MR2 Roadster Owners Club

The Workshop => General => Topic started by: MrChris on February 8, 2025, 13:42

Title: A cautionary tale: brake lines and fluid!
Post by: MrChris on February 8, 2025, 13:42
Hi all, been away for a while but been getting my MR2 ship shape for 2025 track days.

I went to change my brake hoses recently and found they were severely rusted on to the pipes and found much corrosion on my hard brake lines... I gave in and took it to a garage. They had to chop back a significant amount of corroded brake line to splice in new. They also bled the fluid through but first they tested it and found way too much water content, failing the test.

So it was an expensive trip to the garage, but well worth it in the long run as the brakes now feel incredible.
Title: Re: A cautionary tale: brake lines and fluid!
Post by: shnazzle on February 15, 2025, 00:14
Quote from: MrChris on February  8, 2025, 13:42Hi all, been away for a while but been getting my MR2 ship shape for 2025 track days.

I went to change my brake hoses recently and found they were severely rusted on to the pipes and found much corrosion on my hard brake lines... I gave in and took it to a garage. They had to chop back a significant amount of corroded brake line to splice in new. They also bled the fluid through but first they tested it and found way too much water content, failing the test.

So it was an expensive trip to the garage, but well worth it in the long run as the brakes now feel incredible.
I still have the hard line bending tool,flaring tool and about 10m of hard line from when I was going to do that exact job :( That was well before I even thought of selling. Totally forgot about it
Title: Re: A cautionary tale: brake lines and fluid!
Post by: MrChris on February 16, 2025, 21:39
Quote from: shnazzle on February 15, 2025, 00:14I still have the hard line bending tool,flaring tool and about 10m of hard line from when I was going to do that exact job :( That was well before I even thought of selling. Totally forgot about it

This is on the 2zz 2, not your one. Your one running no problem at all, brakes are solid!
Title: Re: A cautionary tale: brake lines and fluid!
Post by: shnazzle on February 16, 2025, 21:52
Quote from: MrChris on February 16, 2025, 21:39This is on the 2zz 2, not your one. Your one running no problem at all, brakes are solid!
Really? I could have sworn they looked a little past best. Fronts I think.
Title: Re: A cautionary tale: brake lines and fluid!
Post by: shnazzle on February 16, 2025, 21:55
I think I remember now.
Last time I had to fit the brake lines, I think driver's front, something went wrong and it's on but I knew I was going to have to replace the hard line next time.
Or something to that effect...
Maybe the fitting just rounded off? Actually yeah I think that was it. 
Too long ago and getting too old haha
Title: Re: A cautionary tale: brake lines and fluid!
Post by: Pete McCue on February 17, 2025, 08:34
Never understood why any manufacturer uses steel brake lines, cost/profit I guess.