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MG TD TF 1500 - back brake wheel cylinder pucks shrank?

I had the back wheel cylinders sleeved in stainless 3 years ago and rebuilt the cylinders with new kits. Don't recall how they went together at the time but needless to say, all was re-assembled, flushed, and new Dot 5 fluid put in. Brake bled and the car was used for several hundred miles. I noticed wetness on the tires last year, going down to the dollies the car sits on. I thought it was rear axle grease so tore things apart. Come to find out both rear wheel cylinders were leaking. So took them apart and the rubber cups literally fell out of the wheel cylinders. They had shrunk. The bores are the right size as the plastic hat that goes in there just fits. I had some NOS brake cups on hand and they fit in those bores nice and snug so I rebuilt both and bled the system down. Darn nice firm pedal now.

I have never heard that Dot 5 could make something like that shrink??? Anyone else have a problem like that?
L Rutt

I've been using DOT5 since 1984 with no issues. I suspect you had poor quality rubber. I have never seen this happen, but I have seen the pistons literally rust weld in the bores with DOT3 and DOT4 fluid. I have also seen conventional fluid leak and strip paint.
IF PEOPLE CHOOSE TO USE CONVENTIONAL FLUID IT MUST BE TOTALLY REPLACED EVERY THREE YEARS due to moisture absorption.
One year ago I was driving our flat bed down a steep 12% grade, with the TD on board and had a total brake failure. The cause? High moisture content in the fluid.
-David
D. Sander

....thats why BMW suggest (?) changing brake fluid yearly.....

Never had any rubber shrink, but an old washer was in the MC and boy did it disintegrate.....had to flush all the little rubber bits out....
gblawson(gordon- TD27667)

This thread was discussed on 26/08/2011

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