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laurasky7

Corsa Brake Fluid Loss

I have a 2001 Vauxhall Corsa with a gasoline engine. The brake fluid level is dropping, but I don't see any leaks. The brake pedal feels strange. The car has done 58365 km. Could this be the master cylinder or the brake lines? I'm hoping to get some ideas before a brake inspection.

Summary of the thread

A 2001 Vauxhall Corsa was experiencing brake fluid loss and a strange brake pedal feel, with no visible leaks. Possible causes included issues with the master cylinder or brake lines. However, it was suggested that worn brake pads could be the culprit, as they require more fluid to maintain contact with the rotor. Upon inspection, worn brake pads were confirmed as the issue, and replacing them along with flushing the brake fluid resolved the problem.

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4 comment(s)

robinlight74

That sounds like an issue I had with my old Renault Megane: low brake fluid and a spongy pedal. It turned out to be worn brakes. The system has to work harder, and the fluid level drops as the pads wear down. Have you checked your brake pad thickness?

laurasky7 (community.author)

That's interesting. I hadn't considered worn brakes. I will inspect them. But how would worn brakes alone cause the brake fluid level to drop?

robinlight74

Think of it like a piston. As the brake pads wear, the pistons in the calipers extend further to maintain contact with the rotor. This needs more fluid from the reservoir. Eventually, the fluid level drops in the master cylinder reservoir. If the pads are worn, get it checked professionally to be safe. There could be other brake system issues.

laurasky7 (community.author)

Thanks for the explanation! I took the car to the workshop, and the brake pads were worn. Replacing them and flushing the fluid fixed the problem. The repair cost 480€. I appreciate the help!

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VAUXHALL

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CORSA