Losing Brake Fluid

[malcoll]

I have a 1996 RT.. I noticed about three months ago that my brake fluid was really low... so I topped it off..... I drive my Viper about three times a week to the office... 20 miles each way. No track days in two years... installed Tom's 40mm rear brake upgrade about 1.75 years ago.. replaced front calipers with rebuilt calipers from Tom.

Anyway.... topped off the brake fluid three months ago.... and now it appears to be low again. I have not noted any brake fluid on the garage floor (epoxy floor.. would see puddle or drops)... no sign of brake fluid at calipers.... no sign of brake fluid on underside of car...... but it's definitely low.

I have noticed a lot of brake dusting with the stop and go traffic to the office... and back... could it just be my pads wearing down?

 

[Tom F&L GoR]

The reservoir will go lower as the pads wear - the fluid is taking up the space/distance between the caliper and the rotor that was once occupied by brake pad material. If that's all that's happening, when you push the pistons back into the caliper to install new pads, the reservoir will overflow - put a rag around it.

This is easy to say and some work to do, but probe the dust boots to see if they are full of fluid. A slow leak might get past the seal but stay captured on the inside of the dust boot and it'll be like a water balloon. Some brake rebuilders will use a lot of brake assembly grease, so make sure if it's "full" that it's brake fluid and not a thin grease.

20,000 miles seems a little short for life of pads, but it will depend on what they are and how you drive. Can you look through the spokes and see how much is left?

 

[twinturbo3150]

If there are no signs of brake fluid on the ground or around the calipers themself's. I would suspect the pads are just getting worn down, I would check the pads

 

[Madduc]

Another place to check if all else fails is the master cylinder/ brake powerbooster. Have seen powerboosters with plenty of brake fluid in them. Rare, but worth a look.