Sweating Brake Fluid Hose

[JerryL770]

On reading through this topic I became concerned about my own piping so went out to the garage for a look see.

I have little doubt that my restorer used hose from SNGB or another low cost source. The piping has no markings and after a year+ from installation, I cannot see that the pipes are bleeding.

But the clutch reservoir fluid is much darker that the brake reservoir beside it.



Indicative of breakdown of the pipe inner surface do you think?

[Heuer]

Either that or the seals breaking down. Suggest you a) replace the clutch fluid and b) get enough Cohline hose from Hutsons to replace all three low pressure hoses. As has been pointed out here you can replace them without having to bleed the system if you are careful and leave the car to stand for a few days before operating the pedals.

[JerryL770]

Thanks David, will do.

[Heuer]

Jerry

Wiring details for the mechanical switch are here: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=3134

Very simple to do and you can leave your existing switch and wires in place.

[JerryL770]

Jerry

Wiring details for the mechanical switch are here: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=3134

Very simple to do and you can leave your existing switch and wires in place.

Not sure why you posted that David. It is one I have thought of doing.

Suspect I have a new switch on the hydraulics but I have LED lights at the rear so pulling much less current. So may be unnecessary??

[JJC]

Never had that problem.....strange. Best of luck in pursuit of a solution.

JJ

[Tom W]

My car suffered clutch failure last year after the old flexi pipe from the reservoir broke up internally. With hindsight, the initial telltale was black clutch fluid. The clutch pedal would have no feel when first used after standing, but would come back after a couple of pumps. Initially, I thought it was air in the system. In the first instance I bled the clutch and flushed the fluid, but fairly quickly it went black again, and the lack of initial feel returned. Eventually the dissolved bits of hose fully clogged the valve that shuts off the path to the reservoir when the clutch pedal is pressed. Result, no clutch, and a trip home in a recovery truck. I’ve since cleaned and rebuilt the slave cyl and replaced the flexi with cohline pipe. No recurring problems, though it’s only been a year so far.

[Tony]

I have now had my car for over 8 years and have not had a problem so far on sweating or leaking hoses. I have never changed the fluid or needed to top it up. I am not sure what fluid is in the system or what dot has been used. Christopher did suggest I put a sample on some metal to see if it reacted. From the result I could tell what fluid might be in the system. Must do this soon. I might dig through the rebuild paperwork to see if any information is in there regarding hoses and fluid.