Brake Fluid Reservoir Question

[BigUgly]

I have a MK 3.1 complete kit which came with 2 Wilwood plastic brake fluid reservoirs. I have the build manual that came with the 3.1, I also have a build manual for a MkIV. The MkIV manual shows just one reservoir being mounted to the front of the drivers side footbox and the line tee'd off to feed both master cylinders as opposed to the 3.1 method of 2 plastic reservoirs each feeding one master cylinder.

Is there any reason that I should mount two reservoirs, or is mounting one and teeing off to two mc's sufficient.

Thank You
BigUgly

[Brian Z]

That is up to you. Most cars have one. It is simple and easy to install. The advantage to having 2 is if you have a brake line fail you would only lose either your front brakes or your rear brakes. You would still be able to stop the car. It is very rare for a brake line to fail though.

Best regards,

[Dan Golub]

Hi,

Yes, originally there was 2 reservoirs included in the kit so that each master cylinder had its own brake fluid reserve. However since space is at a premium around the foot box area of a MK, we switched to 1 with a t-fitting to go to both master cylinders. In short, either method is acceptable.

Thanks

Dan@FFR

[Jeff Kleiner]

I'm fairly certain that the single reservior used on the Mk4 is a larger capacity than the individual duals. If you are running a single you want enough reserve that in the event of a line failure it isn't totally emptied with one or 2 brake applications. Just using one of the duals may not provide that.

Hey Dan & Brian---you guys got a competeition going on to see who can answer first this morning? :)

Jeff

[BigUgly]

Brian, Dan and Jeff,

Thank You all for your quick responses. If the two that I have are smaller than the newer MkIV version, maybe I better find room to install both.

Thanks again,

BigUgly

[skullandbones]

Bigugly,

I have a story for you: if you ever hear someone talking about the time they were at the farmers market in Charlotte NC when they had to dive into the vegteble stand to keep from getting run down by a crazy hot rodder, it's true. It was me in a 55 Chevy with no brakes. We were returning to Chattanooga passing through a small town just outside of Charlotte when suddenly I couldn't stop at a traffic light. I vered off to miss a car and ended up going down a small "road" or isle in the farmers market. People were scrambling and my friend was hanging outside the car yelling, "No brakes". It was just like a bad movie script. It happened so fast I could just steer the car. Ended up at the bottom of the hill in a little ditch with almost no damage and no casualties. The brake line was cut cleanly. Maybe a stress failure. But that was the most helpless feeling I have ever had in a car ( 19 yrs old).

I have a Willwood kit with two reserviors. Mine came with two large and two small. I will give you one guess as to which way I'm going. But seriously, it won't hurt to add that extra safety factor. I am mounting mine on the firewall and running the rubber lines through grommets in the side drivers alum. It also gives a short straight shot to the cylinders (less tubing). But the tech guys are right: the risk is fairly low for brake failure. I guess I am an outlyer in those statistics. Good luck! WEK.

[BigUgly]

WEK,

Thanks for the offer, but I do have two reservoirs and I like the idea of one feeding each MC, so I will install both of them.

Thanks,

BigUgly