Good Morning all,

Yesterday our car suddenly lost brake pedal pressure/feel - brake pedal suddenly went all the way to the floor.

Inspecting I saw there is a brake fluid all down the passenger side of the car/engine bay area and even on to the inside of the passenger side wheel. It appears to be coming from somewhere higher up in the engine compartment and not from the caliper or brake line immediately around the caliper.

The car is a 6-speed, just passed 100k miles - and from what I've read the clutch slave is lower on the car on the passenger side, so it does not seem like that would be the source(?).


Has anyone had similar issues and if so what was the root cause?


Thanks much,
Derek

 

Check your metal brake lines and rubber brake hoses on the entire car. The clutch slave is on the left side, a bit towards the center, and not far back from the radiator support. Clean off the mess, refill your brake fluid reservoir, have someone stand on the brakes while idling, and look for your leak.

 

Follow up to my original post, in case anyone has the same issue down the road. Located the source of the leak two weeks ago with the help of a friend's garage/lift.

Long story short: A intake metal hose clamp was rubbing against the hard brake line that runs to the front passenger side caliper, such that it wore a pin size hole in the metal line. When you would hit the brake the right side of the engine bay got a bit mist of brake fluid. Brakes had very little pressure -- very dangerous failure.

Cleaned everything up a ran a new hard line from the ABS to the front wheel well.

 

A garage lift is great thing.

 

Glad that you found the problem. Loss of braking is NOT a good feeling!