Help Brake Fluid Everywhere!

[polo_spec_d]

Okie where to start.

Was doing a pad change on the drivers side after completing the passenger side when I noticed fluid dripping on the ground. After looking around the engine bay I found it coming from the brake fluid resy.

I then took the car for a drive to check the pads when the car started to make a horrilbe streching sound from the drivers side. After going in reverse the noise went away and I headed home...

To discover brake fluid everywhere on the underside of the car and lower half on the drivers side of the engine bay. Also the rubber cap for the bleeder has gone.

There is no adverse brake effects at the moment.

Anyone have any idea's what has happened and can it be fixed???

Thanks,

Matty

[Grant]

When you changed the pads, did you rewind the piston back into the caliper?

This can cause the fluid res. to overflow if you didn't take some out before hand.

[polo_spec_d]

yeah I pushed it back but didnt take any fluid out.

[mikinoz]

If I were you I would be washing the car engine bay and any exposed paint thoroughly and soon, to prevent any reaction with the brake fluid which can act as paint stripper...

[polo_spec_d]

Oh that was the first thing I did.

Took the car for a drive this morning and brakes feel fine, but just waiting to see if it drips again.

[polo_spec_d]

I have a theory that the bake fluid res. was over filled and by compressing the cylinder's to fit the new pads it has leaked out the cap, but this doesnt explain the streching from the drivers side.

[geoff_gti]

stretching or screeching- assume you mean a screeching sound??

[Jmac]

Mate you really should also have the cap off before you wind the piston back, this can also have an effect on the seals in the Master Cyl if not careful. Be quick and wash the engine bay or you will have bare paint stripped spots. Im sure the noise you are talking about is just the new pads and should go away after they are bedded in.
Cheers
Jmac

[polo_spec_d]

Yeah was a long day yest.... Wasnt thinking at all. All good now and brakes are back to normal.

[GTIJNR]

Did u BED the pads in?

[polo_spec_d]

Yeah bed them in but they were smoking when I pulled up on the last drive.

[geoff_gti]

Good to hear man, hope you got all the brake fluid off ok too.

[VW Convert]

Yeah bed them in but they were smoking when I pulled up on the last drive.

Why would they smoke? Did you give the brakes a very heavy workout? If so, this is not good bedding in procedure.
If you didn't give them a heavy workout and they were smoking, I'd be thinking something is jamming the pads against the disc, possibly a seized piston.......whatever the cause, something's not right and needs to be checked out.

Cheers

George

[polo_spec_d]

Got a Mechanic to check it out, All fine, Normal for this pads to smoke when first wearing in due to the composite. Even wearing over the disc's.

Ive done over 1500kms since Ive put this pads in on friday and all good apart from my stupid mistake with the fluid DOH!