I have a 99 Mercury Cougar and i put power steering fluid in where the brake fluid goes by mistake. Now my brakes aren‘t working at all. Does anyone know what i can do to fix them, i went to a shop and they told me it could cost up to 3 grand and they woudn‘t even guarentee it. If anyone has any insite or tips it would be much appreciated?? My cars worthless without brakes!!
Just release the bleeder valves on the calipers and get in the car and press your brakes until all the fluid is drained out. Then tighten the valves back up, granted that this is going to take about 6-8 times of bleeding each wheel to get it working properly again but it will fix the problem.
How long did it take for things to start going wrong if this happens? I had the same happen but my neighbor who did my brakes (he's a small motor mechanic) just topped off my brake fluid with a small amount of power steering fluid. I drove the car like 300 miles before I found out only because I saw the bottle he used. the inside of the brake fluid cap is swollen but so far no issues. I had the fluid pulled out with a suction gun and replaced. the only thing I can think is that it was such a small amount it was diluted and never got into the line. Wouldnt something have gone wrong by now after over 300 miles of driving since it happened?
O my GOD there are a lot of freaking idiots giving advice on here. You people saying that he actually needs to replace the entire brake system should in no way ever be giving advice on anything to do with a car. Power steering fluid and brake fluid are both just different forms of hydraulic fluids. It did not destroy the entire brake system by doing this. Brake fluid is a Petrolium product as well. Every fluid that you put in you car is petrolium based. Brake fluid swells gaskets more than tranny fluid motor oil and steering fluid. It is a cheap temporay fix for a leaking seal in a motor that is because it swells the seals. Just flush out the brakes and fill with clean brake fluid. It will be just fine. The easiest way to do this will be to get a old rag and a big bowl or small bucket. soak up the fluid in the master cylinder (where you dumped in the steering fluid) Be careful with the fluid because brake fluid will eat through paint very quickly. Refill with Brake fluid. Then bleed out the brakes several times at all 4 wheels. Just unscrew the bleeders 1 at a time then have some one push the brake pedal down screw in the bleeder let off brake push brake back down unscrew bleeder Do this several times at each wheel until the brake pedal is good and firm. This should solve the problem and yes it will require taht you waste a lot of brake fluid go to the part store and buy 3 or 4 big bottles so that you have enough. Even if it did have to replace the entire brake system which you do not. then you could replace the master cylinder and all 4 brake calipers for around $400.00 in parts and then labor to install shouldn't cost you more than a couple hundred because it could be done in about a hour. They are totally scamming you. Take the car to a different shop to get it fixed if you are not comfortable doing it yourself. They should cut the price by 1/3 from that $3,000.00.
