330GT brake fluid reservoir loss

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michaelbalk330
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330GT brake fluid reservoir loss

Post by michaelbalk330 »

In the several years I have owned #9693 I have had to fill the Brake fluid reservoir on 2 occasions. Each time I have done a VERY thorough search and find no leaks. not at the reservoir, the MC, the calipers, the front rubber hoses, or at the Brake light T junction split, or at any junction. That said, the car has blue hoses from the reservoir to the MC labelled "made in W germany"....meaning they are old. They appear fine, and dry, and I will replace them but I am at a loss to explain the loss. no loss in any of the other reservoirs, and brakes work fine after filled and bled.

is it just that the front does most of the braking and gets hotter and there are insensible losses?
I have put about 2000 KM on her , and I can't imagine the pads have worn enough to accommodate that fluid.
I dont see any tell tale signs like missing paint, stains on the wheels, etc.
I am perplexed..... any advice?
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Michael
1967 330GT #9693
1960 190SL
1967 Ducati 350 Sebring #04783
1959 Moto Guzzi Galletto #GNR93
1973 450SL
1988 Mercedes 300CE 5 spd
Jumprun
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Re: 330GT brake fluid reservoir loss

Post by Jumprun »

You didn't mention how much fluid you added but It's probably pad wear.

Those blue german hoses are specifically designed for brake fluid, if they are leaking, be sure to replace with brake fluid compatible rubber.
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michaelbalk330
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Re: 330GT brake fluid reservoir loss

Post by michaelbalk330 »

sorry... it actually went dry. I hadn't checked fluid levels in a while, and the pedal felt squishy so when I checked, it was empty. The only thing I haven't done is have someone push on the pedal, with car running, while I am underneath, and after I replace the blue hoses, I will do that.
Michael
1967 330GT #9693
1960 190SL
1967 Ducati 350 Sebring #04783
1959 Moto Guzzi Galletto #GNR93
1973 450SL
1988 Mercedes 300CE 5 spd
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michaelbalk330
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CALARIFY- Re: 330GT brake fluid reservoir loss

Post by michaelbalk330 »

it is only the reservoir for the front system. the others are fine. michael
Michael
1967 330GT #9693
1960 190SL
1967 Ducati 350 Sebring #04783
1959 Moto Guzzi Galletto #GNR93
1973 450SL
1988 Mercedes 300CE 5 spd
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tyang
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Re: 330GT brake fluid reservoir loss

Post by tyang »

Hi Michael,

I know you said only the front reservoir went dry, but pull the vacuum hose off and see if there is any sign of fluid in the hose. If there is a leak at the rear of the M/C and it's getting sucked into the vacuum canister, it should drain both reservoirs, I know, but stranger things have happened. It sounds like the only thing you have not checked. Do you have the gold cad plated vacuum canister, or the black painted steel canister?

Tom
'63 330 America #5053
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michaelbalk330
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Re: 330GT brake fluid reservoir loss

Post by michaelbalk330 »

Tom
many thanks. you may be on to something. There is def no leak anywhere else. I am very sure. I was about to add a leak tracer to see if i could find one. I have gold cad. see pics. pulled the vacuum hose and it is slightly wet inside. not soaked. you can even see a trail of it, and the golden color certainly looks like the fluid I had in there. I last flushed with ATE blue, but when it ran dry I added some amber stuff. Since the rear most part of the MC supplies the Front brakes ( and its that reservoir thats going dry) , its closes to the booster.

need a rec-- since brakes work fine-- just monitor fluid levels, or pull the MC?
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Michael
1967 330GT #9693
1960 190SL
1967 Ducati 350 Sebring #04783
1959 Moto Guzzi Galletto #GNR93
1973 450SL
1988 Mercedes 300CE 5 spd
Jumprun
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Re: 330GT brake fluid reservoir loss

Post by Jumprun »

A full re-fill needed? of course not pad wear, sorry for misunderstanding.
Is the car smoking more than normal?

