Brake pipes.

[t-tony]

I tested a 2006 E85 Z4 today and when I looked at the front inner brake pipes which go to the flexible hoses they looked eminently passable. For some reason I lifted the plastic wing liner and it was a different story.

And on closer inspection I wouldn't want this on my car.

You're not obliged to look under covers etc. but I've seen similar on old Freelanders and known pipes burst in a place where you couldn't see the pipe.
So the moral of the story is, if you own an older Z4 have a good luck and see if yours are ok. Easy job to change, n/s one has loads of room near the bulkhead to join a new piece of pipe in and the o/s one goes directly to the ABS pump.

Tony.

 

[Faheem]

Similar case with my Z3, I had all the brake pipes that were corroded replaced when I bought the car but when I went to take the sill covers off, I came to see this behind the liners.

I don't know whether mine would need replacing though?

 

[t-tony]

They will at some point mate and for what they cost it's a no brainer really. If you could ease that pipe out of the clips you will likely see lumps of corrosion fall off leaving some pitting of the pipe surface. That in effect reduces the thickness of the pipe wall making it more likely to burst under pressure. Brake pipe corrosion is one of the hardest items to assess in my opinion.

Tony.

 

[Brian H]

As mentioned above same happens on the Z3 @t-tony, lift the plastic liner back and the pipes rot just where the body clip is, had to do both sides on my car.

 

[Lee]

I've had a few Z3's actually burst on me after I've done a rebuild. They don't like being disturbed when they are that bad. I now keep brake line and a flaring kit in the garage now.

 

[t-tony]

They don't like being disturbed when they are that bad

Definitely they don't Lee.

I now keep brake line and a flaring kit in the garage now.

Me too mate, pennies.

Tony.

 

[t-tony]

As mentioned above same happens on the Z3 @t-tony, lift the plastic liner back and the pipes rot just where the body clip is, had to do both sides on my car.

It happens on many vehicles Brian, most main front to rear pipes are perfect apart from where they're squeezed into those hard plastic clips which scratch the metal surface and corrosion sets in. If only the makers applied a little grease to the clips before the pipes were forced into them , they would still be ok.

Tony.

 

[Mint]

As this has been a problem for donkey's years, why are brake pipes still made of mild steel?

 

[t-tony]

££££££££

Tony.

 

[FRANKIE]

As this has been a problem for donkey's years, why are brake pipes still made of mild steel?

I had several Ford Pick-up trucks over the years and they were known for their brake lines rusting out. I started buying a more expensive alloy brake line in a 25 foot coil that, if I remember correctly, contained a nickle alloy and was extremely durable. After a few years, I became quite adept at replacing my brake lines, measuring them, bending them to fit and using a double flare kit. It can still be a pain in the tail in tight spots though............Frankie

 

[t-tony]

Hey Frankie, I have seen pipes on older model American cars, Jeeps in particular, with like an outer wire coiled around the pipes as an extra protection maybe?. I have always found it difficult to assess the corrosion to the inner core of the pipe when they're done like this. Is it still common to see this now?

Tony.

 

[FRANKIE]

Hey Frankie, I have seen pipes on older model American cars, Jeeps in particular, with like an outer wire coiled around the pipes as an extra protection maybe?. I have always found it difficult to assess the corrosion to the inner core of the pipe when they're done like this. Is it still common to see this now?

Tony.

I haven't seen it in a long time..................Frankie

 

[t-tony]

I haven't seen it in a long time..................Frankie

Got to be a good thing mate, it didn't fill me with confidence at all.

Tony.

 

[FRANKIE]

Got to be a good thing mate, it didn't fill me with confidence at all.

Tony.

I think those internal coil of wires were ment to keep the hose from collapsing. From the internet.........


The primary concern here is vacuum in the system created as the engine cools. If your radiator cap is not releasing pressure on the system, it can cause a vacuum to develop (coolant is unable to move to the reservoir/overflow tank). This can collapse the upperradiator hose.

and

What would cause a the lower radiator hose to collapse?
Causes and Fixes. The most common cause for radiator hose collapse is a vacuum issue caused by a faulty radiator cap. ... Another common problem is clogging of the smaller radiator runoff hose, which leads to the coolant tank. As the engine cools, if fluid cannot return to the tank, this will also cause a vacuum.May 16, 2017

 

[Layor]

Hi Tony, thanks for that info. I have to change a couple of rear pipes, from the flexi hose to the calipers later, but I will definitely be checking the rest of the pipe system. Very much appreciated.
Colin.

 

[t-tony]

No, what I was talking about were the steel brake lines having an outer coil around them Frankie. I will take a picture next time I see that old Jeep.

Tony.

 

[t-tony]

Hi Tony, thanks for that info. I have to change a couple of rear pipes, from the flexi hose to the calipers later, but I will definitely be checking the rest of the pipe system. Very much appreciated.
Colin.

Hi Colin I took a couple of pictures this morning.

This where I joined the N/S pipe. Easy to do with arch liner out of the way.

The O/S one goes directly to the ABS pump.

Tony.

 

[FRANKIE]

No, what I was talking about were the steel brake lines having an outer coil around them Frankie. I will take a picture next time I see that old Jeep.

Tony.

I've seen them and don't really know what that's all about. The only thing that I can imagine is that the coiled wire around them might serve as a spacer so the line itself avoids direct contact with anything else except the coil. That 's just a guess. It's probably something else. Let me look on the internet..............Frankie

 

[FRANKIE]

Got to be a good thing mate, it didn't fill me with confidence at all.

Tony.

I was looking for the answer to the coil and came across another thing that came up when I looked at a coil on a brake line......the coil before the brake line attaches to the master cylinder..........

They said this was to take up any vibrations or movement between the car frame and the master cylinder..........never thought about it before even though I've always seen it............Frankie

 

[FRANKIE]

No, what I was talking about were the steel brake lines having an outer coil around them Frankie. I will take a picture next time I see that old Jeep.

Tony.

I came across this on a forum page that came up when I Googled coils on brake lines...........

The brake lines from the factory have a rock guard around the brake line in the locations were rocks or flying objects can damage them. You can get the rock guard in bulk from Classic tube. I put it over the brake line on the rear dif. becuse they are in front of the axle..and the main line back to the rearend.

Frankie