Wheel cylinders leaking?

[tommyintpa@aol.com]

Hi all,
Does everyone have as much trouble as I do with the brake wheel cylinders
leaking?
I have gotten a set form Hugh and after a year both upper front and one rear
are leaking.
I sent a couple sets to White Post for a super rebuild. They were no better.
When they came back and I installed a set on Weird Harold. The rears leaked so
badly they killed the brake shoes and I have ZERO road miles on them. I just
bleed them and thought that job was done then after about three months of not
even being touched I noticed the master cylinder was empty.
I am using the correct fluid so that is not the problem. I was wondering do
they all leak? Is two years all I can expect? Why?
The people at White Post were very nice "just send them with a copy of your
receipt and we will fix them no Problem" but should they leak before they are
put into service? Has any one had trouble with White Posts work? Do they have a
competitor who does good work?
Tommy trying to get a brake in Tampa


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

 

[amphi67]

Tommy,

I too have encountered the leaking wheel cylinder problem twice
now. I use White Post also, and have sent them back to be fixed
at no charge. But, it is frustrating and inconvenient, and not
to mention having to repaint the wheels from the brake fluid
eating through the paint! I have found that if I drive my car
fairly often they will completely quit leaking, but if it sits
for a long period of time they start leaking again. I have just
repainted the left front wheel but I am not putting it back on
the car until I get ready to drive it again. Until a better
alternative is found, the only thing I know to do is store my
car during the winter with the wheels off!

Rick Young
white '67 - Tennessee

 

[a_colo_native]

<SNIP> and not
> to mention having to repaint the wheels from the brake fluid
> eating through the paint!

Rick,

I went with DOT 5 brake fluid for several reasons. The 1st being that
it does not absorb water and the 2nd is that it does not affect your
paint. It is easy changing. Just flush out the old fluid, blow low
pressure air through the lines to clear them. Refill system with DOT
5, and bleed the system until you see the clear purple fluid at each
wheel. The only drawback is the cost.

It is spendy, but well worth it. How much does it cost to repair the
paint on your fender or wheel?

John "needing a back seat" Bevins

 

[Bill Connelly]

Re: Re: Wheel cylinders leaking?

Regarding the change from DOT3 (or DOT4) to DOT5 silicone type brake fluid,
in addition to the advisories below from Bo and the Cap'n, anyone
considering 'pumping the purple stuff' (Hmmm...sounds like one of Billy and
Randy's famous Labor Day Bashes...In fact, see
http://www.amphicar.com/londonbroil.htm ) should also refer to the following
archived posting to this List, which includes a link to a full transcription
of an article on the topic from the October 1999 issue of _Auto Restorer_
magazine: http://www.escribe.com/automotive/amphicar/m3381.html .

~Bilgey~

----- Original Message -----
From: Bo Strander
To: amphicar-lovers@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2003 6:09 AM
Subject: SV: [amphicar-lovers] Re: Wheel cylinders leaking?


Hello Rick and everybody else over there,
A warning when it comes to DOT5, silicon brake fluid.
It's a great stuff for older cars, BUT, be sure to follow John's advice and
make sure not to mix old DOT4 and new DOT5 fluid in the system. If you do
you will end up with clogged valves and a lot of trouble (ask me).
The recomendation is to first drain the old DOT4, then to rinse the system
with at least one filling/bleeding with methylalcohol, followed by blowing
with air and then at least one filling/bleeding with the new DOT5.
You should also be aware that the pedal might feel a little "spongy" with
DOT5.
Also keep in mind that DOT5 is having a lower surface tension then the DOT4,
so you will not cure any leaking gaskets with
new fluid.
There is also a good idea to bleed your system more frequently when you use
the DOT5. The reason is that since the DOT5 is not hydroscopic, it woun't
absorb the moisture that always migrate through rubber hoses. The risk is
that the water gets trapped in your wheel-cylinders (at the lowest point
ofcourse) and MAY cause some rust-problems.
If you keep this in mind you will have no problems with the DOT5.
Best regards
Bo the swede
-----Ursprungligt meddelande-----
Fr?n: a_colo_native [mailto:minnow@amphicar.net]
Skickat: den 27 maj 2003 20:34
Till: amphicar-lovers@yahoogroups.com
?mne: [amphicar-lovers] Re: Wheel cylinders leaking?


<SNIP> and not
> to mention having to repaint the wheels from the brake fluid
> eating through the paint!

Rick,

I went with DOT 5 brake fluid for several reasons. The 1st being that
it does not absorb water and the 2nd is that it does not affect your
paint. It is easy changing. Just flush out the old fluid, blow low
pressure air through the lines to clear them. Refill system with DOT
5, and bleed the system until you see the clear purple fluid at each
wheel. The only drawback is the cost.

It is spendy, but well worth it. How much does it cost to repair the
paint on your fender or wheel?

John "needing a back seat" Bevins

 

[amphi67]

Thanks for the tips John, Bo, and Bill. The Dot 5 does seem
like a fix to one problem but I was reading through the warranty
info from White Post and they discourage the use of silicone brake
fluid saying it might swell and soften the rubber causing the
cylinders to leak. I don't want to do anything to void the lifetime
warranty because it looks like I'm going to need it. I think I will
give them a call first before I make the switch.

