Raist11
Jun 25, 2015Explorer
1990 Triple E Brake Fluid Reservoir Access - Resolved
It's a 1990 Triple E Empress on a Ford Chassis with the 460 gas engine. Trying to see if someone has experience with accessing the brake fluid reservoir.
I've pulled the engine hump, and it's beyond impossible to reach it there. Lifting the flap inside the wheel well on the driver's side shows the side of the reservoir, but no way to access the top. I can't see any access panel in the floor at the driver's side floor. The carpet there is in fact glued down there. I am at a loss.
I'm thinking maybe I just need to cut a hole in my floor and build my own access door, but it seems stupid there is no way to access it from factory.
My other option is to just use a bleeder pump to run a hose up the side of it from the wheel well and down into the reservoir. That is IF I can get my hand up high enough to unscrew the cap.
For those that like the complete story. I took it to the shop due to some tire smoking issues. They looked over the whole unit and wanted $10,000.. ummm.. No. So now I am replacing all four calipers, some brake line myself, and the front shocks. I will possibly be doing the hydro boost myself too but not sure I want to tackle that one.
Thanks.
Update: I opted to buy a step bit (cone shaped drill bit)that went up to 1 3/8 and drilled a hole in the floor directly above the reservoir. The hole ended up maybe being about an inch wide. I purchased a long narrow funnel and it fit in the hole and was able to reach into the reservoir. The floor at the driver's side foot area is just a metal floor, no wooden sub floor or anything above the metal there.
I've pulled the engine hump, and it's beyond impossible to reach it there. Lifting the flap inside the wheel well on the driver's side shows the side of the reservoir, but no way to access the top. I can't see any access panel in the floor at the driver's side floor. The carpet there is in fact glued down there. I am at a loss.
I'm thinking maybe I just need to cut a hole in my floor and build my own access door, but it seems stupid there is no way to access it from factory.
My other option is to just use a bleeder pump to run a hose up the side of it from the wheel well and down into the reservoir. That is IF I can get my hand up high enough to unscrew the cap.
For those that like the complete story. I took it to the shop due to some tire smoking issues. They looked over the whole unit and wanted $10,000.. ummm.. No. So now I am replacing all four calipers, some brake line myself, and the front shocks. I will possibly be doing the hydro boost myself too but not sure I want to tackle that one.
Thanks.
Update: I opted to buy a step bit (cone shaped drill bit)that went up to 1 3/8 and drilled a hole in the floor directly above the reservoir. The hole ended up maybe being about an inch wide. I purchased a long narrow funnel and it fit in the hole and was able to reach into the reservoir. The floor at the driver's side foot area is just a metal floor, no wooden sub floor or anything above the metal there.