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Introduction & help with brakes

  • Thread starter Thread starter Jerardo Sr.
  • Start date Start date Aug 23, 2019
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Jerardo Sr.

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Aug 23, 2019
#1
  • Aug 23, 2019
  • #1
Hello everyone I'm jerardo Sr, I recently acquired a bone stock 97' mustang GT around March this year. It began to leak brake fluid & upon further investigation it leaking fluid on the passenger side catalytic converter. When I openend the hood I noticed on the passenger side firewall it was leaking brake fluid. How can I fix this problem? Thanks in advance for all of the advice & my apologies for such a long intro thread I just wanted to be thorough.
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
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#2
  • Aug 23, 2019
  • #2
Have you checked the brake lines that run across the cowl under the hood?
 
J

Jerardo Sr.

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#3
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No sir, I'm new to ford mustangs. I always owned gm vehicles & this is my first ford. I spoke to a college classmate & he suggested that it might be the hydrovac that's leaking.
 

Noobz347

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#4
  • Aug 23, 2019
  • #4
The booster in that car is vacuum operated.

Get under the car and follow the fluid to the source of the leak as best you can.
 
J

Jerardo Sr.

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#5
  • Aug 23, 2019
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I just got under the car & the spot that's leaking smells like water. All the brake hoses are intact but I found the h pipe busted & leaking trans lines. It's unrelated but I felt like I needed to bring it up to further excel in solving this problem.
 

Noobz347

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#6
  • Aug 23, 2019
  • #6
What are your brake fluid and transmission fluid levels currently?

That looks to me like a rear main seal leak or a leak from the back of the lower intake gasket.
 

Noobz347

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#7
  • Aug 23, 2019
  • #7
You could also be pushing oil out of the PCV grommet.
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
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#8
  • Aug 23, 2019
  • #8
That first pic is the drain for the ac evaporator, it is right above the exhaust pipe I think and that may be the reason for the broken pipe.
 
J

Jerardo Sr.

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#9
  • Aug 23, 2019
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I just checked all my fluid levels & I'm good on everything. I also took more pictures of the engine bay.
 
J

Jerardo Sr.

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#10
  • Aug 23, 2019
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I just took a pic of the booster as well & I'm no rocket scientist but I'm positive it shouldn't be leaking fluids.
 
J

Jerardo Sr.

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#11
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General karthief said:
That first pic is the drain for the ac evaporator, it is right above the exhaust pipe I think and that may be the reason for the broken pipe.
Click to expand...
Thankyou I was wondering what that was.
 
J

Jerardo Sr.

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#12
  • Aug 23, 2019
  • #12
Noobz347 said:
You could also be pushing oil out of the PCV grommet.
Click to expand...
Thankyou I will check into everything you suggested & get back with you on my findings.
 

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair
5 Year Member
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polk county florida
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#13
  • Aug 23, 2019
  • #13
That last pic is under the dash, back of master cylinder at the rod, if that is brake fluid leaking, and it likely is, then you need to change the master cylinder.
 
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J

Jerardo Sr.

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#14
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General karthief said:
That last pic is under the dash, back of master cylinder at the rod, if that is brake fluid leaking, and it likely is, then you need to change the master cylinder.
Click to expand...
Thats what I was thinking, I also had my father apply pressure to the brake pedal while I went under the car & found a leak near the passenger rear tire. I can get a picture if needed.
 

Noobz347

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#15
  • Aug 23, 2019
  • #15
Jerardo Sr. said:
Thats what I was thinking, I also had my father apply pressure to the brake pedal while I went under the car & found a leak near the passenger rear tire. I can get a picture if needed.
Click to expand...

You should plan on replacing the Master Cylinder, and all 4 calipers and pads.

Did 97 have ABS? Not sure if you need a machine to bleed if so
 
J

Jerardo Sr.

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#16
  • Aug 23, 2019
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Noobz347 said:
You should plan on replacing the Master Cylinder, and all 4 calipers and pads.

Did 97 have ABS? Not sure if you need a machine to bleed if so
Click to expand...
Darn it I recently replaced all the brake pads but if need be I will replace the braking equipment as suggested when my budget permits me to do so. Thanks for the speedy response & I'm not sure if my car has ABS brakes.
 

Noobz347

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#17
  • Aug 23, 2019
  • #17
Jerardo Sr. said:
Darn it I recently replaced all the brake pads but if need be I will replace the braking equipment as suggested when my budget permits me to do so. Thanks for the speedy response & I'm not sure if my car has ABS brakes.
Click to expand...

It's probably not as expensive as you think for parts. Shop around.

The whole job can be done with a jack, some stands, and a good set of 1/2 in drive sockets and some other hand tools.

[Buy a bleeder screw wrench!!!!] The first time you round one of those buggers off, you'll wish you did.

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a50ina50

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May 31, 2016
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Aug 24, 2019
#18
  • Aug 24, 2019
  • #18
Jerardo,
If that is water/coolant coming from the passenger side condensate drain tube then it is a good chance your heater core is bad/leaking. The water/coolant that's coming from the bad heater core has to go somewheres. That's how I found out my heater core was bad. I dont have air conditioning so it definitely wasnt was draining out in my situation.
 
J

Jerardo Sr.

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Mar 22, 2019
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Aug 25, 2019
#19
  • Aug 25, 2019
  • #19
Hey guys update!!! I finally got the brakes to stop leaking but the pedal is sinking. Now I am convinced that it is the master cylinder which is only 73.99$ at my local parts house.
 
J

Jerardo Sr.

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#20
  • Aug 25, 2019
  • #20
a50ina50 said:
Jerardo,
If that is water/coolant coming from the passenger side condensate drain tube then it is a good chance your heater core is bad/leaking. The water/coolant that's coming from the bad heater core has to go somewheres. That's how I found out my heater core was bad. I dont have air conditioning so it definitely wasnt was draining out in my situation.
Click to expand...
It just started leaking like that recently. It leaks with the AC/heater in both the on & off position.
 
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