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Guest
Anonymous Poster
May 25, 2006, 2:25 PM
Post #1 of 4
(2825 views)
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contaminated brake fluid
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Hi,
I got troubles with my brakes. Sometimes they squeal and drag. I looked up into the brake fluid reservoir, and there is a lot of kind of black dust.
The brake fluid got contaminated, i think. Is it enough to change it? Do I have to clean the master cylinder?
What can be the cause?
ty
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 26, 2006, 12:04 AM
Post #2 of 4
(2818 views)
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Re: contaminated brake fluid
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Please tell us what type of vehicle this is.
Brake fluid can get dark and icky like you said but the dragging feeling is NOT acceptable. Squeel if new and the dragging is probably due to a frozen caliper and overheated disc pads.
You don't have to clean your master cylinder but almost everyone neglects to bleed the whole system now and then.
I watch the weather and I see all these cars driving thru deep water which is nasty to brake parts. Worse it's dangerous for YOU if that happended. T
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Guest
Anonymous Poster
ineacs@hotmail.com
May 29, 2006, 8:39 PM
Post #3 of 4
(2807 views)
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Re: contaminated brake fluid
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the vehicle is nissan altima 93
i dont think is the caliper because the dragging happens for the rear wheels, time to time, not always nor all the time, sometimes on left, sometimes on right. I changed the fluid and since didnt happen, but, the pedal gives a spongy feeling, and i think i will change the master cylinder to.
Now, for that black dusty stuff, do i have to change the flexible hoses between the lines and the calipers? is that black stuff coming from them? outside they don't look bad.
ty
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Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
May 30, 2006, 4:11 AM
Post #4 of 4
(2803 views)
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Re: contaminated brake fluid
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The black dust is from the wearing of the brake pads and alone could be normal but better pads can reduce that. The back wheels of your car should spin free and if not the problem is usually the caliper and can be intermittent until they freeze hard and you are in trouble. The rubber flex hose at the age your car is at can also be the problem. They can out of your sight decompose inside and not allow brake fluid pressure to release. If you catch a tight wheel jacked up of course the test would be to let a bit of brake fluid out thru bleeder and if wheel frees up the hose is most likely. Do both sides if so and same with calipers. These things should be replaced in pairs.
Frequently a dragging brake will give you color evidence on the rotor. If both are dragging it's unusual at the same time. Both rear brakes (or front) should match wear and color of rotor in an older car.
The left right thing may be as one heats up the other works better. T
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