Master brake cylinder -replace or re-seal?

[Beanie]

Hi guys

The master brake cylinder on my 1995 306 is leaking. The local mechanic has quoted me about $350 to replace it (that's something like 180 quid). However, not being blessed with pots of money I'm wondering if I can do the work myself. Trouble is, here in Queensland Australia there aint a lot of places to get parts (apart from our old friend Ebay). My car does have ABS.

I've watched a You tube video of a 'how to' on this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9fz7lkM870 and it appears reasonably easy although I know from experience once you find you can't undo bleed nipples etc, it can soon get far more tricky.

I have fairly average mechanical experience but by no means a grease monkey.

I'm wondering if I should replace the whole master cylinder or just the seals. Ebay has both available.

Has anyone here done either of these jobs? Do you have any suggestions or tips?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[bashbarnard]

Ive replaced master cylinder before. I would get a gti as well while your at it. Bigger internal diameter. Sharper brake feel. Bolts on the same. Nice and easy as long as bleed nipples come undone.

[Beanie]

Jeez that was a quick reply! Thanks bashbarnard.

Should I opt for original equipment or are there other makes of master cylinder I could or should use? I may have to use another manufacturers mc if I'm limited as to what I can get posted over to me.

[zx_volcane]

How much would it cost to ship from the UK?

Talk to BiggRed

http://www.biggred.co.uk/

They do seal kits and refurbed units

[Beanie]

Thanks zx_volcane. I'll give 'em a try.

[zx_volcane]

also, if its been leaking into the servo, it'll need draining which is a pita without removing - and ideally replacing too as the brake fluid won't do the diaphragm inside much good

[Beanie]

I emailed bigred and gave them the engine number and chassis number and they replied;

'although we stock a range of Master cylinder kits it is not possible to identify with just the vehicle details.
We need the make of cylinder fitted and bore size. This is normally stamped into the casting but not always where you can see'.

Strangely enough I managed to get a quote from an Ebay supplier with no trouble (70 quid inc postage to Australia-which was about 15 quid) so I'm a bit confused.

I think my car's had an engine change so I have no idea how to get the make of cylinder fitted and bore size. Maybe as bigred say, it's marked somewhere?

I'll have a look in the morning (it's pitch black outside and presently pissing down which means mozzies the size of cats will have a major snack on me if I go out there now (ya see it's not all fun out here).

Meanwhile if anyone knows where these sizes or markings are on the mc, please give me a heads up.

Thanks guys

[Redordead89]

I wouldn't buy blindly from eBay only going on the sellers assumtion it will fit your car incase it's the wrong part!

Ive replaced master cylinder before. I WOULD GET A GTI MASTER CYLINDER INSTEAD while your at it. Bigger internal diameter. Sharper brake feel. Bolts on the same. Nice and easy as long as bleed nipples come undone.

Jeez that was a quick reply! Thanks bashbarnard.

Should I opt for original equipment or are there other makes of master cylinder I could or should use? I may have to use another manufacturers mc if I'm limited as to what I can get posted over to me.

THE ANSWER TO YOUR QUESTION ABOUT GOING ORIGINAL EQUIPTMENT IS IN BASH's REPLY IN CAPS!
;-)

You should post a wanted working GTI master cylinder in the wanted section on here as there's plenty good lads here that know their ass from their elbow!

[Beanie]

Thanks Redordead89

I thought I'd read in one of this forum's threads (possibly an old one as I read so many yesterday) that master cylinders tend to last only a couple of years. If this is the case, then installing a used one could possibly be a waste of money as postage (to Oz) is not cheap plus, going on the age of my car, (with the chances of one or more nipples playing silly buggers) meaning I'll probably be best to get a local mechanic to do the work (about the equivalent of 50 quid).

Do you think what (I thought I'd read) that ms's only last two years is incorrect? If so, then I'll do as you suggest.

