Well after spotting a small pool of fluid behind the off side rear wheel and some investigation it appears that the brake pipe has given up and ruptured :-(


Corroded OSR brake pipe

After doing some searching there seems to be a couple of options 1) cut the current pipe at a suitable point and patch in a new copper pipe 2) Fit custom HEL lines from the proportioning valve back to the brake flexi. 3) drop the rear subframe and fit a new honda line (if they are available)

I'm not to keen on dropping the rear subframe, so this leaves option 1 or 2. After having a look at the pipe route it doesn't seem to be that bad, the only tricky part I can see is getting it through from the flexi and over the subframe, from there it appear to be more or less straight runs to the proportioning valve or join to existing good pipe. I'm tempted to get some copper pipe and fittings and give it ago.

option 2( HEL lines) seem to be the quickest and easiest, but could be priccey? And they don't fit existing pipe support brackets due to a bigger outside diameter from what I've read.

I'd appreciate other thoughts and experience if they have had the same issue and what did they do?

Also does anyone know what size brake pipe and fittings I would need should I go down the route of copper pipe?









Also does anyone know how to remove the plastic tray/guard covering the brake lines...





I appreciate I've asked a few questions there :-)

Thanks.

 

I had to replace that same pipe on my car.
I used copper + nickel pipe and I'm pretty sure it was 4,75mm pipe (same as oem) with M10x1 fittings.

That plastic tray comes of when you remove the plastic nut and free the clips holding it.

 

That may need a bit of a rub with emery and stick some marine on

 

Patching in a brake pipe is not a great idea. I'd say flexi line or new copper line

 

HEL offer custom flexi lines. Routing over the sub frame is simple enough with a braided line.

In fact i went all the way to the calipers, eliminating the rubber hoses at the rear.

 

^^ Nice

 

Hoses will always have some flex compared to a hard line though so not sure that^ is the best idea.
Hopefully it's not that noticeable.

 

Just replaced the brake line myself by making a replacement part. As do this stuff for work was no drama.. also dropped subframe and cleaned it all up and polybushed whilst there..
Well worth it now its done..

 

No soft pedal for me. I was told race cars use braided lines throughout...

 

Thanks for the replies, I've spent sometime to day and had a better look and started to remove the old line, more time spent trying to get the bloody plastic guard off covering the lines! How do you do it? The pipe just fell apart just behind the subframe:






I'm torn between the HEL lines and just running in a new hard copper pipe in myself, personally I don't think it will be the hard to run a hard pipe in. I've just got to then mess about cutting it, shaping it and flaring it.

@bluepurple Those HEL line do look smart, if you dont mind me asking how much did they cost and what ends/lengths did you get? Also how on did you remove the plastic guard around the lines, I've tried turning the plastic bolt but nothing!

@Jayc87 Removing the rear subframe did cross my mind... But I want to enjoy the car now, as I SORN it from Oct-Mar every year, so would be a perfect winter project. I'm happy to make my own hard pipe.