It turns out that the front near side brake line runs beneath the battery tray and sits on a shoulder of the inner wing. It's a moisture trap. There's a dog leg in the way the line is run that puts it right in the wrong place.

 

On Wednesday last week on my way to Halfords to buy a car cover I was on the A3 and my brakes failed COMPLETELY !

 

The brake line has rusted through and let go with no warning. Mine's an auto so I had to click back to 2 and 1 from D and then into N and apply the handbrake. It's not something I'll want to repeat !

 

So I would urge everyone - particularly if your car has been standing a while like mine was - to check this line for corrosion and replace it if it looks even slightly the worse for wear!

 

It's taken two full days to remedy this and it's a real PITA to do.

 

It's slightly taken the gloss of the moment on Tuesday a guy chased me down on the motorway and shouted "That is ******* awesome !"

Can imagine that must have been a real scare! Glad to hear you made it through safe and sound!

Thanks mate yes it was quite a moment !

I hope you've thrown a few buckets of de greaser over the brake fluid that must be everywhere! Well done mate, top skills recovering that heart stopper.

Yes Tom, but my neighbour's driveway where we did the repairs is looking a bit ruined :whistling:

I can only imagine how you felt when you pressed the pedal and realised you had no brakes!!

Glad you enough time to slow down changing down or it would have been much worse ......

I’ve had this in an old ford. Doing 70mph, braked, felt a weird squirm. Tried again instinctively, nothing. Fortunately it was manual and it was all quite safe, but pretty hairy.

I once had my brakes and clutch go at the same time, didn't really have much time to worry about it as it turned out the rest of the car was on fire at the time.