[Redordead89]

Thanks Redordead89

I thought I'd read in one of this forum's threads (possibly an old one as I read so many yesterday) that master cylinders tend to last only a couple of years. If this is the case, then installing a used one could possibly be a waste of money as postage (to Oz) is not cheap plus, going on the age of my car, (with the chances of one or more nipples playing silly buggers) meaning I'll probably be best to get a local mechanic to do the work (about the equivalent of 50 quid).

Do you think what (I thought I'd read) that ms's only last two years is incorrect? If so, then I'll do as you suggest.

MC's last a whole lot longer than 2 years buddy!
Only ever replaced one and I've owned 20odd cars mostly peugeots so go get one and order up a repeal kit for it anyway!

[chris.simpson.tr]

Mate its a piece of piss to refurb the master. Yank the thing out, ring someone in Oz who knows what they are talking about & has the kits in stock. If necessary take it to a mechanics & ask for a bore measure, will take them 30 seconds. Whole job is 5 minutes under race conditions, an hour & a couple beers at home.

[Beanie]

Thanks for the advice everyone. It turns out that the reason bigred wanted so many details is because they thought I was after a re-seal kit (despite the fact I made it clear I wanted the mc). They don't do master cylinders themselves so they put me onto another UK company. I emailed that co and they could do the mc but don't post to Oz.

So just as Chris.simpson.tr says I'd already decided to pop in to see a local mechanic who services all makes of car's master cylinders in the hope that he has a 306 one available (or otherwise can get hold of one without too much delay). I was hoping to just have a new mc put in but it seems this way might be the easiest.

I was (and still am) tempted to do it all myself but the last thing I need is to either fail to bleed the brakes properly (as I personally haven't bled brakes on any car since the 1970's) or maybe snap off a nipple or three due to the car's age.

I'll see what the mechanic says on Monday.

The thing is, the town I live in, whilst not a 'one horse town' certainly doesn't have a large supply of mechanics so I have to pick and choose carefully. It doesn't help when I only recently had to fork out to get some of the hydraulic hoses powering the soft top renewed, plus last week I had a new radiator fitted so finances are pretty tight in the Beanie household.

However I do really appreciate all your advice and will certainly bear that advice in mind.

[maxzy]

Normally, Change the new one is better.

Only seal change can cause the internal leak in the future if the inside surface of master cylinder unsmooth.

[Beanie]

I went to our local brake specialist and he had a quick look at my 306. He has tried for two days but so far has not been able to get a replacement master cylinder over here. To be honest he's pretty much in demand so I'm not sure just how much time he spent looking. He told me today that the only way he can help is if he re-seals the master cylinder. He reckons it'll cost about $250 (which is about 125 quid or thereabouts).

Can anyone suggest a European or UK based brake supplier who may possibly post overseas?

If I understand what Bash and Redordead89 are saying I can just replace my knackered master cylinder with one from a 306 GTI, even though my car's ABS equipped.

[Beanie]

As an update- Our local brake specialist re-sleeved (or maybe just sleeved) the master cylinder. He said that any European engine around twenty years old would be pretty badly pitted within the cylinder and that this was how he did just about all of them. He'd tried Peugeot Australia for a new mc but without success.

In all, it cost me $282 (which about 140 quid) so I'm quite pleased.

[welshpug]

:o

is postage really that expensive down there?

[puggered]

holy crap!!! I'm in the wrong job.
you could have got a new one landed from the UK for about half that.

Next time your looking for a part, try EAI in Sydney. They're not the cheapest but have a huge range of pug stuff.

[Beanie]

Thanks Puggered. Now you bloody tell me!

I did have a good look around online for a new mc but just couldn't find the right master cylinder. The two UK companies I tried either didn't have the correct mc or wouldn't post over to Oz. Why, I don't know.

I have demanding (but very badly paid) job- all I could get at my age- so very little time to do much research. I'll make a not of EAI. What's the initials stand for?

[puggered]

European Auto Imports - EAI.net.au

[welshpug]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Peugeot-306-Br...1595215554

£12 postage.

[Beanie]

Thanks guys. At least I know if it goes tits up again, I can get a replacement.