Thanks,
Rick

 

[Michael Echemann]

Re: Re: Wheel cylinders leaking?

Do we really need Dot 5? I've always felt that since most Amphicar metal brake
lines (unless serious abuse is evident and rust is "everywhere")are in good
condition after all these years why switch. It causes a weaker pedal and
provides no real benefit to a system which is in good repair to begin with. I'd
avoid the headaches. If your concerned about your brake lines then bleed the
system once in awhile.
Mike
----- Original Message -----
From: amphi67
To: amphicar-lovers@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2003 9:27 AM
Subject: [amphicar-lovers] Re: Wheel cylinders leaking?



Thanks for the tips John, Bo, and Bill. The Dot 5 does seem
like a fix to one problem but I was reading through the warranty
info from White Post and they discourage the use of silicone brake
fluid saying it might swell and soften the rubber causing the
cylinders to leak. I don't want to do anything to void the lifetime
warranty because it looks like I'm going to need it. I think I will
give them a call first before I make the switch.

Thanks,
Rick



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[Jack]

Re: Re: Wheel cylinders leaking?

From a different perspective,
If your Amphicar is in excess of 31' long and a GRVW of 18,000lbs or more
and you are anticipating a lot of serious mountainous driving, then I would
consider dot 5. Dot 5's main advantage is a higher boiling point thus
reducing brake fade under extreme conditions.

One of the major points of neglect in regular vehicle maintenance is not
bleeding the brake system regularly. I do it annually to all of my vehicles
whether they need it or not. On my race cars I do it 4 to 5 times a season
and frequently more.

Jack


----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Echemann" <echemike@sbcglobal.net>
To: <amphicar-lovers@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2003 11:55 AM
Subject: Re: [amphicar-lovers] Re: Wheel cylinders leaking?


> Do we really need Dot 5? I've always felt that since most Amphicar metal
brake lines (unless serious abuse is evident and rust is "everywhere")are in
good condition after all these years why switch. It causes a weaker pedal
and provides no real benefit to a system which is in good repair to begin
with. I'd avoid the headaches. If your concerned about your brake lines
then bleed the system once in awhile.
> Mike
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: amphi67
> To: amphicar-lovers@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Wednesday, May 28, 2003 9:27 AM
> Subject: [amphicar-lovers] Re: Wheel cylinders leaking?
>
>
>
> Thanks for the tips John, Bo, and Bill. The Dot 5 does seem
> like a fix to one problem but I was reading through the warranty
> info from White Post and they discourage the use of silicone brake
> fluid saying it might swell and soften the rubber causing the
> cylinders to leak. I don't want to do anything to void the lifetime
> warranty because it looks like I'm going to need it. I think I will
> give them a call first before I make the switch.
>
> Thanks,
> Rick
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
>
>
>
> THE AMPHICAR-LOVERS LIST
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Before posting requests for information, please check the List
> Archives:
> http://www.escribe.com/automotive/amphicar/search.html
> For more information about this List and other available services
> visit:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/amphicar-lovers/
> To UNsubscribe from this List, just send a blank email to:
> amphicar-lovers-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com
> Any other issues may be addressed to the List owner (Mike Israel) at:
> amphicar770@yahoo.com
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at:
> http://www.growerflower.com/default.asp?id=41762
>
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service.
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> THE AMPHICAR-LOVERS LIST
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
> Before posting requests for information, please check the List
> Archives:
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>

 

[nelson625@aol.com]

Re: Re: Wheel cylinders leaking?

Regarding the DOT 5 or Silicone fluid: I have personally used it in 3
different cars- 2 with no problem and one with such horrendous problems that I'm
"cured"' or "scared" to use it again. When it causes leakage, not only does it
mess up paint, but it soaks the brake linings which causes extremely uneven
braking and untenable problems. My problem car was a Chevrolet and had all new
cylinders including the Master Cylinder, had all brake lines carefully blown out
and then "rinsed with one rinse of Silicone fluid" in addition. It was a
perpetual leak problem on 2 wheels if the car was allowed to set for a few days
to a
few weeks as many antique cars do. I could not figure out why only 2 of the
wheels were a problem, but that was the situation in my case. For what it is
worth, its good points - i.e.- not being hygroscopic in particular are great,
though as pointed out by someone else, moisture can acccumulate at the lowest
points and become a corrosion problem. If I were designing the brake system
originally, I would have favored mechanical brakes for these cars. I have
several
older cars with 4 wheel mechanical brakes and they do fine. Though the
mechanical brakes are trickier to get set up and braking evenly, if the
components
are in good shape, once the adjustment is proper, they stay in adjustment and do
a really good job for 5-10,000 miles at least with minimal readjustment which
is more than most of us drive our Amphicars. Anyway, we do not have the
choice here, but you never have leaking or corroding cylinders with mechanical
brakes. VW beetles had mechanical brakes initially and I think into the 60's on
their standard (i.e.- not for export) models. Just my opinion.
Victor "Splash" Nelson with the ''Split Personality"


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]