I suffered a complete brake failure the other day about 100m from a roundabout - downhill doing about 60 MPH. It REALLY was not that much fun. I narrowly missed a couple of cars and thankfully the left turn I made took me up a gentle hill so I managed to coast to a stop before phoning a forum buddy and then the “AA”.
As it turned out the wee brackety thing that holds the flexible brake hose onto the rear nearside had just fallen off through fatigue and age (1971 - original body and chassis), the hose had therefore flopped free and got caught up in the suspension after going over a pot hole. That had pulled the hose out and hey presto - a litre of Brake fluid gushed out in the second or so it took my disbelieving foot to repeatedly stamp on the pedal. All is now well thanks to the Garage in Wallingford that I now use and trust - once I had cleaned my trousers of course.
During the latest repair they fixed the brake fail light switch - a useful thing to test if in doubt…
Apparently the US models have separate front and rear cylinders and servos - I spent a bit of time mulling over this in the workshop manual while I was waiting for the AA!
Incidentally and on a completly random thread - I have just spent the last 2 weeks in the US skiing in Aspen - I hired a HumVee H3 for the duration - what a beast that was. I can well imagine that seeing a small Lotus would be a problem in one of those. I had to use my passengers to assist in overtaking just in case I missed something that the mirrors did not pick up!
The US government mandated dual brake systems, I believe some operated on opposite split front and rear wheels. An option well worth having on any old car.
You’re a lucky man Richard, was it the Lotus cornering ability that saved you? We assume you replaced all old lines…
The cornering ability must have helped. Ironically I had ?2K worth of complete brake rebuild done about 500 miles ago last year. Everything except the master cylinder was replaced - it is just one of those things I suppose.
Ref the local council - it could have been a speed bump, pothole or even something more random that caused the bracket to release the hose - I do not see any way of proving it.
The wife is now on yet another crusade to make me get rid of the Car and to get something more sensible as our second car. I have to admit that I have never experienced anything like that before and it has got my mind reeling. I do not feel 100% safe taking my 2YO daughter out in a 36 Year old car any more. My absolute and final compromise is a new Elise or Exige - My wife however does not really consider that to be a compromise!
Cheers but I reckon that I will hold out for a better offer. Truth is that quietly I feel that I would be selling my soul to the dark side if I got rid of her (the Car - not the wife).
Having said that I am out of the country for six months in a couple of weeks so if the right offer came up I may consider. Better that than have the thing laying idle - as sure as eggs is eggs - the wife won’t even look at it for that period let alone start or drive it!
Matthew
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