/s looked only (tops) a third worn? Unless I'm mistaken, it would seem someone changed the pads on one side (only) at some time?

I had the option of doing similar on the rear with the cylinders. The shoes some in a set of 4 but the cylinders come individually but I did both sides 'because'.

Son-in-law to be was helping (he is interested in learning all this stuff) and spotted (whilst cleaning) the o/s handbrake brake cable end was frayed inside the return spring so we were able to replace that at the same time (saving failure / time in the future).

Same logic re also changing the water pump when changing a cam belt and roller kit etc.

As it happens, both rear cylinder bleed nipples sheared off (I didn't try very hard to release them etc) so we would have been in for new cylinders if we had wanted to change the brake fluid (something else that may not have ever been done).

This is the car we got with 3 tyres of one size and one of something else (and we fitted with a set of 4 new Avons when daughter bought it).

Anyway, they have gone out in it tonight with him driving so they can bed the brakes in a bit ready for her to use it for work tomorrow.

I do have a question though. My mate in the garage suggested he has seen little star washers retaining the self adjuster 'tang' on the roll pin that is fitted though the shoe?

(over the peg just to the left of where it says 'S 50009' top left on the photo).

The tang does seem to be held down by the ratchet adjuster but I can see why a retainer would make the system a bit more positive (FWTAW in the first place etc).

Cheers, T i m

No, that does not have anything extra on it.

Thanks Mr C. ;-)

Cheers, T i m