Brake fluid leak

[wheelery87]

Hi there.
A 2000 Pontiac GrandPrix SE
My brothers car has been topping up the brake fluid,and other fluids,like coolant for several weeks,then he starts the car,and it drives,and brakes just fine.This is on advice from his mechanic.
My brother says the brakes work just fine.
I,m wondering if there will be a gradual decline in the brakes performance,or would it be a sudden one,as in the brakes stop working just like that?
He will be taking it back to the same mechanic on Friday,and asking the same question.
Thanks

[Scottydoggs]

a brake leak should be fixed asap, it can completely blow out and leave you with no brakes at all. and then crashed of course.


if a mechanic told you to just keep topping it off, never go back to him. hes a asshole.


sit in the car pump the brakes a whole lot, then get under it and look for the leak. then fix said leak.

[ericspecullaas]

quick story had a van one time with a small oil leak then one day when it was raining the van spunk around due to the breaking getting covered in oil. if you dont have breaks you cant stop soooo yeah

[FordMan77]

Fix brake leak, then do the LIM gaskets before the motor spins a bearing due to eating coolant if that's where it's going. I wouldn't drive it until the brake leak is found and fixed. I had brakes go out completely on me once in my 84 CV and I thought I was going to kill the cars in front of me. Luck and quick thinking was all that saved me that time. Never ignore a brake issue.

[idrivejunk]

Could be the reservoir leaking. Dude might have topped it off because his brake pads are going away and calipers are extending farther, resulting in low-ish level in the MC res.

[wheelery87]

Could be the reservoir leaking. Dude might have topped it off because his brake pads are going away and calipers are extending farther, resulting in low-ish level in the MC res.

Wish i was living in the U.S.
My brother just confirmed that it is not a Grand Prix,but it is a 2000 Grand am.
All along its been assumed by me that it was a GP,as thats what we both thought at first,so he never mentioned it until this issue surfaced.
I,m guessing it doesn,t matter on the type of car whether its a GP,or GA.

Either way it will be looked at tomorrow.
Thanks for the replies,and any more that come.

[wheelery87]

Updates in realtime:
Sounds like it could also be the reservoir leaking,and thats why it needs topping up on daily basis,after driving it on those crappy roads we all have in our cities.The brake line may also be rusty.
How big of a concern is that ?

My brother says the mechanic hasn,t seen the car in a little while,that it has been mostly phone calls,with updates,and feedback from the mechanic on what to do.The car is not driven very far ,mostly
for errands around the neighborhood.
Apologies for any miscommunication/misunderstanding on my part.

[Scottydoggs]

what does stop driving it and fix it mean?????

if he cant figure it out, drop it off to be fixed before his dumb ass kills someone.

[wheelery87]

The Mechanic was mistaken.
It turns out it is the engine that is leaking oil.
I,ve been trying to get to the bottom of this whole thing for days,being under the wrong impression also.
The Mechanic does not speak english very well,but having the car on the hoist all day today was what cleared things up finally.
I,m just a messenger,not my car.
Thanks for all your concerns though