So,
I attempted to remove the 2 screws on mine, and got the "correct" tamper proof Torx driver bit, which promptly
stripped the screw head. Very sloppy fit. I thought about cutting the screw heads off, but not knowing what I
would find inside, and not wanting to destroy the valve, thus leaving the vehicle unusable, I just put it back in and asked my
friend in Hawaii (who I sold 3 P-38s to when I moved) if he could look at the '95 parts car to see if it was there.
$10 dollars postage and I had it in hand 3 days later.
This one had obviously also been leaking as there was dried brake fluid caked beneath it where the
exposed O ring is. By carefully loosening each screw a bit at a time, I was able to take tension off of the
thick spring inside and easily disassemble it. It got a good cleaning with brake cleaner and a soft wire
brush to get the scaly brake fluid off.
As suspected, the O ring was knackered! Fitted a new one and re assembled. I "primed " it with brake fluid
before installing, and when installing, I attached the fitting closest to the bulkhead first, topped up the
reservoir to get the fluid level above the front pipe, and the fluid flowed by gravity through and out the front.
Waited for clear stream with no bubbles, and nipped up the front fitting. Cleaned up, and tested.
It was not necessary to bleed the system when I was done. Yea!!
50 cent fix! A new genuine one is $135 bucks, and the O ring seems to be the only failure point!
Now that I knew what was inside, I attacked my original part.
I then used the Dremel tool to cut a nice slot in the stripped screw head, and was able to renew my original part in about 5 minutes.
Got a drop in spare now, not that I will need it!
This is not an issue you hear much about, but I would bet it is more common, but goes unnoticed.
I am surprised that no one has reported catastrophic failure from the O ring blowing out!
If anyone is in need, I have 28 spare O rings. Free for the postage!
I seem to be stuck on British machinery:
2002 4.6HSE "Bolt" - First P-38 Most reliable car I have owned. Go figure?
2002 4.6HSE "Borrego" Edition. Back on air and loving it! (Now moved on to a new caretaker)
2000 4.6 HSK "Fang" Wife's daily driver. all original
1985 Classic with Tdi300 Diesel conversion "Outback special" Australia
1982 Waveney Class Ex RNLI Lifeboat
1952 Austin Champ (My first car in 1975) Hawaii
1953 Austin Champ Just for fun! Australia (Sold to mate in Vic)