Exhuast pipe burning hole in brake hose

[HuntingtonSpider]

My brakes recently started feeling spongy on the way to work and an odd noise started coming from the rear drivers side (sometimes) when braking. After checking out the underneath it seems the brake hose is being burned by running under the exhaust pipe. The hose was smoking and basically melted to the exhaust pipe. Has this happened to others here/Is this a normal occurrence over time as the hoses rubber weakens? Is there supposed to be some sort of shield to ensure this doesn't happen? It seems weird to have a rubber hose run across a blazing hot pipe. Would the stainless steel hose sets significantly help with this or are they just for better braking feel and power?

[131]

There shouldn't be a brake hose near the exhaust pipe, are you sure it's not the handbrake cable? They run over the exhaust and often get damaged with the heat. The plastic tends to melt away allowing moisture in to corrode the cable, which can then bind or seize causing rear brake issues.

[dantye]

There shouldn't be a brake hose near the exhaust pipe, are you sure it's not the handbrake cable? They run over the exhaust and often get damaged with the heat. The plastic tends to melt away allowing moisture in to corrode the cable, which can then bind or seize causing rear brake issues.

True, it sounds like he is talking about the protective sheath around the e-brake cable, but if the exhaust system is pressing on the e-brake cable, it could be causing the rear brake noise he referred to. The other obvious thing to check is the brake fluid reservoir level. If the hoses from the reservoir to the master cylinder are original or have been replaced with the wrong kind of hose, they can be leaking. Brake fluid is very corrosive, and it is often recommended that brake systems be "flushed," fluid replaced and the system bled every 2-3 years.

If the car is frequently parked with the e-brake on, one or both of the e-brake lever pivots on the rear brakes could be jammed and need some working with WD40 or Blaster.

[DocHoy]

This is all great info and something I will watch for when I FINALLY pick up my 75 Spider. (Should happen on about Weds or Thurs of this week.)

But the OP said he had noise from the left rear when braking. (I am assuming "braking" means normal use of the service brake system to bring the car to a lower speed.)

This is a separate and unrelated symptom.

He should also be looking for some unrelated maintenance which needs to be done on the brakes, themselves. Pads, rotors, etc.

E' Vero?

Tnx,

[HuntingtonSpider]

Here's a picture of the hose/cable in question. Not knowing much about cars I assumed it was a brake hose, but e-brake cable makes more sense I guess. If this is only for the e-brake, I can only assume the other noise and spongy pedal are unrelated.

[dantye]

That is definitely the e-brake cable in the foreground, but I would not be driving this car much until you can find out where all that WET stuff in the background of your photo is coming from. It could be a brake line on that wheel, a gas leak (you would smell that!) or a really bad diff seal.

[124JOE]

yes id say the rear line is blown out and your car IS UNSAFE if you do your own work $50
if you dont it could run $300

get in push the pedal 5 times slowly
get out and look for a puddle
back track it and repair and bleed

or have someone do the pedal while you watch"just be carefull a leak will spray"

[HuntingtonSpider]

Thanks for the info guys, I am definitely not gonna be driving it till this is resolved. When replacing the passengers side cable should I also replace the drivers side as well? After pumping the brakes no leaks or drips were visible. I will have help from from a mechanically savvy friend but his expertise is with Porsches, so Fiats are new to him. Obviously I won't be much help, I don't even know the difference between a brake hose and an e-brake cable!

[dantye]

Thanks for the info guys, I am definitely not gonna be driving it till this is resolved. When replacing the passengers side cable should I also replace the drivers side as well? After pumping the brakes no leaks or drips were visible. I will have help from from a mechanically savvy friend but his expertise is with Porsches, so Fiats are new to him. Obviously I won't be much help, I don't even know the difference between a brake hose and an e-brake cable!

I have replaced the cable on my '81, but it appears that some older models may have had two e-brake cables. But from some of the info on supplier sites, I think they can all be replaced with the easier to adjust single cable setup. These brakes are VERY different than Porsche brakes, so make sure your guy checks for the proper part(s) with:
http://www.autoricambi.us/ or
http://www.vickauto.com/ or
http://www.international-auto.com/ or any of the other suppliers you will find noted frequently on this forum.
On that last site listed above, you can just enter the year of your car and it will supposedly select the right part.

Given the age of these cars, even if the rotors and pads have been replaced, the brake pad retainer springs and/or non-lubricated caliper wedges can cause brake noise and "sticky" operation. Neither the cable nor brake repair parts are that expensive, but the labor rate by someone who knows what they are doing may be another matter!

Good luck.

[digitech]

My exhaust used to contact my e-brake cable as well - I tried over the top and under, and also wrapped the cable with heat shield. Then I went to see my exhaust guy and he was able to add a clamp and raised the whole run back of the converter about an inch and a half - problem solved. I'll try to post a pic or two this week.

[dantye]

My exhaust used to contact my e-brake cable as well - I tried over the top and under, and also wrapped the cable with heat shield. Then I went to see my exhaust guy and he was able to add a clamp and raised the whole run back of the converter about an inch and a half - problem solved. I'll try to post a pic or two this week.

Yea, I need to do the same soon. I may replace the center resonator with a short glass-pak at the same time.

[So Cal Mark]

that leak could be the diff seal, but it could be the center brake hose too. Either way it needs attention quickly

[narfire]

I vote the center brake hose. Happened to me as well .

[HuntingtonSpider]

So I had a day off work and school to jack the car up and take some pics. You're the pro's, whats going on?


Sorry for the crappy phone pics but as you can see I have a big leak coming from that area. There was a much larger than normal puddle of fluid of the garage floor from the last week of sitting. Would the leaking on the previous picture of the exhuast be caused by this?

[dantye]

Does the leak smell like Gasoline?
If not, is your brake fluid reservoir empty? The photos are washed out from too much background light, but could be a brake line leak.