Someone put oil in my brake fluid reservoir

[Yasa]

I like all the learning I get from this forum. Free eductation!

[zamler]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

You're looking at $1000ish in parts, and probably another $1000 in labour.

Using autopartsway.ca as a guide, the parts come to around $350. They don't show the master cylinder for some reason, but I checked another source at it is about $65. The parts will not be anywhere close to a grand, for that price you could replace the entire braking system with premium parts, including pads, lines, and rotors.

[Northendzone]

$350 for the parts strikes me as lower than I would expect - is that hoses and everything else? what about whatever sensors for the anti-lock, proportioning valve (or whatever cars have these days).

also if the op is going to have a bunch of work done on his brakes systems, may as well do new pads/shoes & rotors/drums........

i think i want to have this vehicle towed to a brake specialty shop (not a speedy/midas though)

[zamler]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

$350 for the parts strikes me as lower than I would expect - is that hoses and everything else? what about whatever sensors for the anti-lock, proportioning valve (or whatever cars have these days).

That is hoses, calipers, master cylinder, wheel cylinders. It depends on the extent of the damage, if you start getting into replacing the ABS modulator, that unit alone will be over $1000 (unless you source a salvage part, which would be fine).

It all depends on what exactly is wrong, could be a relatively minor repair, or the repair could exceed the cost of the vehicle.

[Traditional_Ale]

I think the OP should just get Corey and Trevor to siphon it out.

[burn_this_city]

Originally Posted by zamler

Using autopartsway.ca as a guide, the parts come to around $350. They don't show the master cylinder for some reason, but I checked another source at it is about $65. The parts will not be anywhere close to a grand, for that price you could replace the entire braking system with premium parts, including pads, lines, and rotors.

I just did a quick check on eBay. I'd be surprised if you could get 4 calipers for 350. But no matter, still much cheaper than what OP would pay retail.

[zamler]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

I'd be surprised if you could get 4 calipers for 350.

You can't, but the Xterra has drums in the back AFAIK, so the cylinders are only about $20/side. Napa auto will have similar prices to the site I linked to BTW (same parts, Cardone brand). You'll probably pay 20% more locally, but in this case there is a core charge, so shipping the old ones back will negate much of the savings.

FYI, on the master cylinder, always replace that with a new, not rebuilt unit.

[Heckubus97]

Originally Posted by BlackArcher101

If all the seals in the entire system are shot, odds are it wasn't a place that just topped up the level. The brake system doesn't flow, it only pushes back and forth, so for a bad fluid to make it to the discs/pistons, the entire system would have to be filled with the bad fluid (meaning it was done during a full system bleed or flushing). Topping up with bad fluid will usually only damage the system near the reservoir (ie master cylinder), but can still have severe consequences.

It looked like there was precipitate and a definite "mechanical mixture" type of effect - where there was a fluid sitting on top of another fluid. So we don't think that the whole thing was filled with the wrong fluid, just contaminated or topped up. I am starting to think that the quick stop place that did a power steering flush for us about 6 months before this issue mixed up the reservoirs.

Also, the suspension place did a bleed when they first discovered it, so now its contaminated for sure, and the brakes are completely gone. So they may have made it worse. But they also very well may have saved me and my wife's lives!

[Heckubus97]

Update: I brought it in to a reputable brake place (AMA certified) and they gave me an estimate of $900, parts and labor. They say all that needs replacing is master cylinder and calipers, and then a brake line flush. I asked them “are you sure that's all that needs to be done?” and they said yes. I didn’t want to ask too many questions because that can sometimes give mechanics justification to do extra and unnecessary work. Anyways, i am feeling a lot better since the highest estimate (over the phone though) was $4500. If there are any mechanically inclined people here that think I should do more clarification with the shop on this, let me know. Thanks for all the help from everyone.