Brake fluid contamination?

Anytime there is cross contamination with the brake system, there are major concerns because it is a safty issue that carries a lot of liability. As far as the cost, that sounds very high. You may want to get another quote. However, the dealership is protecting themself by replacing everything that could be affected.

If you have other questions, let me know. Also, do you know what was used in place of brake fluid? Also, was it another place the may have done it?

Did you put the stop leak in the master cylender?

There is only one proper repair and it's going to be expensive. You must drain all of the brake fluid out of the entire system, replace ALL parts that have rubber parts that contact the brake fluid, flush and dry all the steel lines, then refill with clean fluid from a sealed container. You MUST replace the front calipers, rear wheel cylinders, all rubber hoses, the master cylinder and reservoir bladder seal, and the combination valve. If the van has anti-lock brakes, the hydraulic control unit must also be replaced.

All of the rubber parts will swell and become mushy. You'll see that with the bladder seal under the reservoir cap. If any rubber part is not replaced, the petroleum product will leach out and destroy all of the other new parts and you'll be starting all over again.

I did a demonstration for my students every year to show how critical it was to keep the brake fluid clean. I dropped two rubber wheel cylinder seals into a pair of beakers with new brake fluid and let them sit for a week. In one of them I added two or three drops of power steering fluid into the inch of brake fluid. By the end of the week the contaminated seal had grown by about 20 percent and was real mushy. Those rubber parts are only compatible with brake fluid which is a glycol product. They are not compatible with petroleum products.

It sounds like you just need new front brakes. As far as the fluid, it wouldn't cause this. Also, if you are boiling the brake fluid, something is wrong. As far as the rubber bladder, it is normal for them to change shapes as the fluid drops, which is normal as the brake pads wear out.

Let me know if you have other questions.

Joe

The brake system don't like anything other than brake fluid DOT4. How long has it been in there-not long I will take a chance I only die ones-I will bleed it all out with fresh fluid its alot cheaper than 5K deniros.

My question is, what is it doing in there to begin with.
You need to look when they top off something.

My experience-I had to use engine oil to get home No brake fluid/No stores open and -20 deg/158 miles away with a leaking wheel cyclinder. Next day I bleed it all out. Drove it for 3yrs with no brake problem.