Over the last few months I've been losing a bit of brake fluid, enough to need a small top-up every couple of weeks. I seem to remember a bit about this in Russell's brake modulator thread on RR.net but damned if I can find the words it now.

I've done pads all round so I know there's no leak at the calipers and the last time I did the oil I had a damn good look at all the lines underneath when it was on the ramp. I've also had a good look/feel around the modulator. No sign and no puddle when its parked either.

Any bright ideas? I've just received the modulator repair kit so will be diving into that at some point and that'll be checked, but is there anything on the 38 equivalent to fluid leaking into a servo on a 'normally' braked car, thus hidden?

Check the high pressure hose from pump to modulator ... better do it now because if it leaks badly it can spray the exhaust and catch fire ..

There isn't anywhere brake fluid can go other than fall out onto the floor. As far as I know it can't leak inside the modulator and, unlike a conventional servo system, you don't have a vacuum hose to the inlet for it to be sucked in there. There's a couple of short metal pipes on either side at the rear, one on each side, that are tucked away and do rust. Mine has also had the main pipe from front to rear replaced with copper/nickel at some point so that could be leaking somewhere along it's length.

The level is going to drop slightly as the pads wear and the caliper pistons move out but that would only move the level from max to min even going from a complete set of brand new pads to almost worn out. It shouldn't need to be constantly topped up.

Common spots to leak are:

1. Proportioning Valve.
2. Rear Lines where the cross over the frame. Mine went at the 90 Degree turn to cross over to the other side.
3. Reservoir Seals.

Mine went also where it crosses over the chassis behind the fuel tank. I was doing a brake job and stamped hard on the brakes. Suddenly the pipe burst and the pedal went straight down to the floor. Luckily it was in my drive. I have since since replaced it with copper/nickel pipe.

It can't be seen and I guess it may have a slight leak and not drip on the floor yet. If your take off the RHS rear wheel and wheel arch liner, you can shine a torch through the small gap where the pipe runs.

Thanks guys. A little more investigation needed methinks.

I'll report back if/when I find anything, just in case we've got a new one!

If the pressure hose is faulty you get warning if it is severe, but a fine spray might not be noticed.

If it sprays onto the exhaust manifold you might have a problem!

SpiggyTopes wrote:

If the pressure hose is faulty you get warning if it is severe, but a fine spray might not be noticed.

If it sprays onto the exhaust manifold you might have a problem!

Dis am true.

However, there's no sign under the bonnet of any leak, smoke or even haze.

What surprises me is that you'd think if there was a pipe leak then as the pressure dropped after switching off and leaving for a few days, it'd suck a lungful of air.

We'll find it!

If you need to keep topping up as you say, then clearly the brake fluid is leaking out from somewhere.
Have you checked the rear cross over pipe yet?

Found it!!!

Thanks to Spiggy's brake failure and Gilbertd's mention of braided hose, I had a nose this morning to find two things:-
1) My hose is not braided and,
2) My fluid leak is from the PCRV. I hadn't spotted it before as it's bloody busy down there on a left hooker!

Soo, nosing around for replacements I can only find Island 4x4 who do the PCRV. Good news? No, bad news, it's Britpart!

The question therefore is who does OEM/Genuwine PCRV? I'm buggered if I can find anyone.

LR Direct list an original https://www.lrdirect.com/ANR3323-supplied-by-landrover-branded-landrover.html and Britcar list a quality replacement as well as the Britpart one http://www.brit-car.co.uk/product.php/107754/5497/brake_valve_assy_abs_nrr.

Thanks for that!

Both sites are refusing payment from the Philippines unfortunately. I get this a lot which is why I tend to stick with those I have no problem with, e.g. Rimmers, Island and a couple of others.

I'll drop them a mail and see if I can sort it.

Failing that, mine cost 83 Euros (genuine at the dealer fwiw) and I'd be happy to post you one.

Probably cheaper in UK, though.

Brit-Car have them listed as Genuine LR at about £60 plus VAT - but that is on a 1-2 day order IF their supplier has them in stock.

LR-direct also list a genuine Land Rover part at about £61+VAT - but again, subject to LR stock.

I have a feeling that it will probably be a case of you'll put the order in and then they'll come back and say LR doesn't have any stock left.. To be honest I'd just go with the Britpart one and keep an eye on it, especially as there seem to be very few alternatives. I'm not even sure if the old one is fixable - it looks like in the pictures that the bottom cap is held on with a couple of machine screws - it could just be that there's an O-ring under there which has cracked or something silly like that... I wouldn't recommend trying to take it apart until you have a replacement one in there though ;)

Sorry, George, you want the valve not the hose ... I quoted the hose.

Somehow when I went to reply it didn't show up with GilbertD's response - otherwise I wouldn't have posted the same sites!

Thanks guys. Britcar sent me an email about the failed payment asking me to reply and they'd process. I'll ask if they are available first. As said there's always the Britpart one if I have to.

I'd really like to fit and forget if possible, as with steering, brakes, cruise, EAS and everything else dumped in there it's not a job you'd want to do every day.

Spiggy, yes, saw the hoses as well. Will order one and fit just in case whilst the system is empty.

Martyuk wrote:

Somehow when I went to reply it didn't show up with GilbertD's response - otherwise I wouldn't have posted the same sites!

I've noticed that the forum doesn't show there's a second page unless there's 2 or 3 posts in it so you don't always notice that you aren't replying to the most recent post.