I replaced this sucker about a year and a half ago, and was fine until I started driving the car more and parking it outside. The old MC looked like the original one and was rusted out pretty bad inside and out and had a leak at the rear seal. I bought the replacement POS at Kragen has a lifetime warranty but I don't think that covers rust and there are no braking problems so it's still working fine. I just can't stand the ugly looking rust forming on the outside of it, almost looks as bad as the old one it replaced. I'm gonna open it and check the inside and make sure it's not rusting in there yet, if it is i'm really gonna be pissed. As far as I can tell it's not leaking brake fluid when I apply the brakes at first it did but I repositioned the gasket and that stopped (cheap part I guess). I should check the level though just to be safe. If I need to replace this thing one more time I want to go with an OEM if thats possible AutoKrafters doesn't seem to carry them anymore (not listed in my new catalog). Has anyone else had a persistant problem with their MC rusting out prematurely. I wonder if one of the newer MC's with the plastic reservior would fit a Maverick.
Cast iron gets surface rust FAST if it's not painted or clearcoated. I'm sure it's just on the outside. My new water pump I put on my old motor last year looked old within a few months.
The only way rust will get to the inside of it is if water gets in it. I would be takeing that sucker back if it's getting water in it with normal use. I agree with the guys above on the outside. If you didn't paint it, you might as well expected it to rust out.
If you don't paint it,they will rust.It has no effect on its operation,just looks bad.There is an aluminum master cylinder that was used on some early 80's mustangs.I don't know the exact year,but I think they are a little hard to come by because they are aluminum and racers use them for a little weight savings.1badmav and I were at a junk yard a few weeks ago and I spotted one on a Mustang there.I think I will get it when we go back to make our score.It was for a disc brake front/drum rear,so it would swap in if you are running discs on the front.
The MC was supposed to have an anti-rust coating on it already, cheap quality I guess. Anyhow I checked the inside today, fortunatley it's not rusting in there which was a relief, however the fluid was brown and needed to be changed so I did that and flushed out the lines real good, fluid level for the front brakes was also a bit low so I checked all the brakes and cleaned them while I was at it, they all look good no leaks no where. Since it's already rusty I guess I can use that Rust Encapsulator stuff that Eastwood sells for already rusted metal. The Thermostat Water Neck is also rusted pretty bad and it's not that old either... Guess thats Cast Iron for ya
