Pipe and brake fluid

I'm intending making a modification to my cars clutch master cylinder, as in adding a more accessible reservoir, which will need to be linked to the original by a pipe. Are there any flexible pipes to be wary of using with hydraulic fluid?

Reply to
Harry Bloomfield
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yup, most designed for water i guess,

Someone on the bike group did this not long ago, used some small bore hose he found in the garage, next day the hose was 'sweating' brake fluid,

i remember the VW beetle has a remote resovoir for the brake master cylinder, that had some blue cloth covered flexi hose between the 2, so you should be able to get brake fluid rated hose from a VW dealer... or any of the thousand of specialist VW parts places,

Reply to
Gazz

I'm intending making a modification to my cars clutch master cylinder,

Use a flexible brake or clutch hose.

Mike

Reply to
Muddymike

Try one of these readymade:

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Reply to
Phil

I'd be a bit wary about this sort of mod. Would it affect MOT?

Brian

Reply to
Brian Gaff

I would ask why? Clutch hydraulics don't usually ever need topping up. If it is leaking, it will only get worse.

Reply to
Dave Plowman (News)

Dave Plowman (News) laid this down on his screen :

Master cylinder + reservoir is difficult to check, located above the pedal in the cabin and slave has a reputation of failing, so my plan is to fit a second reservoir feeding the original one, but in a more accessible location under the bonnet.

It is not presently an issue.

Reply to
Harry Bloomfield

JOOI do you intend to report this modification to your insuror?

Reply to
Robin

Would you need to?

Reply to
ARW

Most insurance companies require you to tell them about any modifications or non-standard accessories. They often exclude from this sound equipment and immobilisers. OTOH they may well want to know about DVD players and satnavs (which affect eg the risks of theft from the car). If you don't tell them they may not be able to deny a claim (if the claim has nothign to do with the modification). But IIRC the general principle of insurance is "utmost good faith" and this applies before and after the contract - in other words you have a duty to tell them about anything which might affect the risks they have insured.

I don't know enough about cars to say what if any effect a secondary reserve for clutch fluid might have on risks. It did occur to me that a load more hydraulkic fluid under the bonnet where it gets warm (at least) and where, if it leaks, it can hit really hot metal might just possibly be seen as an additional risk :)

Reply to
Robin

No, he didn't. He used some hose he bought new as suitable for clutch and brake fluid.

Reply to
Grimly Curmudgeon

bollocks.

Reply to
Grimly Curmudgeon

That is a really strange arrangement. I can't recall ever seeing a hydraulic reservoir in any production vehicle passenger compartment.

Remote reservoirs on competition vehicles are usually connected with braided 'aeroquip' type hose with threaded end fittings and that is what I would choose but I would expect a silicone based hose (think exhaust hose from a model shop) to be suitable for a glycol based DOT 3 / 4 fluid. Getting a correctly sized hose clip could be more of an issue.

If you want to buy 'the real thing'

"Brake fluid hose"

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connection except as an *occasionally* satisfied customer)

Reply to
The Other Mike

oh, shit, sorry mate, my brain is past it's use by date,

i remember people thought he was using it on the pressure side, and it went down hill from there.

Reply to
Gazz

do forward control vans count?? the VW LT i had, whilst it had a cable operated clutch, the brake master cylinders resovoir was mounted inside the dash board, you lifted a flap on the top of the dash up to get at it,

i recall the brakes were a bastard to bleed, so i had a garage use their pressure bleeder, only the seal on their cap wasnt that good, and it pissed half as much brake fluid out as it did into the brake system.... of course this ended up in the passengers footwell.

Reply to
Gazz

I never told them when I swapped my MKII Escort engine from a 1.3 to a

1.6:-)

It's the definition of a modification that I was interested in. When I insure the van I am always asked if it has racking or shelving. I don't, but apparantly it is cheaper to insure the van if it had them!!!

I am always asked when insuring the van about sign writing on the van. I often use magnetic signs so I just say "none".

Reply to
ARW

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