brake master resevior

[m_w]

I picked up a new brake master and booster from dmcmw. Now I need to get the resevior off of the old master, but it seems completely stuck. I've been hitting it with pb blaster for a few days now, but the two pins that hold the resevior onto the master will not budge. Are there any tricks to getting this apart?

[David T]

I picked up a new brake master and booster from dmcmw. Now I need to get the resevior off of the old master, but it seems completely stuck. I've been hitting it with pb blaster for a few days now, but the two pins that hold the resevior onto the master will not budge. Are there any tricks to getting this apart?

Remove the 2 hitch pins (clips) and then tap the pins out with a hammer and a pin punch. You will have to pry the reservoir off. Be careful to put it on the new master cylinder correctly. If you install it backwards it hits the booster. Before installing it you should wipe it out with alcohol as good as you can. Rare for the boosters to go bad. The old one is probably still good.

[dn010]

If the pins are rusted in the MC you'll have to cut them to get the reservoir off.

[DMCMW Dave]

If it's a rusty mess you'll never knock them out. Just cut them off. Most important thing is to NOT damage the reservoir.

You can make new ones out of front brake caliper pins or even just use a couple of really long hardware store screws and doubled up lock nuts. They don't need to do much, just hold the thing in place.

[m_w]

If the pins are rusted in the MC you'll have to cut them to get the reservoir off.


They are seized, so I think cutting them off is my only option. I don't think a hammer would be a good idea there.

Thoughs on what to use to cut them off? Seems to tight for a cutoff wheel. Maybe a small hacksaw?

[DMCMW Dave]

They are seized, so I think cutting them off is my only option. I don't think a hammer would be a good idea there.

Thoughs on what to use to cut them off? Seems to tight for a cutoff wheel. Maybe a small hacksaw?

Dremel with a reinforced cutoff wheel.

[m_w]

Dremel with a reinforced cutoff wheel.

That sounds like a plan.
... I might have to try that for the seized heater core m5 nuts as well.

Thanks dave :)

[Delorean Industries]

Touch base with Grady as he has replacements I believe if you run into trouble.

[m_w]

Touch base with Grady as he has replacements I believe if you run into trouble.

Always nice to have a backup plan. Thanks josh

[lindbergh]

I replaced my brake master earlier this year and I was able to get the pins out but it was difficult as they were rusted in place. It took a lot of time over the course of a couple days. A combination of penetrating oils and hit the pins with a punch, a couple punches in the remove direction followed by a couple in the insert direction. I did this back and forth with occasional follow ups with the penetrating oil. Eventually, they started to move, still back and forth to get the oil inside and they finally gave although I had to punch them all the way out. It took several hours plus a day or so of soak time with the penetrating oil. You can usually get them out but it may not be worth the time and hassle as they are going to fight you the whole way. :swear1:

[m_w]

As a followup, I used a dremel to cut the resevoir off of the master. It worked perfectly with no damage to the plastic tabs on the resevoir.

Maybe the same trick would work to break the master free from the booster :P I think those are both going on the scrap pile.

[dn010]

I just went through that, I had to hammer a screw driver between the MC and booster by where the bolts pass through. Easy for me though, since my frame is out and my car is several feet in the air. You could try it from above though...