avensis brakes

[domo149]

avensis 57 5dr 2.0d-4dm  having done 80000 miles, the rear offside brake pipe corroded and leaked resulting in no foot brake. This pipe has been replaced and all seems well.

With a tandem master cylinder why no brakes at all ? Should I now replace the rear nearside brake pipe ?

Domo

[Konrad C]

That is a good question, why no brakes at all!

From what I understand about the tandem master cylinder, the pedal should have travelled a lot, but had some braking. If the inner seal between the two circuits in the master cylinder failed, the pressure will force the fluid by with no resistance. The system effectively acted as a single circuit!

Get the whole system checked for other leaks and corrosion, and find out if there is a way of checking the separate circuits. This may confirm the master cylinder is faulty.

It is most likely the brake fluid was contaminated, which reduced it's effectiveness. A complete fluid change would help. 

Did the brakes bleed fine and are they working fine now? Maybe a brake test on the MOT rollers will show uneven braking.

  

[domo149]

Thank you Konrad

[gazza1286]

It sounds like the garage must have only repaired a short section of the corroded pipe. Stitching onto factory originals isn't best practice. The complete length would normally be replaced. Had they done this it would have been sensible for them to replace both sides as the pipework follows the same path for much of its length. 

That said the car is still relatively new and the main area of corrosion is towards the rear wheels. I normally treat these exposed areas every year or so with Smoothrite. You may therefore avoid additional expense by doing the same on the opposite side. Brake pipes are carefully checked by MOT testers and should have been identified as a problem /advisory. 

[domo149]

Thank you, car going in to garage again will replace opposite side pipe and check brakes out carefully.always been a trustworthy garage so here s hoping.