The reservoir for the front going dry makes sense if the fluid is indeed getting sucked into the booster, this might be the case because the front brake reservoir is the one closest to the booster (it is on the GTC). When I rebuilt my brake system there was plenty of wet fluid at the master cylinder, where the booster push rod extends from the booster and in the hose.
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michaelbalk330
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Re: 330GT brake fluid reservoir loss

Post by michaelbalk330 »

so is it a seal at the rear of the Master that could be bad?
not sure I have ever seen a rebuild kit --- do I just take it apart and find seals that fit?
Michael
1967 330GT #9693
1960 190SL
1967 Ducati 350 Sebring #04783
1959 Moto Guzzi Galletto #GNR93
1973 450SL
1988 Mercedes 300CE 5 spd
Steve Meltzer
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Re: 330GT brake fluid reservoir loss

Post by Steve Meltzer »

can you fish a bent clothes hangar down into the booster and see if there's fluid down in there? good luck? s
steve meltzer,
"I've spent all of my money on wine, a beautiful woman, and stunning cars. Then, squandered the rest."
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michaelbalk330
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Re: SOLVED -330GT brake fluid reservoir loss

Post by michaelbalk330 »

Tom and Steve,
Y'all a bunch of smart people.
pulled the vacuum port from the booster, and ran a red cloth strip down.. came up soaked.
inserted my suction tool and brought up a "reservoir" of brake fluid out of the booster.
Many thanks--- time to pull the MC and rebuild I guess!'
michael
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Michael
1967 330GT #9693
1960 190SL
1967 Ducati 350 Sebring #04783
1959 Moto Guzzi Galletto #GNR93
1973 450SL
1988 Mercedes 300CE 5 spd
Steve Meltzer
Posts: 982
Joined: Mon Sep 06, 2004 10:31 am
Location: with Barney the Beagle boy and Enzo 8995

Re: 330GT brake fluid reservoir loss

Post by Steve Meltzer »

Excellent! Can you let me mother, my eighth grade math teacher and my "ex" know you think i'm smart!?? (smart alecky is more like it)

Removing the booster on the GTC is a challenge. There's one bolt (always the case, right?) that I accessed through the left wheel well

I had my done by: brake booster Power Brake Exchange pwrbrake.com 408-292-1305 260 Phelan Avenue San Jose California 95112

you're on the way! very cool. s
steve meltzer,
"I've spent all of my money on wine, a beautiful woman, and stunning cars. Then, squandered the rest."
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michaelbalk330
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Re: 330GT brake fluid reservoir loss

Post by michaelbalk330 »

sunday night.. steelers on TV... my team, but couldn't resist :
removed it. you can see gunk all over that flange where it should be dry.

i think this seal is probably just plain worn out. cleaning everything and need to source some seals.
barrel looks fine. managed to lose the snap ring when it flew off my pliers. heard it bouncing all over the garage on hard and soft things...lol... no idea where it is!
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Michael
1967 330GT #9693
1960 190SL
1967 Ducati 350 Sebring #04783
1959 Moto Guzzi Galletto #GNR93
1973 450SL
1988 Mercedes 300CE 5 spd
Jumprun
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Re: 330GT brake fluid reservoir loss

Post by Jumprun »

That's what my MC looked like, of course now you know the booster is contaminated.

That one nut on the booster mount is a b***h to get off. I ended up getting it from inside the engine compartment by removing the resevoir bracket and swinging it away, then modifying a wrench and using a flat wratchet. Some of the difficulty was the nut was a yellow nylock so when I installed the rebuilt unit I used a standard nut and lock washer instead.

I sent the whole works to Karps, MC, booster and all my calipers, they did a great job but it took a long time.
enio45
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Re: 330GT brake fluid reservoir loss

Post by enio45 »

maybe tom can chime in - due to his relationship with karps - BUT

I have had several issues with them in the past 6 months - from taking forever, damaging my parts, ruining the plating - many excuses

Just an FYI and word of caution....Jeff is a great guy but something is going on IMO.....
Ed Montini
330 GT 2+2 Series II - 8289
58 Ellena - 0855GT - orig drivetrain
87 El Camino SS
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Yale
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Re: 330GT brake fluid reservoir loss

Post by Yale »

You know Ed that Ron Karp retired and sold the business. I think he still might consult some but that is why some people have been trying to learn how to rebuild brakes on their own.
Ex - 1964 330GT #6097
1963 Abarth Monomille
1970 Porsche 911S
1974 BMW 2002turbo
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