EA Brake Master Cylinder

smudgerino · 02-08-2005, 12:29 PM

The other day I noticed brake fluid leaking out the back of the master cylinder on my EA, it is running down onto the brake booster and onto the road. I took the car to a couple of garages for an opinion and both mechanics said that I should replace the master cylinder since one or more seals have shot it.

So I shopped around and managed to get a new master cylinder from Ford, surprisingly they were the cheapest. Cost me 250.00 notes. Also got 4 litres of Castrol Dot 4 fluid whilst I was at it, so that should keep me going!

Now I need to fit the part, has anyone had any experience fitting a master cylinder to an EA (Wagon)? Any do's and don'ts I should know about? Any hints for bleeding the system would be helpful too?

Thanks

InitialD · 02-08-2005, 12:32 PM

IT isnt too hard to fit, there are two bold that hold it onto the booster as you probly know. unto those to remove the MS from the Booster. Simply undo the brake likes off it and remove from car. Simply bolt up the new one, fill with new fluid. Then bleed each brake caliper just to be sure.

TURBO_GHIA · 03-08-2005, 11:45 AM

bleed the brakes from the furtherst one away from the MS first

SileNceR · 03-08-2005, 06:22 PM

bench bled my master cylinder. damn im lazy.

Psycho Chicken · 03-08-2005, 07:19 PM

Piece of **** way to bleed brakes, go down to autobarn and grab a bleeder tube, it'll have a one way valve on it. Put the car on stand, crack the bleeder nipple, whack the hose on, get someone to pump the brakes until the air bubbles go from the tube. Make sure the master cylinder is being topped up, don't want to suck air back in. Start from the LHR, go RHR, LHF then RHF. Remember to pump the brakes up when you're done, nothing worse than driving off only to find the pedal goes straight to the floor.

smudgerino · 04-08-2005, 10:36 AM

Thanks for the replies.

Will I have to take any of the wheels off to get to the bleeding nipples? If I put the car on jack stands (2 at the back first, then swap the 2 to the front), is it safe for someone to sit in the car to pump the brake pedal? Don't want the car crashing down on me!

SileNceR · 04-08-2005, 08:59 PM

should be fine... make sure wheels are chocked and you arent using stands purchased from supercheap... lol

rebornafordman · 04-08-2005, 09:11 PM

Careful not to snap of the bleed nipples, that really sucks.

smudgerino · 05-08-2005, 11:42 AM

Great advice as always.......just a couple more questions though.

When I put the front axle on stands, so the rear wheels are touching the ground, to bleed the front brakes, is it OK to put the handbrake on? Will that being on have any affect on the bleeding process? Guess not cause it is cable operated, but just want to be sure.

Also is it best to put the car into Park (automatic transmission) or leave it in Neutral when bleeding brakes?

That's me done...thanks

Psycho Chicken · 05-08-2005, 06:47 PM

In park, hand brake can go on. Having someone in it with one end up it fine, just make sure it's chocked properly.

Or do what I did, start the car in gear with the front on stands and the rear held up with a jack on the tow bar.

smudgerino · 08-08-2005, 10:57 AM

I got the job done over the weekend, and the brakes work really well now...

Had to buy a flare nut spanner, after I nearly rounded one of the nuts connecting the brake pipe to the master cylinder! Turns out I was tightening the nut instead of loosening it. Valuable lesson learned here....when undoing a nut that is underneath a part, what appears to be anticlockwise (loosening) is actually clockwise (tightening)...lol!

Fortunately I managed to loosen the nearly rounded nut with my Repco flare nut spanner and then later tighten it back up again which saves me buying and installing a new front o/s new brake line.

Whilst bleeding the brakes I discovered my pads are wearing low, was wondering if anyone can recommend a good set of pads for the old EA. When I had new rotors put on the car about 18 months ago the garage put Bendix pads on I think, but don't know which ones....what are a good set?

Thanks for your help again.