parking brake/fluid leak

[unisphere]

hi -

im new and pretty ignorant about mechanics, but i'm giving it a go by trying to repair an '89 ranger. relatively minor things mostly.

my first question: if i disconnect the parking brake line, should i experience a brake fluid leak when i use the brake (or any of the brakes on the truck, for that matter)?

i had the line disconnected to work on the rear suspension (shackle brackets/leaf springs) and then had to move the truck. i started it - accidentally depressing/releasing the parking brake - and moved the truck (obviously using the front/rear brakes as well). when i went to do more work the next day, there was a puddle underneath my gas tank. its not gas, and im pretty sure its brake fluid. does this seem consistent with anything ive done? or do i just have a new leak in a brake line?

thanks
e

edit: after looking more closely, it looks like i have a leak in the brake line (caused by something separate from my disconnecting the parking brake). unfortunately, its right in an inaccessible place - somewhere between the front of the gas tank and the middle of the tank where the line surfaces again. i'll go to the library, but does anyone have a brake line diagram? i'm wondering if theres a joint in the area i cant see that has sprung a leak, or whether i should disconnect the line at the closest visable joints.

[Davescort97]

The parking brake is a cable so I don't think that would cause a fluid leak. There is a flexible brake line (hose) between the frame and the rear axle. It goes into a block that feeds both the rear brakes by steel lines. I thilnk the flex hose brake line may have a hole in it. Check your master cylinder. Is the flulid level low? IF you press on the brake pedal will it do it again? Will it leak?

[unisphere]

i solved the problem by replacing the brake line that runs aling the frame to the rear axle. it was rusted out.

thanks