Brake fluid smoking

[99pewterv6]

Today I stopped really hard at a light that turned red. I noticed when i stopped that smoke/steam started coming out from under the hood by the brake fluid reservoir. Check under the hood and saw it was a little wet on top of the fluid reservoir, cap was on. What caused this??

[Vracer111]

Re: Brake fluid smoking

Seems the resevoir isn't sealing right and dripped on the header when you stopped hard. When was the last time you checked your brake system hydraulics? It really shouldn't be doing that, my camaro brake master cylinder resevoir doesn't leak with the heavy braking forces and high cornering loads it sees on track. Might as well replace the whole master cylinder if the resevoir needs replacement. Also you should flush brake fluid at least once a year, along with bleeding it every time you track the car on a road course. Get the Valvoline SynPower brake fluid while you are at it (500+ degree dry/340+ degree wet biling point), very good stuff for not much money.

[99pewterv6]

Re: Brake fluid smoking

I'll check out to see if its sealing up. The break fluid hasnt been flushed since i bought the car 3 1/2 years ago. Whats the best way to do that? Thanks for the reply.

[hockeyman]

Re: Brake fluid smoking

The break fluid hasnt been flushed since i bought the car 3 1/2 years ago. Whats the best way to do that? Thanks for the reply.

I don't know if that will solve your problem. Personally, I think you may have a loose cap if the fluid squeezed out from under it, but that's just my opinion.

If you're set on flushing the fluid, you should buy a large container of Dot 3 fluid to keep the master cylinder as full as possible. Go to each brake bleeder, loosen it, and have someone else slowly depress the brake pedal quite a few times to flush out all of the old fluid. Do this to all of the wheels and you should be good-to-go.

I recently did this to by other vehicle this past summer and I used Speed Bleeders. I did the job myself and it only took about 1 hour for the whole system to be flushed. Do a google search on "speed bleeders" to find out more info.

[99pewterv6]

Re: Brake fluid smoking

Thanks haockeyman i'll check the cap. Think that might be what the problem is.

[Vracer111]

Re: Brake fluid smoking

What hockeyman said, but I use a vacuum brake bleeder system...one person with a vacuum bleeder can flush/bleed fluid in half the time of two people doing it the traditional way.

[slow6]

Re: Brake fluid smoking

cool
I was thinking 1 hour for 1 person to use speed bleeders to do the whole system seems like a loooooooooooooooooonnngg time. No offense hockeyd00d

[hockeyman]

Re: Brake fluid smoking

cool
I was thinking 1 hour for 1 person to use speed bleeders to do the whole system seems like a loooooooooooooooooonnngg time. No offense hockeyd00d

Hardest part was lifting & removing each wheel, removing the bleeder screw, then ataaching the flex line and catch-can. Once that was done, all I had to do was pump the brake pedal and keep the Master Cylinder full.

Oh, and I kept the speed bleeders on the calipers. If I ever have to do it again, it should take me much less time.