Any special problems with replacing brake master cylinder - 2002 Escape

[douginknx]

Son's Escape has been losing brake fluid - he told me he has a very soft pedal now ever after adding more fluid - figure Master Cylinder is out - Is difficult to replace ? Any special hints or instructions ?

[Davescort97]

When the clutch reservoir got low it got some air in the system. Just replacing the fluid lost won't solve the problem. The slave cylinder on the clutch needs to be bled of air. If the master cylinder is leaking, go ahead and replace it. otherwise just bleed the air out of the system. Can you see where the fluid has been leaking out? On the firewall or down by the wheels?

[douginknx]

Thanks!

[duke316]

Greetings all, I too am going through the motions. My master cylinder was leaking and I replaced it.I bench bled the master before putting it in and bled the vehicle completely. It was fine until a couple days later went bad this has happened 2x's I finally bought a NEW one and installed it .....still soft pedal. The vehicle has recent brakes both front and back. I refuse to believe I have gotten 3 bad master cylinders. Davescort 97 mention a slave cylinder were is this located?

[douginknx]

Brake slave cylinders would be at each wheel - I understood Davescort97 to have me check fluid leaking at the firewall area (master) or at one of the wheels (slave).

I found a suggestion on line to insert plugs in both master outlets and press and hold the pedal - softening meant the master was bad, if the pedal held then the master was good - didn't try that one. Good luck

[duke316]

I checked all that no visible leaks.

[65comet]

Some of the 02 Escape master cylinders were recalled. Mine leaked but wasn't one of those with the correct numbers to be covered. The leak caused a short in the automatic four wheel drive module below it, that started a fire. Be sure to clean up the leaked brake fluid and check anything below it for fluid in the electrical connections.