Well, I finally drove my car to work today. Everything was fine on the way there. At lunch though while I was on the brakes pretty hard (a truck was coming out of a parking spot and couldn't see me, was about to hit me) I hear this "pop" noise all of the sudden and the pedal goes all the way to the floor. Now I can barely stop, I have to start stopping like 5x earlier just to stop in time.

After I got off work I checked the master cylinder reservoir, it was empty. Filled it up and after a minute or two, it started leaking out by my front driver side wheel.

Also, whenever I step on the brake, I can hear this wooshing sound of air shooting out of somewhere...

What do you guys think? Master cylinder, or just a break in the line? It's hard for me to even look at it because nobody else is home for the day...

I'm kind of hoping it's the master cylinder so that I can have an excuse to put in the 91 EX 15/16" one... also it seems easier to do that than replace the brake line.

It sucks too cause as soon as I think my car is going to work for a while, something like this always happens!

But hey I love VTEC on my OBD1 converted JDM D15B!!

 

If it's leaking out by your front passenger wheel, that is the first place you should look. Maybe you've got a crack in your rubber brake lines? or maybe the bleed screw isn't sealing properly. Identify where it is coming from, and repair/replace as necessary.

 

Sounds like a good idea. I will do that tomorrow when I can have someone else pump the pedal... it only leaks when it's pushed I guess.

It seems like it's coming from where the line goes through the fender or somewhere en route to the caliper, but not the caliper itself or the bleed screw.

BTW, where's my sticker Heh.. (I ordered a silver H w/ black background for my horn button)

Anyway thanks for the help I'll check it out and see if I can fix it.

 

Just pull the wheel off and see where it is wet. If the line is broken you'll see it. If you heard a pop, I would guess it was a line busting or on the far end of reality it could be the caliper crapping out.

 

yeah, defenitely check the line first. When my master broke it still kept fluid, but i would have to keep pulsing the brake to keep it from rolling back at a stoplight. Good luck, hope you get everything working in order.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by whizdumb &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">BTW, where's my sticker Heh.. (I ordered a silver H w/ black background for my horn button)</TD></TR></TABLE>

It's on it's way! I believe I shipped that out earlier this week. I had some extra space on the sheets, so I made a couple of extras for you just in case.

 

Sweet, thanks a lot man!

Well I found out what was causing the leak... the brake line must have a small hole in it, when the pedal is pressed, a high pressure stream shoots out of it!

So now the question is, what is the best replacement?

Should I go OEM - about $30-40 depending on where I get it (the dealership/ hondaautomotiveparts.com)

Autozone has one listed for $20. They also have generic brake line for like $4. Does that sound right? Or is that for the line that comes off the master cylinder?

Here's the links to the stuff I found at Autozone:

<U>http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker/?UseCase=C001&UserAction=answerRequiredQuestion&Pa rameters=%7C%7E30%22+IN+LENGTH&PageSync=8</U>BRAKE LINE (METAL) - $4

<U>http://www.autozone.com/servlet/UiBroker?UseCase=C001&UserAction=performSearch&Par ameters=Auto+Store%7C%7EREGULAR+PARTS+LOOK+UP%7C%7 EBRAKE+HOSE+-+FRONT</U>BRAKE HOSE - FRONT - $20

Or should I go with stainless braided lines? The fronts go for $65 at fastbrakes.com, I see all 4 go for about $80 shipped on ebay.

What do you guys think?

I still will probably get the 15/16" Master cylinder eventually, probably not yet though if I don't have to.

Thanks!!

 

Also, how hard is it to replace? Looking at it, it doesn't look too hard.. but having never done it I have no idea.

There is a nut on the back of the fender that connects the soft line with the hard one, just loosen that right? I thought I remember hearing you might need a flare wrench, but that's for something else isn't it?

But I now have a new rule for "fixing" things on my car -- whatever I thought it would take in time and money, double it.

So I am guessing this will take about half an hour to an hour, about $30.

So, in actuality it should cost about $60 and take like half a day to get all the air bled out of the system.

You think I'll have to bench bleed the master cyl?

Thanks again everyone!

 

hey Stickershop, man you rule! Just checked the mail my roommate brought in yesterday and it was in there. Talk about service! I ordered 1 and he gave me 3! I wish all of my online orders were like that, hehe.

 

Take the line fittings loose then undo the bolts the connect it to the steering knuckle. The hard part is getting the clip out that connects it up top. Just get a pair of dykes and pull it straight out. Installation is reverse of removal.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by whizdumb &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">hey Stickershop, man you rule! Just checked the mail my roommate brought in yesterday and it was in there. Talk about service! I ordered 1 and he gave me 3! I wish all of my online orders were like that, hehe.</TD></TR></TABLE>

No prob. Glad you are pleased. Show us pics once you get it on there! :D

As for your question about stainless lines, this may be the perfect excuse to upgrade to stainless lines. Just make sure you go with a reputable product line like Goodridge, Earls, or Russell. You don't want to trust your life to some half-*** product that some dude makes in his basement with archaic crimping tools. Just my 2 cents.

 

Yeah I'll get some pics when I get it on and when I feel like my car is looking good enough to post on here.

As for my brake situation, I think I'm just going to get an Autozone $20 deal tomorrow after work along with a 10mm flare wrench and try to get it on.

Then in a month or two I'll get the 90-91 EX master cylinder and some stainless lines.

Thanks for the help guys.