Accessing Brake Fluid Reservoir

[MotherTucker]

I don't know if anyone else has noticed this, but getting to the brake fluid reservoir is a major pain. You have to remove *all* the trim from around the luggage well under the hood (bonnet for you queen's english speakers). And to remove that nasty last big one over the reservoir/master brake cylinder, you have to remove both windshield wiper arms and carefully unsnap it along the entire length of the bottom of the windshield. It's a major operation.

I bleed my brakes before every other track event. I'm sorry, it's just not acceptable to do that amount of tearing apart of the car just to pour in some brake fluid.

So, I got out my drill and cut a 4" hole in the trim over the reservoir, and put in a nice looking plastic plug thing so it looks nice and clean. Check it out:






I went to the local home store and bought that 4" pvc drain cover, and modified it slightly to clear the cap on the brake fluid reservoir. You could leave the hole open or use some other cover. Works for me.

mt

[wolfie]

Nice solution. Looks perfect.

[ssaylor]

Remove both wiper arms to access the brake fluid reservior? That's nuts! Does the R8 owners manual describe the process? I don't have one to look at - yet. Great solution!

[MotherTucker]

The service manual describes it in detail. The owner's manual doesn't begin to touch the subject.

I think the car is aimed more at the rich old guys who only take it to the dealer to be serviced, rather than us real car guys who actually use it as a high performance vehicle.

Right now I'm looking into why the 2 brake rotors on the right side of the car are apparently installed backwards. The vanes in the rotor push the air down into the hat instead of pulling it out like it does on the left side and is done on every other vehicle I've ever looked at. And strangely, it was the same on a 2008 I looked at today that was delivered back in January. More to come on that.

mt

[imclueless]

Why would I want to do it myself? I am an ex mechanic and could just about rebuild the engine given the specs. It has nothing to do with being either old or rich no more than being young and poor makes you stupid

[MotherTucker]

Yeah, after I wrote that I figured I would probably offend someone. Actually, I'm over 50 myself. My apologies to anyone offended. Clearly, you're not clueless!

cheers

mt

[imclueless]

No offence I just like the banter - I like being over 50! I used to like DIY but have found that someone else doing the painting is way more fun

[ssaylor]

Indeed, it's just chat - and BTW, it is possible to be both >50 and and a "real car guy" simultaneously!

[willyjp]

I think you probably have to be over 50 to be a real car guy! I mean, if you never read Henry Manney, what could you really know about cars?

[imclueless]

One day us old people will rule the world! Hang on we already do