Advice for Removing Deteriorated Master Brake Cylinder Cap on Hydraulic Brake Coupler

Updated 08/15/2009 | Published 08/06/2009

Question:

I have surge brakes on my 1974 +or- easy lift spartan trailer.When I tried to take off brake fluid cap it crumbled into small peices.I pried around the base with a putty knife to break any paint or whatever and soaked with liquid wrench.The nut part is gone and I am trying to loosen with hammer and screw driver.But I think this is going to crumble apart causing everything to fall into master cylynder!All I wanted to do is check the brake fluid.Any ideas?

asked by: richard b

Expert Reply:

The challenge here is to keep the remains of the cap in one piece long enough to remove it. I would suggest mixing up some 2 part epoxy and coating the cap with it. If you are careful to avoid getting the epoxy down into the threaded portion of the cap, once it cures you should be able to get the cap off. If you should get pieces of the cap into the master cylinder, most hydraulic couplers are set up so that the master cylinder is removable, you could remove it if needed and clean it out.

expert reply by: Mike L