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Brake Fluid, Squealing Brakes & Now Clutch?
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wlmartin
New User
Jun 21, 2011, 3:23 AM
Post #1 of 2
(1873 views)
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Brake Fluid, Squealing Brakes & Now Clutch?
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Hi,
We have a 2004 Alfa Romeo 147 1.9l Diesel (done about 142,000 miles)
We bought it only a month ago and into the drive home from the dealer we noticed it was making a squeaking/squealing/chirping noise.
The noise occurs less on the flat, more on incline or decline and more when turning the wheel.
We have had it in and out of the local garage to look at. They determined that the squealing noise seemed to be coming from the back brakes (putting the handbrake on during drive, it went away)
He believed it could have been dirt at first, 2nd time he thought it was something catching against the brakes.
The last visit to the garage involved them swapping out a handbrake cable that had snapped... not sure what caused that but that is fixed.
All along between visits to the garage the brake fluid warning was coming on at the start of the drive and sometimes when we turned sharply. I took a look at the brake fluid and it seemed fine, although I was unsure so I put more fluid in and on half a cap full it filled right to the brim.
After the most recent fix, my wife drove the car to work and reported back - she said it was still squealing as described above but now the clutch pedal felt a little spongy.
I started it up this morning to drive it to the garage, I notice the clutch pedal is not only spongy but very loose and it forbids me from making any gear changes even when I push it as far down as I can.
The breakdown truck has collected the car, it is with the garage and I hope they can fix it but upon reviewing articles online it seems a lot of the problems we are having are linked by one common factor, BRAKE FLUID.
Some articles say the Slave Cylinder, used to aid the Clutch (i think) uses brake fluid.
Also we are having problems related to a noise coming from the back brakes
Also we are getting a message saying the brake fluid is low, when the brake fluid tank is full as far as I and the mechanic can see
I wonder, is this is all connected where somewhere along the line there is a damaged brake fluid line, perhaps it isnt pumping the fluid into the places it needs to go such as the Slave Cylinder, the back brakes and possibly even the Handbrake (it snapped perhaps because it wasnt getting fluid some how?!?).
Has anyone else encountered this problem or can offer advise?
Thanks
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Jun 21, 2011, 4:46 AM
Post #2 of 2
(1863 views)
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Re: Brake Fluid, Squealing Brakes & Now Clutch?
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First I haven't even seen one of these but the principles are the same as other cars.
1. Park brake cable breaking is a bit unusual but so be it. They can be very fussy to proper adjustment of a new cable and it might have dragged a bit wearing out usually rear service brakes but sometimes they use an unseen mini drum brake inside rotors. If that way you need to take it apart to see what's going on in there.
2. Overfilling master cylinder isn't good. It should be marked for the max full line and have a rubber seal but leaves an air-gap for fluid return. Lower level to plain full but that could be making brakes drag and early wear.
3. Hydraulic clutch linkage probably has a bad little master cylinder or the slave at the other end. If it shifts fine with engine off sitting still it clearly isn't disengaging clutch and trans damage can result if forced. If leaking that needs tending to and a slight chance of where the slave cylinder pushed on a pivot isn't right, bent, broken somehow. Need to watch it all work.
Most all cars use DOT3 brake fluid for hydraulic clutch and brakes but use what owner's manual says. If somehow any type of oil was used to top these off the rubber parts will fail!
Many disc (guessing all four discs) use a sensor for worn brakes that shuts up when applied at first.
IMO - total brake inspection needed now and parking brake if using different linings than service brakes (doubt it but don't know) too,
T
PS: What was the car in for service for?
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