Rear Brake Lines Too short

[danielmo]

I just rebuilt and replaced the hydraulic system on my S3 Coupe. I installed SS brake lines all around. While up in the air, I also installed a CV axle conversion (not sure if it?s relevant, but trying to give all the details). When I jacked up the body to drop the car off the jack stands, I noticed that the rear brake lines were stressed at the limit of their length. So it looks like I need to install longer hoses in the back.

Has anyone else run into this problem and does anyone know how long the hoses need to be so they are not stretched?

Thanks,
Dan

[rgh0]

I think there were at least 2 different routes of the rear brake pipes originally and many more variations have been introduced by previous owners. A photo of you're setup that is too short will help understand the potential causes. The CV joints also droop more that the donut original drive shafts and this will also add to the problem,

cheers
Rohan

[Craven]

Original fitment to the caliper used a banjo adaptor, this increases the effective length of the hose by about 25 mm or so do you have this.

[danielmo]

Will take pictures tonight.

The SS lines have integrated banjo fittings, and the overall length is approximately 15 inches. The other end is a bulkhead fitting for the hard line to connect to.

The routing goes directly from the upper chassis mount, behind the strut and directly to the caliper.

[1owner69Elan]

I ran into the same problem when replacing the original fabric covered brake lines with stainless steel ones on my S4. In the process of doing some work on the rear strut I left the new SS line hooked up and ended up stressing the upper fitting/hose connection to the point that when I later went to bleed the brakes there was a leak. Not sure this was caused by the line being too short but rather my mistake in letting the whole strut unit hang on the line when disassembled.

I then ordered a new set of lines from TTR. TTR supplied Earls versions that are SS but also covered. Problem then was that the rear lines were too long (not too short), so they fouled the body at the rear.

Below picture shows a length comparison of the original line (14.5" end to end), a SS line (~14.5" from Matty maybe), and the TTR suppled Earls version (17", which was too long). TTR subsequently supplied me with a rear line of the correct length (same as original).

So, while you feel you need a longer line than what you have, if it is too long it could foul the body. I found that using the original length, 14.5", was OK.

I also have CV's.

[danielmo]

Ok, thanks for that. I'll have to re-measure and take some pictures tonight.

Thanks.

[danielmo]

The overall length of the brake hose is about 13 inches. A picture of the Right rear.

This is close to ride height.

[wotsisname]

on the +2 the flexi hose should run to the bracket on the damper mounting tube and there would be a hardline with some curvature/flex running to the caliper. I'm not familiar with the Elan to know if that is a +2 hub carrier or if it should be set up as the +2

Adrian

[danielmo]

That hub carrier is an Issue 18 (from a Series 4) that I updated on my Series 3 Coupe. From what I have read, the bracket on the tube is not used for the Elan.