• Hey Guest!
    British Car Forum has been supporting enthusiasts for over 25 years by providing a great place to share our love for British cars. You can support our efforts by upgrading your membership for less than the dues of most car clubs. There are some perks with a member upgrade!
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Upgraded members don't see this banner, nor will you see the Google ads that appear on the site.)
Tips
Tips

TR2/3/3A Exciting drive

Share this page

tinman58

tinman58

Jedi Knight
Country flag
Offline
While on the way back home from a show in Blackhawk, the brakes got a little soft. I stepped on the brakes a little harder and a smelly mist came up from the engine compartment and no brakes! Thank goodness for the emergency brake! In this case it was a emergency! Stopped the car opened the bonnet and realized that there was a leak near the right front four way fitting. I only had 40 miles to get home. Drive careful and use the e-brake. When I got home and jacked up the car I found the brake line was rubbing against the exhaust header. image.jpgA quick order to Moss and back on the road.
 
That's the scary part of a single hydraulic system. Thank goodness for the handbrake and quick reflexes!
 
Whatever it's made of - it shouldn't be in contact with the frame or anything else unless it is attached to it or buffered with a grommet or such.

Another potential trouble spot are the flexible lines at the front wheel. If not positioned correctly they may come in contact with moving wheel parts in a sharp turn.
 
Make sure you carry a fire extinguisher, brake fluid on header does make things interesting. So does windshield washer fluid when on fire!
 
Glad you are alright. I had the brakes go out in my old 51 chev truck, so I know the feeling. I am impressed about the drive home with the e brake, right on life is drama.
 
not copper pipe. The brake line was from Moss #181-190. I think the torque from the engine would rub against the line during acceleration. It couldn't be that I did not make the bend in the line tite enough! In the end it is my fault for not giving enough room for movement..
 
tinman58 said:
not copper pipe. The brake line was from Moss #181-190.
Click to expand...
Are you sure about that? From your photo (and my experience), that is pretty clearly copper-nickel (aka Cunifer) brake line, as they sell in kit 588-618. Last I heard, Moss still supplies the individual pieces in terne-coated steel as original.

The Cunifer has much better corrosion resistance, but is much more susceptible to abrasion than the steel is. I forgot to take a photo, but I found significant damage on mine the other day, just from rattling around inside the clip on the differential cover.

Here's a shot from a previous misadventure. Much like yours, obviously my fault for improper installation. And yet, steel line would have made a racket long before wearing through, while I heard no noise at all. Fortunately for me, I was in a parking lot just a few blocks from home when the pedal went to the floor.

DSCF0002_ZERKS.jpg~original
 
Back
Top