Master Cylinder "Spooge Holes"

Front

6/20/00
Many XSives have experienced a problem with brakes not fully releasing or even locking up completely. This can be caused by a clogged fluid return orifice in the master cylinder. When this orifice or "spooge hole" is obstructed, pressure builds in the caliper.

Just in case anybody was wondering where the smaller orifice is that everybody talks about getting all spooged up.... Procede as follows:

• Protect the tank with lots of rags
• Remove the cover
• Use an old baster to remove the fluid
• Gently twist and pry off the reservoir
• Remove a litle more fluid
• Be sure not to squeeze the brake lever

Note the curl in the end of the wire so it can't be accidently dropped right through while cleaning the orifice....

Rear

11/30/00
There is a second, smaller orifice in the rear MC for relieving the line pressure when you let up on the brake pedal. It's just not as easy to find and clean as its counterpart in the front MC.

Remove the right hand side cover. Remove the MC lid, remove the brake fluid with a baster, pry the plastic reservoir up gently with a small flat bladed screwdriver. Remove more fluid with the baster, then sop up the last bit with a clean rag or piece of paper towel.

Remove the two mounting bolts so you can list the MC high enough to clear the actuating rod. Let the actuating rod fall out of the way to the rear.

Drop the MC down low enough to remove the plastic reservoir. Pull the MC back through the plastic inner fender and twist it to the side a bit so you can get at it.

Look inside and you'll see two holes - a big one on the top and a smaller one on the bottom. The spooge hole is actually drilled exactly in the middle of the larger, upper hole, not in the lower hole.

To see the spooge hole clearly, you need to remove this drain plug from the bottom of the MC so you can look inside with a flashlight.

With a bit better light, you would see the hole drilled dead centre on the top. I just couldn't get the light right for it to show on this photo, but trust me, it is there.

You could fish a long wire in through the drain plug bore for cleaning the spooge hole. Or, you could use the same little wire (with a curled end) you used on the fromt MC and poke it into the hole with a pair of needlenose pliers.

By just poking around with the pliers, you will feel the wire slip into the hole. Slide it back and forth a few times and you're ready to put it all back together. If you've been careful not to press the brake pedal before you got the MC lifted clear of the actuating rod, you can get it all back together and refilled with fresh fluid without introducing any air into the lines.

Of course, if this resolves a problem, chances are that you should be removing the MC for a complete strip down so there is no possibility of more spooge breaking loose and replugging the orifice. Then this turns from a one hour job to something "a little longer".

Like I said, not as easy as the front MC, but it still can be done.

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