B737-700 FO FOUND A BRAKE LEAK ON HIS WALKAROUND INSPECTION AT THE DEP STATION.

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DISPATCH/MAINT (BRAKE AREA LEAK). I MET ACFT FOR A CREW CHANGE IN PHX. DURING MY PREFLT WALKAROUND; I NOTICED HYD FLUID IN THE BRAKE AREA. I BROUGHT IT TO THE ATTN OF MAINT AND THE CAPT. THE CAPT AND I DISCUSSED THE POTENTIAL PROBS OF A BRAKE LEAK AND WAITED FOR MAINT TO GIVE US THEIR ASSESSMENT. IT TURNED OUT TO BE A 'PUCK LEAK.' AFTER SEVERAL MAINT PERSONNEL LOOKED AT THE BRAKE; WE ALL HAD A DISCUSSION ABOUT IT. IN THE END; MAINT TOLD US THAT IT WAS AN 'ACCEPTABLE LEAK' AND WASN'T 'POOLING.' WE TOOK THE JET AND LANDED IN BWI. WE BROUGHT IT TO MAINT IN BWI AND WE WERE TOLD THAT IT PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED IN PHX. OVERALL BECAUSE OF THE LOCATION; I FELT IT WAS A POTENTIAL SAFETY HAZARD; BUT WAS CONVINCED OTHERWISE AND ACCEPTED THE JET. THE CAPT AND I TALKED AFTERWARDS AND DISCUSSED HOW A BETTER DECISION COULD HAVE BEEN MADE BY ALL OF US. I BELIEVE BETTER EDUCATION OF MAINT PERSONNEL ALONG WITH A BETTER APPLICATION OF COMMON SENSE BY US PLTS WOULD HAVE LED TO A BETTER OVERALL DECISION.