On Friday morning, having just left the house and on the immediate downhill section of my road, my brake pedal suddenly went all the way to the floor. Fortunately I was able to stop - thank goodness for dual circuit brakes - and turn around, leaving a trail of brake fluid behind me as I returned home.

The cause was failure of one of the rear brake pipes, the steel section on the right hand one between the two flexi elements had corroded so badly that it failed. - see photos. The left hand one was almost as bad. This is the part that runs alongside the rear upper suspension arm and a location that is subject to all manner of road crud, etc.

I've only had the car just over two months, it came from 'down South' and as such it has yet to enjoy a Scottish winters' perma-salt roads. The car is now 10 years old and although very clean underneath these are clearly the original rear brake pipes. There is no evidence that the pipes were renewed when six years old as per the LR service schedule and until the last service it was all done within the LR dealer network. However what concerns me the most is that days before I picked the car up the vendor had a new MoT carried out, even though there were still 4 months remaining on the previous one. There were no advisories on this or previous MoTs so I'm at a loss to understand how the state of the pipes was continually missed. I'm relieved that the failure happened so close to home and that it was me at the wheel.

So the key message is ensure your pipes are inspected and renewed as per the schedules or as soon as necessary. It's not a situation I would wish anyone else to have to experience!

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

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Ouch

Glad you were able to make it back safely. This could have been a whole lot worse. Have you contacted the dealer?

I shall be inspecting mine tomorrow, despite the recent clean MOT. Kev

2014 L405 RR Vogue SE 4.4 SDV8 in Corris Grey
2010 L320 RRS HSE 3.0 TDV6 in Stornoway Grey

Hi Kev

Thanks.

No I haven't, it was a private sale/purchase although I subsequently discovered the vendor has a website selling 'Prestige' vehicles.

After this and my rear light issues, I'm hoping these things don't come in threes!

Unfortunately all 6 flexible brake pipes are an optional service item on the 96000 miles / 72 months service so I bet loads will not pay to have them replaced...

Glad you got stopped OK...  Pete
I now have permission from the boss to use Y.O.L.O. Enjoy life
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2014 L405 Autobiography SDV8 4.4 Loire Blue Ebony interior
2011 L322 Vogue SE 4.4 TDV8 Baltic Blue. Sold
2012 L322 Autobiography 5.0 Supercharged Ipanema Sand Sold
2002 L322 Vogue 4.4 V8 Epson Green (Fatty Offroader) Sold
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Unfortunately the 405 brake pipes don't seam to be any better than the 322's... We have changed loads as they do seam to rust very quickly!

Glad you got her stopped and no-one was hurt sir...

Surprised this wasn't picked up in the MOT

Mine were (in last years MOT) so had them all replaced. Current
Vogue SE 4.4 SDV8
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So was I, especially as it had the two most recent MOTs in the space of 8 months (possibly the same garage) and that level of corrosion must have been present for even longer than that!

wow, glad no-one was hurt. Need to go check mine  X5 40d