Got a brake problem with my 1999 Suburban - 5.7l with HydroBoost - that knowing a couple of things might help me get to grips with.
Firstly, the more forward, smaller, part of the reservoir is for the rear brake circuit - yes?
What causes the light on the dash to illuminate and, how does the system detect low fluid level?
A quick outline of what happened. Set off on Tuesday and the pedal was softer than usual. Had to stop for fuel 10 miles from home (but with reduced braking power) and checked the fluid level which was fine. When I set off again I noticed the light on the dash illuminated. 60 miles later and the fluid level had dropped - the forward, smaller part - requiring a top up. A little later I noticed it leaving drip marks on the ground and some time later still, a small pool of fluid underneath just forward of where the fuel filter is located. Throughout all of this I had brakes but not the full complement - nowhere close!
New pipes throughout were fitted last year and I had some difficulty getting good sealing on the rearward pipe not least as despite Amazon's claim of it being cunifer, it is actually copper coated steel so my initial assumption was that a union was leaking. But when had a chance to look today I can't locate specifically a leak point. The unions are bone dry and although there is what I think is brake fluid on the electrical cabling that runs rearwards from the engine bay on the driver side (it's hard to tell it from the general salty winter moisture) I can't provoke it by pumping on the pedal.
I'm starting to think the pipe itself has split however unlikely that is with it less than a year old. Another oddity is that this points to failure of the rear circuit, but it did not feel like what braking I had was from the front. There's no sign of any fluid escaping the drums and the wheel cylinders are only a few years old.
Before (when the weather is conducive) I start ripping out the pipe to inspect for damage, is there anything anyone can think of that I've missed? I'm perplexed as to why the dash warning light is on - what is it reacting to?
TIA.
Firstly, the more forward, smaller, part of the reservoir is for the rear brake circuit - yes?
What causes the light on the dash to illuminate and, how does the system detect low fluid level?
A quick outline of what happened. Set off on Tuesday and the pedal was softer than usual. Had to stop for fuel 10 miles from home (but with reduced braking power) and checked the fluid level which was fine. When I set off again I noticed the light on the dash illuminated. 60 miles later and the fluid level had dropped - the forward, smaller part - requiring a top up. A little later I noticed it leaving drip marks on the ground and some time later still, a small pool of fluid underneath just forward of where the fuel filter is located. Throughout all of this I had brakes but not the full complement - nowhere close!
New pipes throughout were fitted last year and I had some difficulty getting good sealing on the rearward pipe not least as despite Amazon's claim of it being cunifer, it is actually copper coated steel so my initial assumption was that a union was leaking. But when had a chance to look today I can't locate specifically a leak point. The unions are bone dry and although there is what I think is brake fluid on the electrical cabling that runs rearwards from the engine bay on the driver side (it's hard to tell it from the general salty winter moisture) I can't provoke it by pumping on the pedal.
I'm starting to think the pipe itself has split however unlikely that is with it less than a year old. Another oddity is that this points to failure of the rear circuit, but it did not feel like what braking I had was from the front. There's no sign of any fluid escaping the drums and the wheel cylinders are only a few years old.
Before (when the weather is conducive) I start ripping out the pipe to inspect for damage, is there anything anyone can think of that I've missed? I'm perplexed as to why the dash warning light is on - what is it reacting to?
TIA.