Brake Master Cylinder quality.
karlak - 8/8/13 at 02:48 PM
Just after some thoughts on Brake Master Cylinders and quality.
Is it the same old story, you get what you pay for ? Makes like Girling are much more than the OEM types, is it worth the extra outlay for say
longevity, build quality and performance ?
Any thoughts ?
[Edited on 8/8/13 by karlak]
Ben_Copeland - 8/8/13 at 03:14 PM
I've had 2 wilwood ones go with very little use.
theprisioner - 8/8/13 at 05:14 PM
This is not good news, I thought Willwood were a reputable manufacturer?
onenastyviper - 8/8/13 at 05:15 PM
How does a master cylinder typically fail?
karlak - 8/8/13 at 05:22 PM
The reason I ask is that I have a problem with a brake cylinder that came as part of a Pedal Box. It is leaking through the casting through a pinhole
which cannot be seen by eye, having only been fitted and had fluid installed for a few weeks, not been on the road yet... It only happens when the
pedal is pressed, so no puddle on the floor, although it has knackered the paint on the chassis 
The "company" wont send me a new cylinder until i send this one back, which is a pain, as it will both delay the repair and leave the
braking system unsealed, so a complete waste of fluid ! I bought them over a year ago, they have sat in the box, so "technically" out of
warranty, but 'unfit for purpose" is my thoughts.....
Anyway, rather than mess around with a crucial part of the car from a safety aspect, I am wondering if I Should dump the three cylinders all supplied
with the pedal box and go for something with more quality and long lasting.
Willwood seem to be mid-priced options,, better than the cheap Chinese crap copies, but not up to Girling I think
[Edited on 8/8/13 by karlak]
iank - 8/8/13 at 05:23 PM
quote:
Originally posted by onenastyviper
How does a master cylinder typically fail?
The seals fail, if it sinks to the floor with pressure and needs to be pumped to give braking then that's the likely cause.
rodgling - 8/8/13 at 05:25 PM
Ive also had two Wilwoods fail, wouldn't buy them again
karlak - 8/8/13 at 05:34 PM
No-one had any problems with Brake fluid leaking through the metal casting then ?
Ben_Copeland - 8/8/13 at 05:37 PM
Mine go and the fluid won't pump into the circuit, they effectively stop working and you can't even bleed the system.
Had the rear one go with zero miles and the front one go at 300 miles.
theprisioner - 8/8/13 at 06:26 PM
Is it possible that on some cars the part is being misapplied. I know a chap that cut off the rod supplied with the master cylinder (MC) where the
clevis pin attaches. That effectively puts more sideways thrust on the piston thus potentially wearing the cylinder.
I also note that some MC's are made of plated steel and some are alloy, steel would make a more durable MC in my book.
coyoteboy - 8/8/13 at 06:40 PM
quote:
No-one had any problems with Brake fluid leaking through the metal casting then ?
Seems like a very unlikely and pretty shocking casting problem to get a full hole right through the casting. Crack, maybe, but a hole?! I'd be
worried about their quality in general with that sort of problem.
britishtrident - 8/8/13 at 07:47 PM
Have you pinpointed the actual pin hole hole ? as leaking under pressure generally points to leaking union.
coyoteboy - 8/8/13 at 08:08 PM
quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
Have you pinpointed the actual pin hole hole ?
Did you get enough pins and holes into that sentence ? 
I predict a Riot - 8/8/13 at 09:31 PM
Don't buy anything but Girling if you want quality.
I also have had a Wilwood fail in under a year - dumped fluid all into the footwell and a complete pig to change
spaximus - 8/8/13 at 10:01 PM
There are no girling parts now. The company who owns then is TRW who are one of the largest OEM braking manufacturers in the world. Anything they make
is top quality.
Ap are also top notch especially AP racing which is a seperate company now.
LPR, Firstline, Bendix, are all good quality well up to oe standards.
I have ne experiance of Willwood but they are huge in the states which is the centre of the world for litigation so I suspect the quality will be fine
as well.
Anything that is in a white box unbranded run a mile
phelpsa - 8/8/13 at 10:39 PM
I have had a wilwood fail, although only under use as a clutch master cylinder.
karlak - 8/8/13 at 11:37 PM
quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
Have you pinpointed the actual pin hole hole ? as leaking under pressure generally points to leaking union.
Definitely coming out of the side of the casting. Under the car with a torch while someone was pressing the pedal to see it weeping out. The union
points are bone dry.
Almost £300 for the Pedal box, you would have hoped they would supply half decent brake/clutch cylinders..