to rebuild or not

[DeanR]

I currently have a rear master cylinder somewhat apart on my kitchen table. All clean, looks great, sent a wire into that spooge hole.. This is a spare that I may use. Not aware of any problems with it but I don't know how well it had worked. The plunger is moving very well and as I said it looks great. Wondering if I need to go further with a rebuild kit, something I've not done before.
How can I tell without using it??

[Ken Talbot]

Finish taking it apart so you can see the condition of the actual bits that do the work. Without taking it apart, you can't see if the return spring is rusted beyond hope, or if the rubber cup that pushes the fluid is beginning to perish, etc.

[DeanR]

Ken, now for the stupid question of the day. Picked up a cheap snap ring plier at Harbour Freight today for the master cylinder. Don't think I've ever had to use one before. Anyway, still can't get the circlip out. It compresses, but stays put. It almost looks like it doesn't compress enough to get free. What am I missing??

[mason79]

forget all that, return it.

i bought a needle nose plier from sears on sale for 5 bucks and make sure it is really pointy and really slim and it worked perfect leverage and accessability!
couln't have been eaisier...

[DeanR]

Needlenose worked great. All apart. Rubber parts look new, as does the spring. Not 100% sure which way they go back in though (they exited kinda fast). Hard to tell from the schematic. Anyone have any pics or such?

[mason79]

c'mon, it's a puzzle you can do, it's logical

[Ken Talbot]

Press the plunger in just a bit while you work the snap ring plier. If you don't, the force of the spring keeps it jammed in its groove.

[DeanR]

mason, I think I have it, just want to make sure. It is the brakes after all. I think large end of spring goes in first, small end against plunger?

Looking at a piture of a parts kit looks like it shows an o-ring?
I see only the two rubber end pieces on mine, no o-ring.
Sorry, I guess it's simpleton night!

[mason79]

iirc, spring, thin washer to protect the rubber cup, then rubber cup, , this cup seals the fluid like a toilet plunger and pushes it forward, the the large metal plunger, the other rubber piece is a seal in the middle of the rod, which is the oring, and can be removed for cleaning, then the clip, are those all the pieces?
i soak everything in clr comes out squeegy.