SergeK

Started losing pressure in my brakes a few days ago. Now there is no pressure. I can still stop the car but I basically have no power brakes. Drove it like this for the past week. Finally got around to checking it out, definitely a leak. I added some fluid but it didn't help. Probably air in the lines now, but I need to replace either the master cylinder or the booster. Not sure which. Attached are pics.

BlueRidgeMark

Master is leaking. There's no brake fluid in the booster.

Rebuilding one is easy.

HuntinXJ

I had the same problem a few weeks ago. Replaced booster to restore braking power and the ms because it was nasty lookin' inside. Problems solved for another 14 years, hopefully.

SergeK

Thanks fellas.

SergeK

Okay, I am furious right now.

I replaced my Master Cylinder yesterday and spent 3 hours trying to bleed the brakes. I bench bled the MC before installing, and the brakes seemed to be bleeding fine. The fluid was brand new, and no air. I had my girlfriend in the car pumping and holding for me.

After almost three hours, I still could not get decent pressure in the pedal. So i decided to drop it off at a very reputable shop this morning for a bleed. The service guy just called me and said I need a new booster. Now, I didn't want to be THAT guy, but this really didnt sit right. He literally said "It's not making boost, you need a brake booster."

Now, not wanting to be THAT guy, I told him I was a BMW Tech for two years, and know that if a booster was bad, the pedal would be hard to push down, as there wouldn't be any boost. I asked him what the pedal was doing. Was it hard? Did it go to the floor? Obviously aggravated, he said "Serge, its not making boost".

he quoted me $360 to replace the booster. Fine. Whatever, I have no choice. I need the car fixed ASAP and dont have the time to wrench on it. As usual, it came at the worst time but whatever, money comes money goes.

What really pisses me off though, is the inexplicable feeling that I am getting, for the lack of a better term... ****ed.:furiou s:

SeriousOffroad

If the booster was bad your pedal would be hard to push.

If the brakes pump up and the pedal slowly fades to the floor you have a leak in the lines, wheel cylinder or caliper are the usual suspects.

SteveMongr

I'm sorry you have to deal with that.
I post because I noticed the front shock nuts are loose, there appears to be a gap under the bushing and between the nut and washer.

SergeK

In fact you are correct. Tightened them down yesterday.

SergeK

Brakes werent pumping up at all when the car was running. When I was bleeding them, the brakes pumped up fine. I'd open the bleeder, theyd go down. She held it down and id lock it back up and rinse repeat. When I turned the car on, the pedal went down to the floor basically. Wasnt hard at all. Just felt like there was a bunch of air in the line. This is why I think im getting screwed. If the booster was bad, it would be hard to push down. Then the service writer got pissed when I called him on it.

caged

is the pedal rod adjusted properly coming from the booster into the master?

brifle

Interested in the outcome of this. Same thing just happened to my 2000. Pulled out my boat, then brakes went all the way to floor. No real time to TS, but I made sure the master cylinder was full, but still no pressure.