John,

It is far more common for a bad master cylinder to leak fluid into the brake
booster than onto the floor.  If, or when, you replace your m/c, make sure
you inspect the booster for fluid.  If it does have brake fluid inside, use
suction to remove the fluid, rinse the inside, use suction again, repeat
(just like washing your hair).  If you don't get the brake fluid out of the
booster, it will begin to rust from the inside out.

Cheers,

Jeff
www.vanagonparts.com
www.autostadtwest.com

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM]On Behalf
Of John Rodgers
Sent: Tuesday, February 28, 2006 9:45 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: Re: Master Cylinder

Well, that's what I thought, but it was clear as mud. BTDT. Just wanted
to get it clear, not just for me, but for everyone.

Regards,

John Rodgers
88 GL Driver X 2

Mark Tuovinen wrote:

>John,
>
>What he is saying is that the fluid is leaking past the piston internally
hence the the pedal is soft and goes to the floor, but
>the fluid is not getting past the external seals and thus not visible on
the outside of the cylinder.
>
>Mark in AK  BTDT
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: John Rodgers <inua@CHARTER.NET>
>Date: Tuesday, February 28, 2006 7:52 pm
>Subject: Re: Master Cylinder
>To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
>
>
>
>>Jim, please take another look at what you just wrote and  explain
>>it to
>>me. It kinda lost me.
>>
>>Thanks,
>>
>>John Rodgers
>>88 GL Driver X 2
>>
>>Jim Felder wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>>>No, It can be bad and not leak. If you push on the pedal and it
>>>
>>>
>>doesn't> squirt out somewhere, it doesn't mean that the fluid is
>>not simply
>>
>>
>>>bypassing the piston, which may be work out completely.
>>>
>>>Jim
>>>
>>>On Feb 28, 2006, at 8:23 PM, Tim Kasher wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>I prove myself a beginner mechanic on this board all the
>>>>
>>>>
>>time.....and>> the
>>
>>
>>>>members remind me all the time in emails :)....but this ? may be
>>>>
>>>>
>>dumb>> but
>>
>>
>>>>here it goes.
>>>>
>>>>If I am leaking no brake fluid does this mean the master
>>>>
>>>>
>>cylinder is
>>
>>
>>>>OK?
>>>>
>>>>I have AT on a 91 carat.
>>>>
>>>>Thanks
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>
>
>
>