master cylinder failure at 52k miles??

[Cam28315]

Hi all! We purchased a used 2017 expy with 52k miles just a few weeks ago. We took it on a road trip last week of probably 400 miles. When I went to start one it one of the days, the brake fluid was completely depleted. Long story short, had to have it towed to a shop and found the master cylinder seals or whatnot had failed and leaked into the brake booster. $900 in repairs later we’re back on the road and I am just so glad it didn’t happen while driving with 2 kids!! Anyway, I researched the expy quite a bit because we’ve had our share of “lemon” cars in the past. This site was very helpful in that search! So now just hoping to get some insight if anyone has had this happen or why it may have. The mechanic said it’s a common replacement but not at just over 50k miles! I’m just hoping it was a fluke thing and we are solid from here on it, I do really like the vehicle

 

[Cam28315]

Just found another post on the site with the same exact issue at the end of July, didn’t pull up in my search. Anyone else??

 

[Black]

You are likely referring to my post.
Mine failed and the brake booster at 50k. Still no word from Ford. Going to pursue further.

 

[Cam28315]

I got nowhere with ford either. Just to keep receipts if they do anything in the future. I’m just hoping for no more surprises and that’s fixed for good.

 

[Black]

I got nowhere with ford either. Just to keep receipts if they do anything in the future. I’m just hoping for no more surprises and that’s fixed for good.

did you just call the toll free customer service number??
I have not had a chance to call the GM at the dealership.

 

[Cam28315]

Yes and I haven’t spoken with the dealership either, ours was bought used from a Hyundai dealership and “as is” of course so not hopeful there.

 

[1955moose]

Couple of things come to mind. Number 1, if you had new pads installed, front or rear, and the tech that did job didn't release the cap from master cylinder, the pressure of retracting the pads can rupture a master cylinder seal, seen it happen. And 2, if the shop that did any fluid flushing mixed fluids say dot 4 and synthetic dot 5, it could have swelled the seal. These are just hypothetic guesses since I'm not there to visually see your vehicle, so that's that.

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[jeff kushner]

Moose is correct about removing the reservoir cap but fwiw, I've got 47K on my '17 and have not had any issues with anything.

jeff

 

[Cam28315]

Thanks, that’s very helpful to know. Hopefully it was something along those lines. We haven’t even had the vehicle for a month yet so anything changed was before we owned it. I can’t recall the last brake servicing from the Carfax. Hoping it’s an anomaly and the car will be smooth sailing from here.

 

[jeff kushner]

Agreed....I've been hanging out here for a while and it's not a recurring theme so I think you're good to go...enjoy and good luck!

jeff

 

[1955moose]

Time will tell, but Jeff's right it's probably a fluke. One of those master cylinders made on a Friday. Guy was thinking about the weekend!

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[Black]

Hoping it is a fluke as well.
But it is concerning that it is the same failure that the was recalled for the F150.

While the seals in MC is the point of failure according to Ford.
The brake boosters are same in both applications.
Is it possible that the pressures held within the brake booster are improper and the brake booster is actually causing the issue?

 

[jeff kushner]

I'm not sure where the issue may lay but my truck came with higher-than-expected braking effort required and has gradually changed, longer pedal travel as the caliper pistons recede further into the cylinder bores but I always "felt" like there was a skosh of air left in the system when it was installed. Not bad, but noticeable to me.

jeff

 

[TC16XLT]

Not to fuel the fire, but I just had mine replaced in my '16 last week, at about 52,500 miles. Rear seal pushed all of the fluid into the booster. Repair place was freaked out trying to figure out where the fluid was, and no visible leak.

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[1955moose]

That's not much of a repair shop if they didn't know to look inside the booster. That's one of the first things I was taught diagnosing brakes. Oh these kids nowadays!

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[TC16XLT]

Haha!
Well, they ended up being substantially less expensive than the dealer, and ended up just south of $400. They said I might need to replace the booster someday, if the fluid ended up ruining the diaphragm in it. Time will tell.

That's not much of a repair shop if they didn't know to look inside the booster. That's one of the first things I was taught diagnosing brakes. Oh these kids nowadays!

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