Low brake fluid - No obvious leaks, NEW QUESTION!!!!! HELP! Options

[slickr]

So I was driving the car for the first time in a week or 2, and the brakes felt a little funny. Also smell something like an "electrical fire". But no smoke or anything. All other fluids seem to be fine.
The very top right container next to the diagnostics box is low (is this brake fluid?) and My master cylinder next to that is low. My car is garage kept, so I would see obvious drips, and none are there . Not sure what this could be, does the fluid level just go down after a while?
thanks

This post has been edited by slickr: Oct 14, 2010 - 1:29 PM

[slickr]

jacked up each tire individually, to find that the front drivers side is the culprit.
Now again im not too knowledgeable (took some pics). But when I went to spin the tire there was a "grab" on it quite a bit, and would not spin freely. to get the caliper off I had to pry a little because the piston was so stuck.
The brake pads seem fine, both driver and passengers side are the same (both sides of each). The rotor may have be a little under spec?
Anyhow I took a pic of the piston when i got it off, and to get it to go back it took a bit of force with a C-clamp. But got it in a little, pressed the brake slightly and watched it come out a little bit. So i pushed it back in and put the caliper back on.
Now with the wheel in the air, and the piston fully retracted the wheel spun freely, so other concerns were diminished.

Started the car (neutral, tire in air) and went to push the brake, and it was like nothing was there, went down almost to the floor. And the tire in the air, started spiining (idk if that normal lol). So I shut the car off. The piston even though I pushed the brakes about 3 times didnt seem to do anything. Pads were still loose.
With the car off, I pumped the brakes until they were hard, and I think the caliper locked up again because the wheel stopped being able to be turned with just my hand (like it was in the beginning)
Started again (wheels stopped spinning, i think they did it just cause of the "freedom") And the brake pedal feels fine.

I think I just need a new caliper right?






When I pulled it off


Compressed


Fluid that is low (next to diag. box, seems dirty?)


This post has been edited by slickr: Oct 11, 2010 - 8:06 AM

[zoik]

jacked up each tire individually, to find that the front drivers side is the culprit.
Now again im not too knowledgeable (took some pics). But when I went to spin the tire there was a "grab" on it quite a bit, and would not spin freely. to get the caliper off I had to pry a little because the piston was so stuck.
The brake pads seem fine, both driver and passengers side are the same (both sides of each). The rotor may have be a little under spec?
Anyhow I took a pic of the piston when i got it off, and to get it to go back it took a bit of force with a C-clamp. But got it in a little, pressed the brake slightly and watched it come out a little bit. So i pushed it back in and put the caliper back on.
Now with the wheel in the air, and the piston fully retracted the wheel spun freely, so other concerns were diminished.

Started the car (neutral, tire in air) and went to push the brake, and it was like nothing was there, went down almost to the floor. And the tire in the air, started spiining (idk if that normal lol). So I shut the car off. The piston even though I pushed the brakes about 3 times didnt seem to do anything. Pads were still loose.
With the car off, I pumped the brakes until they were hard, and I think the caliper locked up again because the wheel stopped being able to be turned with just my hand (like it was in the beginning)
Started again (wheels stopped spinning, i think they did it just cause of the "freedom") And the brake pedal feels fine.

I think I just need a new caliper right

if you pushed back the piston the more you could, its normal to have to press the pedal 4-6 times before having a braking system working again. xcan explain why if you want