Today my brakes went They were all good last night while I was driving. Then this morning I noticed the pedal was a bit lower than normal, thinking the brakes just need adjusting I ignored it. On the drive to work (12 minutes of hwy) the got worse and I could just fit my big toe under the pedal at full pump. Around came this arvo and there's nothing I managed to drive home on hopes and dreams (using the gears and hand brake).
Their is plenty of fluid in the master cylinder, I have discs without a servo and only a single system (only one hose from the MC).
Any ideas as to what's wrong

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Respect mine and I'll respect yours.

There are a few things that can go wrong. First of all look at the insides of the tyres on the rear of the car - your looking for stains which will be traces of brake fluid seeping from failed wheel cylinders. You may have to jack it up, take the rear wheels and brake off to be sure though.

If there is no fluid seepage on the rears anywhere then the money goes on a master cylinder failure. It will need replacing. Simpling putting a rubber kit through it doesn't seem to last.

Mike

Just had the Sonic up on the hoist and started to try and bleed the brakes. The drivers rear started spewing fluid from the rubber seal (stuffed cylinder ) now I need to replace it with one suited for disc brakes (5/8th correct?) how do I tell the difference between a 5/8 cylinder and a std one?
I have one here new in a box but all I can see written on the box is;
WC4411
Mini
Made in E.E.C.-Italy
And the markings on the cylinder is;
HN01

Is it the correct cylinder?

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Respect mine and I'll respect yours.

Get the piston from the cylinder and measure it. The easiest way is to use a 5/8" open end spanner as a measuring tool. If the spanner fits it is 5/8"

why do people feel that its ok to do this and risk killing someone, rather that just call a tow truck.

Because I assessed the situation and my experience level, I knew the roads and the conditions as well as the amount of traffic to expect, I decided not to drive like a maniac and to keep an extra cautious distance from the car in front, I know in an emergency situation it's better to ditch the mini into a gutter than to hit someone.
I'm not going to disagree with you that operating a car in this condition is in any way safe, but can you honestly tell me you have never driven in an unsafe manner or a car that wasn't in A1 condition? Do you call a tow truck every time it rains heavy and visibility, braking and handling are affected or do you drive to the conditions?

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Respect mine and I'll respect yours.

Mike,,, Kenno is ok,,, he`s quite the experienced driver,,, doing what he did is Just not something he should have televised ,,, as i know he doesn`t want the kids to try this at home

Kenno, if you`re stuck i`m pretty sure i have cyls here,,, the roll pin is on the opposit side as std mini ones (Normally) if for some reason i don`t have them, then i can sort you out with a seal kit

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No offence intended here but--> anyone writing a book about minis 30 years ago may not have experienced such worn or stuffed-with components as we are finding these days.

You should put your heart & soul into everything you do.

But c'moooooon its the brakes..
But doc is right , none of my business, sorry.

I'm just pissed off coz I just spent $1700 to get my brakes essentially completely overhauled after taking my car to a local mechanic rather than a mini one. Way too much for stuff I could've done myself.

i agree with all the statements above. naturally youd be concerned when brakes are involved and driving with none isnt the smartest idea ever. but ive been in the same scenario a few weeks back when my master cylinder in my corolla decided to give up on the way home. luckily i had some brake still and the handbrake was fully functional (as well as the fact it was about 1am and hardly any cars on the road) but to be honest i dont think ive concentrated so hard on the road and every1 else ever. i dont know kennomini but i can probably guess that he would have been the most alert person on the road that evening.

Try being towed in a car with only a handbrake Now that is an experience

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!

hah had that prroblem had a car full of people and buy buy brakes lol fixed now

i gues theres only a problem when the utmost unexpected arises.... then there may be problems.
gl getting it sorted asap.

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PrOuDlY aSkInG qUeStIoNs FoR uR aMuEsMeNt

Thanks Matt, I got a replacement cylinder this arvo and will be swapping it 1st thin in the morning. How much and what's involved with rebuilding the cylinder? The one that failed isn't that old so I don't want to bin it if I don't have to.
No worries Mike $1700 is a sh!t load, I think I built my entire breaking setup from MC to handbrake for around that price the only thing not brand new was the 2nd hand HB cables .
It is an event that dose really make you concentrate hard you'd have to be suicidal not to. Hay Wombat isn't flat towing illegal I think if I only had a HB and being flat towed I simply wouldn't do it, I hate it even with a good car.

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Respect mine and I'll respect yours.

Yep agree here with kenno on this one
i had to LIMP the jester home from work one day when i lost all pedal using the gears and handbrake.....(was less then a km)
i only had 1 hairy moment when somebody decided to not indicate at a roundabout and the rear locked up and 'spidered' on me

its not the smartest thing to do, but as kenno said...if your sensible and are not a maniac, then you should be alright (assuming your handbrake is properly adjusted )

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00' Forester GT

I once drove from Drummoyne to Glenfield at three am with failing brakes. 2 corners from home, the brakes finally let loose completely! Very long drive at 20km/h!!

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Chuck Norris is the only person alive who can kick you in the back of the face!!
mooo, I'm a pig!