2016 low brake fluid warning after long non-use

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Frank8

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 30, 2017
Posts
229
Reaction score
48
Location
Vermont
My LR was state inspected June 2024. At that time I was advised that I might need a new brake line due to observed rust. It’s likely, but I don’t know yet, that the line ruptured although there’s no fluid anywhere.
I’m in New England and the road salt is pretty heavy in winter.
I’ll try to talk with a LR rebuilder a few towns over and get more info which I shall post.
 

Land Rover Joe

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 10, 2011
Posts
142
Reaction score
16
I'd guess 200k miles would be my limit for the rubber lines and lifetime for the steel lines. But I don't live in areas that salt the roads, ymmv. At 115k mi now and they are fine.

As an aside, the stainless braided lines aren't buying anything other than steel braids and they look better. Its a hotly debated topic. You gotta be lapping a high HP car on a road coarse with high temp pads and even then I question anyone that says they can feel the lines expand. My calipers bowed, felt that and there was clear evidence but the rubber brake lines are hydraulic lines.

FACT: braided stainless steel lines are not buying anything other than they look cool. And I will admit that the looks just matter to me...which is fundamentally the reason I am using them (instead of some kind of racing performance). They might be a little tougher and more robust than plastic but these lines are not going to change the performance of the truck (in any conditions).

I actually have some notes on this brake rebuild and have been chatting with Atlantic British as I bought their product from Tera Firma. That may be worth a separate thread someday (this whole rebuild project is still ongoing and includes the calipers) but there are a number of downsides with this aftermarket gear which requires some fabrication to make up for the shortfalls - so folks should be aware before diving in. Furthermore, the Tera Firma product are for 2+inch lifts...which I don't have and therefore we have some "extra" break line or slack to account for in the wheel wells (not a big deal but it is critical to keep things clean and very organized in those wheel-wells with everything going on...particularly on the highway at speed or while off-roading).

200,000 miles life-span for either plastic or regular steel lines on these trucks seems reasonable but as you noted: depends upon conditions, particularly salting. As for me, I have done several anti-corrosion campaigns over the years and those seem to have helped quite a bit (at least it seems so).
 

Latest posts

Members online

Forum statistics

Threads
36,735
Posts
222,927
Members
30,907
Latest member
STQAddie91
Top