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Barmybrummie



Member Since: 03 Apr 2021
Location: Somewhere in the valleys
Posts: 713

United Kingdom 2011 Range Rover Vogue SE 4.4 V8 Santorini Black
Brake fluid leak

Eurgh! I've got the dreaded brake fluid leak. The other week I had a warning come up on the dash saying brake fluid low, I put this down to having a new rear caliper fitted and the garage not topping up the fluid after bleeding. So topped it up myself, then yesterday I noticed some fluid on the passenger side deployable sidestep. Had a look underneath and seems to be coming from under the chassis and dripping onto the rear sidestep bracket. So I presume I'm going to need to replace the front to rear brake line. Does anyone have a part number for this please? Unfortunately I can't do it myself as I'm not very confident when it comes to the safety of the braking system, rather leave it to the professionals. I want to take it to the garage just by my works, would it be safe to drive the 8 miles to work if I topped the brake fluid up? The only thing that worries me is that most of the drive there is all down steep hills, the joys of living in the valleys. It's not leaking much, it's lost about half way between min and max since 7th January when I topped it up. Thanks guys.

Post #709565 18th Jan 2025 5:31pm
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Pawl



Member Since: 08 Nov 2017
Location: West Midlands
Posts: 703

England 2007 Range Rover Vogue TDV8 Cairns Blue

If you've just had a rear caliper fitted, I'd question whether the garage has tightened all the brake fittings first, then wonder why they hadn't noticed the issue,
The timing is too coincidental.
If you have got a leaking pipe rather than "just" a pipe fitting leaking, it's most likely because of severe corrosion of the steel brake pipe between the rear subframe and the area above the side step bracket.
Unfortunately if its the pipe that's failed the fact that you've only lost a small amount of fluid so far has no relationship to the fact that it could fail significantly very shortly & totally lose 1 of the rear brakes.
Safest option is to get it towed / trailered to the garage.
You could risk a very slow / gentle drive, but first you ought to press the brake pedal very hard with the engine on to see if it does suddenly "burst" / deteriorate further.

For any competent garage its an easy fix using standard cunifer (copper- nickel) brake pipe - cut and bent by them to fit, without buying the Land Rover part which will be ridiculously over priced, very difficult to fit and which will fail again due to corrosion in the future. Paul,
2001 Discovery 2 TD5, 211,000 miles & climbing
2006 FFRR TDV8 Vogue 151,000 miles & now sold
Member of Midland (Land) Rover Owners Club, www.mroc.co.uk

Post #709574 18th Jan 2025 7:26pm
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Barmybrummie



Member Since: 03 Apr 2021
Location: Somewhere in the valleys
Posts: 713

United Kingdom 2011 Range Rover Vogue SE 4.4 V8 Santorini Black

Thanks pawl, I did read about the original brake pipes corroding and I'm sure like you said they will only corrode again if using genuine parts. I'll phone the garage Monday and see if they can make their own with the copper pipe you said.
I too thought about it being a coincidence with having the rear caliper replaced, but wouldn't it be leaking around the rear wheel area? And as an added bonus, when I was mooching around the spare wheel recess I found 2 brand new in packet genuine braided brake hoses which I presume are the ones that attach to the calipers. May as well get them fitted while it's in garage. I'll have another look under the car and check around the rear wheel and caliper to see if there's any leakage from there. Trouble is, I don't like getting under the fatty with the suspension raised even for a few minutes.

Post #709579 18th Jan 2025 7:41pm
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kevinp



Member Since: 28 Sep 2019
Location: Telford
Posts: 1291

United Kingdom 2011 Range Rover Autobiography TDV8 Santorini Black

I had my pipes replaced with genuine ones a short while back by a MD.
It was booked in for 2.5 hours to do the job but took them 8.5 hours.
They only charged me for what they had quoted so they took a big hit on labour charges.
I think it's because the rear right comes in one piece and the car has to be as high as possible to get it in place without bending it.
The pipes themselves aren't that expensive considering they are genuine.
The originals lasted 12 years and the new ones have been corrosion treated so will last for the rest of the life of the car. Fingers crossed.

Post #709648 19th Jan 2025 2:40pm
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