00 Mercury Cougar.

Two days ago my girlfriends brakes all but gave out. She managed to get it home but she had to floor the pedal to get it to stop and even then it slowed to a halt instead of stopping. Checked it out and the reservoir was empty as far as i could discern. Filled it up with fluid and while the brake problem lessened slightly but still was obviously off.

Shop said that because my gf let the brake fluid empty (ie it had never been checked or filled somehow since she owned it that she's aware of ... don't ask) they're concerned there may be air in the brake line but didn't have the equipment to scan the line.

Also said the master cylinder was kaput and would need replacing.

What are we looking at to spend on a brake line scan as well as replacing a master cylinder?

11/9/2009 4:57:39 PM

PM Jeepman or zxappeal.

Maybe I am not up on all the newfangled technology, but fuck if I have ever heard of a brake line scan. The larger problem in my mind is finding where the fluid escaped at.

11/9/2009 5:00:51 PM

^ ditto that's what im thinking

11/9/2009 5:02:37 PM

lol brake line scan

11/9/2009 5:04:43 PM

haha meh they told her they were concerned there was air in the ABS lines.

11/9/2009 5:29:05 PM

I just did this repair on a 99 jeep grand. I did it all myself so it was cost of parts, which in your case, should be around 70-80 bucks from a parts store.

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/emailpagetofriend.php?ni=331

Sounds like a shop is going to do it, so be prepared for $texas in labor. The abs for me just needed to be bled separately in the system, but it was no worse than any of the calipers. Never heard of a line scan...

11/9/2009 7:50:58 PM

MOST LIKELY THE FLUID WAS LOW BECAUSE HER BRAKE PADS ARE WORN OUT AND THE CALIPER PISTONS ARE EXTENDED. IF SHE WORE A PAD OR TWO WAY THE FUCK OUT THEN A PISTON MIGHT HAVE ACTUALLY "BLOWN OUT" CAUSING A LOSS OF PEDAL AND MORE THAN LIKELY CAUSING AIR INGRESS INTO THE NORMALLY SEALED SYSTEM

FRONT AND REAR BRAKE INSPECTION $65
BLEED BRAKES, F&R $95

IF YOU HAVE TO USE THE SCAN TOOL TO BLEED THE ABS MODULATOR, THATS A WHOLE OTHER STORY, AND AT LEAST AN ADDITIONAL $100

11/9/2009 8:05:30 PM

Quote :

"FRONT AND REAR BRAKE INSPECTION $65 BLEED BRAKES, F&R $95"

those are dealership prices

11/9/2009 9:05:43 PM

A quick inspection should show you roughly where the leak is. There has got to be fluid somewhere. Look around the inside of each wheel first and follow the lines as they route from the master cylinder to each wheel. Once you figure out roughly where it is leaking you can top off the fluid and have one person hold down the brake pedal while the other person looks under the car to see exactly where it is escaping. Replace the defective part and bleed the brakes.

Keep in mind that brake fluid is very corrosive. If it's leaking on your rim it will strip the clearcoat off the rim.

[Edited on November 9, 2009 at 9:22 PM. Reason : l]

11/9/2009 9:21:24 PM

Quote :

"MOST LIKELY THE FLUID WAS LOW BECAUSE HER BRAKE PADS ARE WORN OUT AND THE CALIPER PISTONS ARE EXTENDED. IF SHE WORE A PAD OR TWO WAY THE FUCK OUT THEN A PISTON MIGHT HAVE ACTUALLY "BLOWN OUT" CAUSING A LOSS OF PEDAL AND MORE THAN LIKELY CAUSING AIR INGRESS INTO THE NORMALLY SEALED SYSTEM"

me thinks this is the problem... honestly.


and thanks skack... I'll take a look at that tomorrow.

the fluid was not visible at all in the reservoir so im thinking there is a leak around the piston


im hoping it's just a leak in a hose tho :x

11/9/2009 9:30:27 PM

pull the damn wheels and look is really the only thing to do at this point

11/11/2009 8:42:37 AM