Brake fluid in the wrong place

[Jeepsinker]

I've been meaning to take the plug out of the back side of my airpack( long style) to check for water in there for a while now. I'm referring to the small plug on the end of the air cylinder. I didn't get water out, but I did get quite a bit of brake fluid... Now I know where my brake fluid is going. I didn't think there was a path of seepage between the air cylinder and the hydraulic side, but now I know better. I guess I'll order a long style airpack rebuild kit. I sure hope the spare core I have is rebuildable.

 

[welldigger]

Yup. There are a couple of seals on the piston shaft that can fail. Actually, it's very common for those to fail.

Pull whichever air pack you intend to rebuild down. Inspect everything. If there are any chips, scrapes, or rust in the chrome of the shaft it's toast. It will eat the new seals up.

 

[RAYZER]

So is the long airpack the new or old style?

 

[Jeepsinker]

Thanks for the advice. I'm not going to pull mine off the truck until I have a good unit to replace it with. As you know, I can't have my deuce down on me. Since I drained that fluid from it and blew it out good I can lock the brakes up again and have a good high pedal.

 

[Jeepsinker]

The long airpack is the old style.

 

[skinnyR1]

My airpack is doing the same. Leaking a bit out the back, at the same spot.
You are ok driving it like that? I am unsure and have parked mine until my kit comes in.

 

[Jeepsinker]

Probably better not to drive it that way, but I check mine regularly and drive it daily. It is a very slow seep, and I don't see it blowing apart or anything. I've seen a lot of people drive much worse.

 

[welldigger]

I drove mine 150 miles home with a locked up air pak.

That should make you feel better.

 

[skinnyR1]

Good to know that it doesnt lead to catastrophic failure, in case I do need my truck in the mean time.

 

[Jeepsinker]

Yeah if it was a leaking master cylinder or wheel cylinder I would be worried. An internal airpack seep doesn't scare me. I'm actually glad I found it. It is much more scary not knowing where the fluid is going.

 

[skinnyR1]

So whats worst case scenerio? It fills the air cylinder and you have no air assist, but still have hydraulic?

 

[Jeepsinker]

Either that or the master cylinder emptys out. That's why I check it every day.

 

[welldigger]

Hey a small brake fluid leak is better than rusty water puking out of your slobber tube. My firewall is still orange from that.

 

[Jeepsinker]

I do not envy you for that...

 

[rustystud]

Jeepsinker, I just realized you have been here almost 1 year and your already a 4 star general ! Now that's what I call moving up in the ranks !

 

[Jeepsinker]

Oh it isn't because I'm special or anything, it just goes by the post count. I'm on here a LOT.