stevie_b Posted July 3, 2011 Share Posted July 3, 2011 On my NA, I've spotted a fluid leak at or very near the rear driver's-side wheel. There's enough fluid to form a considerable damp spot on the ground over a couple of weeks of the car being stationary. I'm guessing this will be brake fluid, will it? I haven't had a chance to take the wheel off yet. I can't see it being hydraulic fluid from the shock absorber; it doesn't look like it's coming from high enough (see photo). It's just the horizontal bar thing that seems to be damp with fluid. Any ideas what it could be? Is this a common problem? I've searched for it, but couldn't find any examples like this. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwayne Posted July 3, 2011 Share Posted July 3, 2011 theres a thread here about rotting brake lines, maybe its that and the fluid is travelling along and dripping where you can see it http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showthread.php?140112-WARNING-15-year-old-brake-line-rotted-through&highlight=corroded pics on page 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Posted July 3, 2011 Share Posted July 3, 2011 The brake pipe looks very dry though. Is it coming from higher up, where the flexi pipe meets the hard pipe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted July 4, 2011 Author Share Posted July 4, 2011 In my photo, is the brake pipe the pale looped pipe near the top of the photo? Access is a bit tricky where I have the car parked, but I'll take another look and try to be more specific about the source of it. It looks like the fluid is weeping from the right-hand join of the horizontal bar thing. (If anyone can let me know the proper names of these components that I'm talking about, that might help too! ) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 The horizontal bar thing is the lower suspension arm, this fits into the hub using a ball joint. It's almost definetly brake fluid as the arm is directly under the brake line, get the wheel off and have a good look. Check out the WSM, suspension and axle section as theres nice diagrams in there showing all the bits you need to see Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted July 4, 2011 Author Share Posted July 4, 2011 Thanks to all the helpers so far. Dnk, what does WSM stand for? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dnk Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 (edited) Work Shop Manual http://www.turbosupras.com/pages/en/pages/technical/a80tsrm.htm Edited July 4, 2011 by Dnk (see edit history) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted July 4, 2011 Author Share Posted July 4, 2011 Thanks, I'm being very slow this morning! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 Rub your finger in it and taste it, brake fluid has a very distinctive taste. Be lucky it's not next door's cat though.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigbloodyturbo Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 Rub your finger in it and taste it, brake fluid has a very distinctive taste. Be lucky it's not next door's cat though.... at the risk of someone copying this in their sig, whats brake fluid taste like? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted July 4, 2011 Share Posted July 4, 2011 How do you describe the taste of something?? Just dip you finger in the brake fluid reservoir and see for yourself. i wouldn't get a liking for it though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted July 4, 2011 Author Share Posted July 4, 2011 I'll try a tiny bit of the fluid tonight. I probably won't be trying some of next door's cat's pee for comparison purposes though. That would be like the Pepsi Challenge, Jackass style. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted July 13, 2011 Author Share Posted July 13, 2011 Update: with the help & expert eye of Graham S, it turns out this isn't brake fluid but a leaking shock absorber. Damn thing has only been on the car 5 years, and covered less than 30,000 miles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris Wilson Posted July 13, 2011 Share Posted July 13, 2011 I can find you a good used stock damper if you need one. Or new Bilsteins? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevie_b Posted July 14, 2011 Author Share Posted July 14, 2011 Thanks for the offer Chris, but I've just bought a new one from Steve Manley. I honestly didn't think of buying second hand: I'll bear that in mind if the new one decides to dump its oil like the last one did! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian C Posted July 15, 2011 Share Posted July 15, 2011 But what's shock absorber fluid taste like? We need to know Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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