Bendix Master Cylinder Leak

[barker_001]

Having just replaced my front calipers with reconditioned items and bled the system, I've noticed there is a tiny weep from between the master cylinder and the servo. Enough to take some of the paint off the servo.

The Bendix master cylinders seem to be increasingly hard to get hold of. How successful have people been with using a seal kit on these to refurbish them, or do they typically have internal corrosion and require sleeving or replacement?

Thanks for your thoughts...

[Hawaiis0]

Check the threads for companies that do overhauls. Been a few recently from memory.

[LotusMonkey]

I'm about to do the same job on mine, as the car hasn't moved for 16 years and still had the original seals, so though I might as well do it at the same time as the calliper refurb given I need to drain out the old fluid. The SJ kits are about £16 for this job. I also looked at Neil Donaldson's channel on YouTube as the Excel Service Notes that I have do not cover this, and found a video where he removed the master cylinder. It looks easy enough to do, especially as the cylinder comes straight off the front of the servo.

Duncan

[Marten]

Having just replaced my front calipers with reconditioned items and bled the system, I've noticed there is a tiny weep from between the master cylinder and the servo. Enough to take some of the paint off the servo.

The Bendix master cylinders seem to be increasingly hard to get hold of. How successful have people been with using a seal kit on these to refurbish them, or do they typically have internal corrosion and require sleeving or replacement?

Thanks for your thoughts...

re-sealing only works if the bore isn't deaply pitted and cleans up with a hone. The bottom of the bore could be bad due to water settling out

[barker_001]

Thanks gents,

I took the cylinder off and sure enough there was fluid coming from the rear seal. However I'm having trouble getting the piston out. I removed the internal circlip and the washer under it, and was expecting the piston to pop out. But it doesn't move beyond the position in the photo. Do the slots mean I need to unscrew it or is there anything else I need to do to release it? The piston feels like it's coming to a definite stop against something, rather than jamming.

[barker_001]

A kind gentleman on one of the Facebook groups came up with the answer. You need to remove the reservoir, and in one of the ports is a small pin which needs to be removed to release the piston. Push down on the piston and the pin comes our easily. It also ejects quite a bit of brake fluid - fortunately my ports were facing the garage wall and not towards the car!