Which brakes does the front reservoir service?

[ryans51]

Thought my braking felt a little worse than normal, so pulled the lid off of the master cylinder to find that the front reservoir is empty. Back is completely full from the last time I refilled.

So, now I've got to figure out where the leak is. Where should I begin looking?

Thanks,
Ryan[/url]

[Thunderfoot]

Most stuff it is the front brakes… Look at the back of the backing plate for the brakes at the wheels and you should see a damp oily stain from the wheel cylinder that is leaking the brake fluid…

[68F250]

The primary reservoir feeds the front brakes. Now which one is the primary? It's the first one closest to the pushrod (usually has a much larger capacity). The secondary reservoir is behind the primary and feeds the rear brakes. It seems backwards at first.

[Thunderfoot]

I was thinking backwards there... 68F250 is correct... with disc front brakes it is easy to tell, as it has the larger reservoir

[19674x4]

yup, the larger reservoir feeds the front brakes and the smaller reservoir feeds the rear brakes. because most of your stopping is done with the fronts, it needs a bigger reservoir to feed the lines.

[ryans51]

hmmmm.....
little more interesting for 4 corner drum brakes. Still going to be the rear brakes from the front reservoir in that case?

Mean time, I don't think the truck is going anywhere....

[68F250]

Same deal.