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MG MGA - No Brake Fluid

I have a 1959 MGA 1500 with front disc brakes. It’s been a couple of months since I have driven it. Thursday I got in the car and pushed on the brake pedal and it went straight to the floor. No resistance what so ever. I inspected the master cylinder, which I replaced last year, and it was empty. Looking inside the master cylinder revealed NO fluid. Looking under the car I did not notice any fluid on the ground. I will jack up the car today and inspect further. Any thoughts as to where I might find the leak?

Dave
david kirkpatrick

Thinking about this David, probably the only place your brake fluid could have gone is into the footwell where it could soak away unnoticed into the carpet. Maybe from a brake pipe union?
l just hope it hasn't made a mess of the paintwork on its way.

Colyn
Colyn Firth

David. If you find NO traces of fluid leakage, I suggest the seal of the master cylinder that mates to the vacuum booster has failed and the fluid is being sucked from the M/C to the intake manifold and burned along with the fuel. My 79 B did that. Scary when you're driven and discover NO BRAKES.

Cheers

Gary
79 MGB
gary hansen

I am trying to recall if any of the fabric covered wiring loom is in the immediate vicinity of the MC on LHD cars. I had a not dissimilar situation in my RHD car and the wiring loom cover had absorbed all the fluid - the loom passes under the MC on RHD cars.

Steve
Steve Gyles

Gary: There's no booster on an MGA

Steve: The wiring loom to the wiper motor and dip switch passes by the MC on a LHD car.

David: I'm with Colyn, you probably have a leak at your new MC, but if you refill and get someone n the car to put some pressure on the brake and clutch pedals you will be able to locate your leak quite quickly by running carefully along all the pipe and hose runs with a bright light. Most likely it is at the back of the MC where the pipes mount to the MC as access is so difficult. I modified here to use banjo fittings and copper washers for just this reason achieving much better access to make sure everything there is good and tight, which is very hard with the standard setup.

Also have a look at the pipe that runs under the cross-member under the engine. I have seen a few where the pipe has vibrated under the metal tab that holds it to the chassis and worn a pin hole in the pipe. Hard to spot if the standard oily mess prevails! The same applies to the pipe running to the back of the car. Check too that the rear cylinders are not leaking.
dominic clancy

Gary: There's no booster on an MGA

Steve: The wiring loom to the wiper motor and dip switch passes by the MC on a LHD car.

David: I'm with Colyn, you probably have a leak at your new MC, but if you refill and get someone n the car to put some pressure on the brake and clutch pedals you will be able to locate your leak quite quickly by running carefully along all the pipe and hose runs with a bright light. Most likely it is at the back of the MC where the pipes mount to the MC as access is so difficult. I modified here to use banjo fittings and copper washers for just this reason achieving much better access to make sure everything there is good and tight, which is very hard with the standard setup.

Also have a look at the pipe that runs under the cross-member under the engine. I have seen a few where the pipe has vibrated under the metal tab that holds it to the chassis and worn a pin hole in the pipe. Hard to spot if the standard oily mess prevails! The same applies to the pipe running to the back of the car. Check too that the rear cylinders are not leaking.
dominic clancy

Thanks for the comments. I do not have booster. Was not able to pull wheels due to spouse and holiday. she had me cook chicken on the big green egg. Hopefully tomorrow.

Dave
david kirkpatrick

This thread was discussed between 28/05/2016 and 30/05/2016

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