sobey

Hi guys,

A brake flush was performed on a 94 Accord LX, 150k miles. A few days later while lightly braking the brake pedal fell to the floor. I suspect a leak in the master cylinder. Read up on it on Teggers excellent FAQ.

http://www.tegger.com/hondafaq/maste...ace/index.html

How should I approach the shop that did the flush? Was it their fault? Or is it something that was inevitable to happen. The last time a brake flush was performed was 4 years and 50k miles ago. I would be interested to know how many hours of labour it takes for a master cylinder replacement.

Thanks

jwicecold

Ya could be a leak in the master cylinder, also if you had new brakes or rotors installed they might have been put on to tight. Not sure exactly what part it is thats causes it but Ill look it up and get back to ya.

Ross 2.0

It's half the shops fault. They pushed the brake pedal past it's normal travel and damaged the seals inside the master cylinder by dragging them over sediment that has built up over time. It was going to happen anyway, they just helped it along.
That's why I don't recommend brake flushes on older/ high mileage cars especially when the owner waited too long to do it.

Turbowa

Your assuming they used the brake pedal. I never use the brake pedal when bleeding brakes. I use a vauume pump that pulls the fluid out through the calipers/drums. I would be willing to bet this is what the shop used. I would say the master cylinder just went out. 150k is about par for it to go out. As for replacing the unit, it all depends but usually around 1-1.5. Its not that bad. Just have to make sure you bench bleed the master cylinder first.

Ross 2.0

If the vacuum bleeder collapsed the brake calipers you still have to pump the brakes back up.

Bad_dude

If the system has not been flush for a long time time and fluid is totally black, then your chance of a master cylinder failure is very high. It's happens to me a long time ago. My now 1990 accord LX had the MC changed at 95K and a brake flush then. Now it's 132K, do you guys think it safe to flush it now?
Thanks,

Ross 2.0

It's supposed to be changed every 3 years regardless of mileage.

dtapia

x2

sublime423

Parts unfortunatly fail.....poor maintenance increaces the odds of part failure.

weak seals in the master cylinder can fail for two reasons

1. fresh fluid bypassing worn seals
2. the seals were damaged from the brake pedal being depressed too far from the actual bleeding process or the pumping up process to seat the pistons and cylinders after it had been blead

labor on a master cylinder will be anywhere from 1.5-2.5 hrs depending on the shop.

fyi don't make matters worse, buy a Honda master cylinder not some **** from auto zone

sobey

Turbowa,

They used the brake pedal when bleeding the brakes. This vaccum pump that you use at the shop, how much do you guys charge for a brake flush.

The shop is willing to change the master cylinder for no labour (just have to pay for the part). Charging about $180 USD (Honda brand new).

I'm looking at Majestic Honda, is a MC part #1?

http://www.hondaautomotiveparts.com/...5=MASTER+POWER

Ross 2.0

That's a good deal. I don't even need to check the part.