The 'E' Type Forum

Hi,
My brake reservoir,(drivers side) sits right above the engine subframe.
This means the pipe exits and then does a right angled kink before running along the subframe tube.
Can anyone see why?
Which leads me onto...............
Whilst sitting in a cold garage the brake pipe seems to attract moisture.
I am quite sure it is not a brake fluid leak, but not nice to look at.
This then causes deteriation on the subframe tubing.

Clamp removed for easy viewing.
Nick.

Nick, on the bracket there is an indentation which lines up with the indentation on the bottle. That sets the correct height. Bend the metal pipe which will move the the flexible. The outlet from the bottle might be bent over to the left (as you look at it). Regarding the problem with the sweating of the flexible, this is common and can be cured by replacing it with a (correct) pipe. I know Hutsons had some of the right pipe (originally it had a yellow stripe down it but I believe after a while that began to sweat).

Photo below shows where the bottle outlets are:

Yes, I am afraid that the "moisture " is not H2O but brake fluid transmitting itself through the pipe by some sort of osmosis. I have just had to change one of the pipes on my rebuild for this reason. Hutson's do indeed have pipe which prevents this. It was a pale lilac colour but has now been dyed a none too permanent black!! But at least it prevents paint damage

Same happened to me whilst using the 'correct' yellow stripe hoses. By the time I noticed it had caused the paint on the frame to be damaged. I spoke to SNG and they recommended a different type (appears to be woven with a black sheath: http://tinyurl.com/nzhaf2 Not cheap but it has lasted well.

Me too. I had replaced the brake hoses with "anti-perspirant" hoses but left the clutch bottle hose alone - and it then started to sweat.

Incidentally, as has been pointed out previously, the outlet stubs on the bottom of replacement reservoir bottles can be fragile. I found that a short length of brake pipe inserted inside the stub gave stiffening and a solid grip for the hose clips.

kingzetts wrote:Me too. I had replaced the brake hoses with "anti-perspirant" hoses but left the clutch bottle hose alone - and it then started to sweat.

Incidentally, as has been pointed out previously, the outlet stubs on the bottom of replacement reservoir bottles can be fragile. I found that a short length of brake pipe inserted inside the stub gave stiffening and a solid grip for the hose clips.

The originals had a gauze filter with a metal tube that ran down the inside of the outlet stub. Worth while removing the original from an old bottle and fitting it inside the new. (You might have to open the hole up in the outlet stub to fit the tube).

And if you cannot find the gauze filter a small piece of brass tubing insert (available in model shops) will stop the bottle nipple collapsing.

Thanks to everyone for the information.
I could bend the brake pipe so that it runs alongside the subframe tube.
But it will still have to enter the bottle directly above the tube and thus have quite a large kink. Hasn't mattered up till now.
Best remedy is to replace the rubber tube.
Can this be done without having to re-blead the brakes?

So it is brake fluid I can feel along the pipe. Osmosis.

What about the top? How does the grey rubber cap deteriorate?
Is that caused by brake fluid vaporising?
Any way of treating the rubber cap to prevent such damage?
Nick.

The bottle cap discolours because of circulating air in the engine compartment. Easy enough to clean as long as you remove it first. The brake fluid permeates through some hoses presumably because they are not of the correct specification.

on2wheels wrote:Can this be done without having to re-blead the brakes?

Nick.

You won't have to rebleed the brakes if you change the bottle. You might have to if you change the pipe.

The brake bottle filters look like this:


If you have them re-fit but to be honest I think Jaguar put them there because they suspected the cork floats would disintegrate. Not sure you need them after a re-build so don't worry if they are missing.

Thanks David.
Just to finish off brake reservoirs, why is it that the version on the
passenger side is so well behaved?
No osmosis or withering cap!



Is it because any filling etc. is done on the drivers side?

Nick.

It's just a matter of chance. I have just had an osmotic pipe from the passenger side servo feed bottle. Very, very annoying!