2000 Windstar brake fluid leaking, I have been have trouble with my brake paddle losing it firmness. The paddle goes all the way down and when I check it it’s low on fluid. I changed the brake pads and the calipers on the front because they started scrubbing and smoking. I even bled them and the paddle stiffened back up but after a while same thing weak paddle and fluid low. The abs light on dash is on and has been on for a while. Could a leaking master cylinder be causing this? I don’t see any fluids on the ground when car seats over night. Any help or suggestions would be greatly appreciated

 

Once the brake peddle goes to the floor if it normally is not low, the rubber cups in the master cyl are shot and will not hold pressure. So that right now needs to be replaced.

What we need to do is,,,,,,,, look under the vehicle after you push the brake pedal down a few times because that creates pressure and is forcing brake fluid out someplace.
It could be at a wheel or any place a steel brake line has rusted through and now could be leaking when brake pedal is applied. They rarely leak when parked !

You have 2 problems now, replace the master cyl and then find and repair the leak.
Let us know what you find and we might be able to offer some useful suggestions, OK ? Buy at least a quart of DOT3 brake fluid because you are going to need it.

 

There’d been a bulletin or recall on the switch/harness under the front of the master cylinder; fluid leaks from above into the harness causing fires in some cases. I struggled to stop the leak, even on the recalled replacement. What I tried some months ago, after fixing another fitting leak— I stacked two large washers between the sensor and its housing and tightened well. No more leak.

 

^Thank You, good to know !

 

I hope this helps—after awhile everything leaks on these old cars. Maintaining them is an exercise in due diligence…. or futility…lololol