Okay, so I blew the main rear brake line yesterday . It broke because of rust (under one of the support brakets, the same ones that hold the fuel lines). New line has been installed, but I can't get fluid to the rear of the car. I pulled the line at the master cylinder to see if I was getting fluid there. I'm not. Even if I push the brake pedal with the line loose, nothing comes out of that hole. Now, I pulled one of the front lines at the MC, and pushed the pedal. Fluid sprayed everywhere. Now, I'm assuming that the hole for the rear line (at the MC) should spray in the same fashion when the pedal is applied, correct? I'm just double checking before I spill the wallet on a new MC. Could someone please advise? Thanks!

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1989 300E 144K

matt, not to be mr obvious but your rear res is not empty is it?

even if the mc is shot it should shoot some fluid out unless it is empty.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

yes, they should be getting pressure.



Did you fill up the brake fluid yet? the resvior is in two parts, one for front brakes and one for rear, which would explain why the fronts still work.


I'm doin the same to my car, as I broke the hardlines whaile replacing the calipers. Now is also a good time to Drain your current fluid out (if it's older than a year) and put new stuff in. Be sure also to check rear pads (which was the start of my problem) as the piston will over-extend and stick if the pads are worn to far (which takes the rotor with it)

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-1983 VW Rabbit LS Diesel (5speed, VNT/Giles build)

I'm kinda feeling like a dumbass now. Where is the res. for the rear? My master cylider seems to have only one fill point.

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1989 300E 144K

dont feel bad. ignorance can be cured with a small dose of knowledge.

one fill point. the reservour is divided inside. the rear part is a little hard to see into and is easily overlooked when empty. just fill the res up to the full line and it will spill over and fill the back part which is for the back brakes.

hope that cures it.

you will be fine.

tom w

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I thought the front half of the reservoir feeds the rears and the rear half feeds the fronts. Either way, make sure you top it up and give it time to overflow to the other side. I sometimes need to hold a shop light up to the reservoir to make sure there is fluid in both.

Len

The rear reservoir feeds the rear brakes.

I've now filled that reservoir for the 20th time on the SDL and CANNOT fix all my leaks. Now it's the RR brake hose connection.

If you want to be certain that the rear reservoir is filled, lean over into the engine compartment and look at the reservoir from the engine side. You'll definitely see the different fluid levels from that angle, but, not from the outside due to the arrangement of the reservoir chamber.

Did the master cylinder on the SDL today. After removing the reservoir, lo and behold.......what do I find??

The larger forward portion of the reservoir feeds the rear section of the m/c and is used for the front brakes.

The smaller rear portion of the reservoir feeds the front section of the m/c and is used for the rear brakes.