XJS Brake line help!
Discussion
My 1991 4.0L XJS (face lift model) has just failed the MOT on brake pipe corrosion. The tester said the long brake pipe going to the rear of the car is corroded (Though he forgot to put it on the sheet) However he hasn't marked the pipe with yellow but it is obvious underneath which pipe he is refering to.
Now comes the problem. I don't think it's a brake pipe (Though it does look like one) but I'm at a loss to know what it is.
The pipe is on the nearside of the car, as far as I can see the only brake pipe going to the rear brakes is on the Off side of the car.
The mystery pipe seems to come from somewhere behind the from valance area and dissapears through the floor above the rear subframe to God knows where.
I have had the rear seats out nothing to see there. I've had a good look around the fuel tank but I can't see where this pipe goes too, but I'm convinced it ain't the brakes as there is only one pipe to the rear calipers. It's certainly not a fuel hose either. My only thought is there some sort of brake bias adjuster for the rear that the pipe may have some connection?.
Any help would be very welcome?
Now comes the problem. I don't think it's a brake pipe (Though it does look like one) but I'm at a loss to know what it is.
The pipe is on the nearside of the car, as far as I can see the only brake pipe going to the rear brakes is on the Off side of the car.
The mystery pipe seems to come from somewhere behind the from valance area and dissapears through the floor above the rear subframe to God knows where.
I have had the rear seats out nothing to see there. I've had a good look around the fuel tank but I can't see where this pipe goes too, but I'm convinced it ain't the brakes as there is only one pipe to the rear calipers. It's certainly not a fuel hose either. My only thought is there some sort of brake bias adjuster for the rear that the pipe may have some connection?.
Any help would be very welcome?
Hi Jag racer, I've measured the pipe (sorry I've only got a metric micrometer) and it measures about 6.07mm which is slightly bigger than 3/16" in old money.
I've attached a picture.
A- shows the pipe itself and B- shows the pipe where it appears to connect to some sort of fitting before dissapearing through the floor.The metal pipe appears to run into a rubber sleeve.There appears to be some sort of spring clip which secures the pipe to the fitting which supports my theory that it isn't a brake pipe. The two fuel lines can be seen next to the mystery pipe in the picture. Hope this helps. Cheers Rob
I've attached a picture.
A- shows the pipe itself and B- shows the pipe where it appears to connect to some sort of fitting before dissapearing through the floor.The metal pipe appears to run into a rubber sleeve.There appears to be some sort of spring clip which secures the pipe to the fitting which supports my theory that it isn't a brake pipe. The two fuel lines can be seen next to the mystery pipe in the picture. Hope this helps. Cheers Rob
Well that's not a brake pipe, they don't have springy clips on and they don't run inside the body on an XJS or most any other car for that matter. I think you need to get him to point out the pipe in question as you seem to be guessing which one he meant and even a bad MOT tester would not mistake a brake pipe for something else.
You should have two brake pipes going to the rear, the easy way is to follow them either from the master cylinder going back or from the rear subframe forward. The flexible to the left of the pipe you have labelled could be a brake pipe from the subframe to a body bracket as the subframe is rubber mounted although these pipes are normally rubber, have the car been modified at any time?
You should have two brake pipes going to the rear, the easy way is to follow them either from the master cylinder going back or from the rear subframe forward. The flexible to the left of the pipe you have labelled could be a brake pipe from the subframe to a body bracket as the subframe is rubber mounted although these pipes are normally rubber, have the car been modified at any time?
No I don't think it's a brake pipe either, thats why I'm at a loss to know what it is. There only is only one brake pipe to the back of the car as the two callipers which are in close proximity are linked together by a short pipe. I guess the ABS then acts upon the two brakes at the same time not just one, which is not the best idea in the world.
Since it's not a brake pipe and not a fuel line, what else can it be? And no the car is entirely standard. The manual offers no help either Cheers Rob
Since it's not a brake pipe and not a fuel line, what else can it be? And no the car is entirely standard. The manual offers no help either Cheers Rob
Right, now let me have some pics of the Laverdas. My mate has got an ex saudi arabian police bike, still with the badge on the tank.It looks and sounds the absolute nuts man.The italians sure know how to make bike , with the exception of electricals of course, Laverda are one of the best.( I`ve been a bi,I still am)
Get yourself a book on the jaguar. Most of the failed tech tester knobs do`nt really know what they are looking at.If you are not really mech minded it doesn`t matter, at least you will learn the basic format and systems the car has.
Get yourself a book on the jaguar. Most of the failed tech tester knobs do`nt really know what they are looking at.If you are not really mech minded it doesn`t matter, at least you will learn the basic format and systems the car has.
It's not the return fuel line is it? That runs completely separately from the main feed.'
Have you got the famous tome by Kirby Palm 'Help For The XJS Owner'? Google for it and you can download the PDF file free. It's 700-odd pages and one man's gift to XJS owners.
Have you got the famous tome by Kirby Palm 'Help For The XJS Owner'? Google for it and you can download the PDF file free. It's 700-odd pages and one man's gift to XJS owners.
Edited by mikey77 on Saturday 7th August 13:31
Many thanks to all of you who have helped out , full marks to Fullmel though!
It does indeed appear to be a breather pipe. I couldn't find it in the manual initially but i've found it now. Not so sure now whether the MOT tester was right to fail it on this pipe being rusty as he thought it was brake line. However it doesn't seem like a good idea to argue with the MOT tester as I'm sure he can find plenty of other things to fail an ageing XJS on?
I've got some 3/16" brake pipe, which is slightly smaller than the original so I'm going to see if this works, without it causing any ventilation problems.
Thanks once again Robert
It does indeed appear to be a breather pipe. I couldn't find it in the manual initially but i've found it now. Not so sure now whether the MOT tester was right to fail it on this pipe being rusty as he thought it was brake line. However it doesn't seem like a good idea to argue with the MOT tester as I'm sure he can find plenty of other things to fail an ageing XJS on?
I've got some 3/16" brake pipe, which is slightly smaller than the original so I'm going to see if this works, without it causing any ventilation problems.
Thanks once again Robert
Gassing Station | Jaguar | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff