<VV> brakes - dot 5 fluid - a word of caution

[J R Read]

I think that I would look at the wheel cylinder first.  I know that you said 
that you did that, but I really doubt that the DOT5 was the source (reason) 
for the leak.

Did both of your (DOT 5 equipped) Corvairs have a leak?

Later, JR


----- Original Message ----- 
From: <judynrandy at comcast.net>
To: <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Friday, August 03, 2012 11:50 PM
Subject: <VV> brakes - dot 5 fluid - a word of caution


>
>
> I have dot 5 fluid in both my corvairs. One thing i have discovered that 
> it does is seep. I took my '63 to the body shop in March 2010 and didn't 
> get it back until October of last year. It was started regularly but only 
> driven once in that time span. Upon rotating the tires recently, I noticed 
> a wet spot on the drum. Upon disassembly, there was a trail of brake fluid 
> down the backing plate. I cleaned everything up and topped off the master 
> cylinder. (the resovoir was down about 3 inches.) I figured I was looking 
> at a leaky wheel cylinder and proceeded to order a rebuild kit. (The wheel 
> cylinders were rebuilt after I got the car in 2009) As it was a slow leak, 
> I continued to drive the car and kept a close eye on that drum for any 
> signs of wettness.
>
> Upon disassembly, the mystery was solved. The backing plate and everything 
> inside the drum were still clean and bone dry. Not a hint of wetness. 
> This, after a few thousand miles of travel. So it appears that dot 5 brake 
> fluid will seep on a car that has sat unused for an extended period of 
> time. In my case it was 19 months.
>
>
>
>
> Randy (Cap'n) Hook
>
> '63 ragtop 110/pg
>
> '65 monza 4dr. 84/pg