What would cause brake fluid to leak from front passenger wheel?

Question

I have a 1992 Corsica V6 and within the last few weeks I have had to refill the brake fluid after the light came on to inform me that it was low. After replacing the fluid today I noticed that I had to push the brake all the way to floor and still had some difficulty in stopping. I was told that I needed to replace the caliper. Another person stated it was probably just a hose and I may also need to replace the front pads as a result of brake fluid saturating them. Which one of these problems seems more likely, if either? All suggestions are welcome. Thanks!

Answer 1

its either one of two things with it, a leaking hose or a bad caliper,you need to have it checked real soon though if its leaking bad enough to notice it ,you could loose your front brakes on it,and they do most of the stopping on most cars,good luck on it.

Answer 2

There is a lot of possible problems that could cause you to leak brake fluid some of them is a leaking caliper or brake line. Generally when a caliper leaks(and sometimes a line) u dont have to replaced the pads because fluid got on them but I usually clean them off with some brake cleaner and see if there ok from there; sometimes they are to saturated to save. the best way you can tell if it is a caliper or line is to look if you see fluid lines on one of the wheels of take a look behind them to see the line and the inside of the wheel. There is also some other possible problems that could cause the pedal to feel spongy or low to the floor, such as a bad master cyclender or air in the system, or bad brake booster. Most of brake fluid leaks from older vehicals come from calipers or line, while a bad master cyclender would cause a low or spongy pedal.

Answer 3

If your car is leaking brake fluid from around your wheel, then you probably do have a bad caliper. Which means that the opposite one will probably be leaking soon after you get that one fixed. These hydraulic parts usually go out in pairs. The chances of your brake line leaking are usually slim to nominal unless the car is old or has had some damage to the brake line, but you would have most likely done more damage if you had damaged the line.

Answer 4

RE:
What would cause brake fluid to leak from front passenger wheel?
I have a 1992 Corsica V6 and within the last few weeks I have had to refill the brake fluid after the light came on to inform me that it was low. After replacing the fluid today I noticed that I had to push the brake all the way to floor and still had some difficulty in stopping. I was told that I...

Answer 5

it could be a bad brake hose, inspect it carefully for leaks and cuts on the hose itself. they will be obvious. that said however, hoses don't fail as often as caliper seals do. there is an "O" ring seal that fits in a groove in the caliper, that seals brake fluid in the chamber where the caliper piston is. this seal flexes each time you use the brakes, and eventually it wears out due to fatigue and heat. personally i would replace both the caliper and the hose. the hose ony because of its age. i would also replace the left front caliper and hose as well, since these are likely the same age, and even though you dont have a problem with the left side now, you will in the near future. one more thing you can get what i known as loaded calipers. these are calipers that have the brake pads with the calipers so you dont need to buy the pads separately.

Answer 6

STOP! Don't listen to anymore of this "it's a caliper" nonsense! A caliper is a solid piece. And the chance of it being a hose is slim to none. What your problem is, based on years of experiance at a Chevy dealer, is a brake cylinder. This is where the fluid is pushed when you hit the brakes. The fluid then pushes a cylinder that powers your caliper (which hold the brake pads, which grip the disc on your wheel, thus stopping your car.)

Regardless, it's easy to check. Get out your jack. Loosen your lugnuts. Jack up the car. Remove your tire. You will see a small cylinder right by the wheel. Have someone pump on the brakes. It's leaking, right?

...Well, now the bad news. It's time to put your tire back on, fill up on brake fluid and drop off your car at the shop. Expect a $150 to $200 bill.

Answer 7

Brake lines and caliper piston seals can both leak brake fluid. Whichever is leaking needs to be replaced. If the brake pads are saturated, they need to be replaced. Because the system is open somewhere, there is air in it. That is the cause of your spongy brake pedal. The air in the system needs to be "bled". Brake jobs are done by the axle, front or back. Check the rotors, calipers, slides and pads and replace whatever needs to be replaced after the leak is taken care of. This probably should be done professionally. As a professional mechanic, I do brakes, steering, and suspension every day. For your safety, please make sure this is done right.

Answer 8

Could be all 3. You don't mess with brakes. They won't know until they got the wheel off. Pads are gone because the brake fluid on them is like oil on them - they are now contaminated. Caliper or brake hose or both. They can visually see if it is the hose or if the fault is in the caliper. Do it now, while you still can stop.

Answer 9

You probably have a busted brake hose or busted caliper. Either way it's dangerous and needs to be replaced. I would say that it's more than likely the hose, however the caliper could be at fault but a quick on site inspection would reveal the fault. The pads may need replacing if they've been soaked with fluid. It does need to be fixed quick like.

Answer 10

More than likely it is a leaky caliper. The seal around the piston, the part that pushes on the pad, has failed. It could be the connection from the brake hose to the caliper. Only a close inspection will tell for sure. Be sure to inspect all 4 corners as if one needs work so will the others.