Mysterious leak between line fitting and caliper
12-06-2007, 08:21 AM
#1
Mysterious leak between line fitting and caliper
I just figured I'd give someone a heads up on this since if I had been aware, it would have saved me a lot of frustration, brake fluid, time, and gas money to and from the store.
I had a bad caliper or hose on the passenger side of my car earlier this week, replaced it, and everything was fine. So yesterday I went to replace teh caliper and hose on the driver's side of the car.
No matter what I did I could not get the brake line to seal to the caliper. I got some channellocks out and held that caliper in one hand and torqued that socket wrench down with the other with all I could muster, and no matter what I did I had a constant, moderate brake fluid leak. Turned a 45 minute job into a 4 hour job. I thought I had gotten it all done, took a break, came back out and saw a stream of brake fluid running from my mounted caliper down the driveway.
I went through 4 sets of copper seals. I exchanged my new caliper for another, and bolted it up and the leak was gone. Then I found out I bolted the brake line on backwards.
Took it apart and flipped it, and the leak was back. I didnt know why, but I just went and go another brake line, and presto leak fixed.
Turns out the line was hitting the edge of the brake caliper. I've included a fancy MSPaint diagram. Joy!
Apparently the lip of the brake caliper was interfering with the seal of the line. I compared my old line and my new line, and I put a bolt through them both, and sure enough on the old line the place where the fitting changes into a cylindrical shape with the rubber hose was about 1 mm closer to the center of the banjo bolt holt.
I dont know how common or rare this is, but it caused me a hell of a lot of stress and frustration, and maybe it will help someone else.
I had a bad caliper or hose on the passenger side of my car earlier this week, replaced it, and everything was fine. So yesterday I went to replace teh caliper and hose on the driver's side of the car.
No matter what I did I could not get the brake line to seal to the caliper. I got some channellocks out and held that caliper in one hand and torqued that socket wrench down with the other with all I could muster, and no matter what I did I had a constant, moderate brake fluid leak. Turned a 45 minute job into a 4 hour job. I thought I had gotten it all done, took a break, came back out and saw a stream of brake fluid running from my mounted caliper down the driveway.
I went through 4 sets of copper seals. I exchanged my new caliper for another, and bolted it up and the leak was gone. Then I found out I bolted the brake line on backwards.
Took it apart and flipped it, and the leak was back. I didnt know why, but I just went and go another brake line, and presto leak fixed.
Turns out the line was hitting the edge of the brake caliper. I've included a fancy MSPaint diagram. Joy!
Apparently the lip of the brake caliper was interfering with the seal of the line. I compared my old line and my new line, and I put a bolt through them both, and sure enough on the old line the place where the fitting changes into a cylindrical shape with the rubber hose was about 1 mm closer to the center of the banjo bolt holt.
I dont know how common or rare this is, but it caused me a hell of a lot of stress and frustration, and maybe it will help someone else.
Last edited by InfernalVortex; 12-06-2007 at 08:24 AM.
12-06-2007, 08:51 AM
#2
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Re: Mysterious leak between line fitting and caliper
That's actually pretty common... especially with aftermarket brake lines.
Over the years, whenever I've had it happen, I've just used 2 copper washers.
Over the years, whenever I've had it happen, I've just used 2 copper washers.
07-27-2017, 05:30 AM
#3
Junior Member
Re: Mysterious leak between line fitting and caliper
Thanks for this great tip and info. I searched through the forum and this may solve a similar problem regarding left rear caliper.
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