Breaks leaking fluid where line enters caliper

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fiasco
Posts: 885
Joined: Sat Jul 05, 2008 2:10 am
Your car is a: 1969 Fiat Spider
Location: Ontario, CA

Breaks leaking fluid where line enters caliper

Post by fiasco »

So I replaced my brake pads last week, and finished off by bleeding the lines. All seemed fine until I got to everything sealed back up, and fluid was leaking where the brake line enters the caliper on the front passenger side.

The lines are roughly 3 yrs old, and are braided steel lines. There is a thin brass washer that goes on top of the fitting at the end of the line, and another that goes underneath, between the fitting and the caliper itself. This is the case on all 4 wheels. There was no leakage before I took them apart, and none of the other three leak after being put back together.

I took the front passenger side line off the caliper again, and visually inspected everything. I don't know for sure what everything is supposed to look like, so I don't know if it looks like it should. The lower washer seems very smooth on one side, and slightly ridged on the other. The ridged side appears to match what I see on the fitting at the end of the brake line - slightly ridged. The ridges are concentric around the hole, not running across the metal. I don't know if this is a/the problem or not.

If anyone has any insight, I'd be happy to hear it.

Thanks,
-- se
Steve Eubanks
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1969 Fiat 124 Spider AS | 2108 Fiat 124 Spider Classica | http://calstylestudio.com
DanD
Posts: 212
Joined: Thu Nov 27, 2008 4:03 pm
Your car is a: 1972 Fiat 124 spider

Re: Breaks leaking fluid where line enters caliper

Post by DanD »

Most people replace the washers, but you can reuse them if you heat them with a propane torch and let them cool. Some people also sand them slightly with fine sandpaper on a flat surface..
garion
Posts: 508
Joined: Tue Sep 18, 2012 10:20 pm
Your car is a: 1979 Fiat 124 Spider
Location: Phoenix, AZ

Re: Breaks leaking fluid where line enters caliper

Post by garion »

Did you disconnect the brake line while changing pads? I've never had to do that. If so, then yeah, I would replace the washers.

I ordered these washers from Amazon, and they work fine, available on prime!: washers
--John
1978 Fiat 124 Spider (for sale soon)
1979 Fiat 124 Spider
2007 Audi A4
Blog: http://www.technobabelfish.com
User avatar
fiasco
Posts: 885
Joined: Sat Jul 05, 2008 2:10 am
Your car is a: 1969 Fiat Spider
Location: Ontario, CA

Re: Breaks leaking fluid where line enters caliper

Post by fiasco »

Yeah - I took the calipers off when I changed the pads. I wanted to clean and inspect everything, and it was just easier to get the pistons pushed back in on the workbench.

I went ahead and sanded the one washer till it was nice and smooth on both sides, then reinstalled. No leaks and the brake pedal is nice and firm now.

Thanks for the help.
-- se
Steve Eubanks
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1969 Fiat 124 Spider AS | 2108 Fiat 124 Spider Classica | http://calstylestudio.com
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