Ian Gaskell

"J Paul Chapman" <j.paul.chapman@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:Pg5Af.5798$0N1.2969@newsfe5-win.ntli.net...
> Hi Ian, first time I have replied to one of these posts but I have had the
> exact same problem.
> My 1998 A6 Avant dumped all it's fluid overnight, quite scary to discover
it
> the following morning!

Indeed, it was the sudden onset of the problem that amazed me. I can only
believe it was the result of corrosion/ pitting of the surface that mates
with the fixing bolt. I suppose it's analagous to a dam bursting. Totally
intact one minute, but as soon as its breached, the initial flow erodes
around it and rapidly escalates to a flood,


> Anyway, being a cheapskate I trawled round the usual Andrew Page, German
> Swedish etc to no avail. Had to bite the bullet and visit Audi main
> dealer - Result! assembly is around £13 each and comprises solid brake
line
> about 300mm fixed to flexy which has a captive banjo type bolt and TWO
> washers, one front one back.
> I replaced left and right as I had heard at last MOT that it is a common
> problem, the pipes that cam off were weird as left had no washers and the
> right just one! It was repaired for the same problem last year so the
> mechanic could have bodged the damm thing but be assured, the new ones
have
> two washers.

I ordered the brake hose today. I will advise if it comes with any sealing
washers. My only other thought was maybe to try to improve the surface
finish of the "banjo" end of the flexi-hose eg by honing with a sharpening
stone, but really dont want to take any risks with a safety item such as
this.


>
> Furthermore the official brake fluid was cheaper than at Halfords!!
> Now if I could just fix the ABS light........
>
> Paul

Good luck with your ABS problem. You may be interested in a brake related
problem my brother had on a Rover 620 diesel. Symptom was an almost total
lack of power when he switched the car lights on. Traced it to be an
internal fault inside the rear light/brake light bulb. The two circuits
became linked inside the bulb. Car lights on put 12 volts onto the brake
circuit. ECU thought the driver was braking and cut back power. Presumably a
fuel saving strategy. Should probably need brakes on PLUS throttle in OFF
position to do it "correctly"

Ian Gaskell

"J Paul Chapman" <j.paul.chapman@ntlworld.com> wrote in message
news:Pg5Af.5798$0N1.2969@newsfe5-win.ntli.net...
> Hi Ian, first time I have replied to one of these posts but I have had the
> exact same problem.
> My 1998 A6 Avant dumped all it's fluid overnight, quite scary to discover
it
> the following morning!

Indeed, it was the sudden onset of the problem that amazed me. I can only
believe it was the result of corrosion/ pitting of the surface that mates
with the fixing bolt. I suppose it's analagous to a dam bursting. Totally
intact one minute, but as soon as its breached, the initial flow erodes
around it and rapidly escalates to a flood,


> Anyway, being a cheapskate I trawled round the usual Andrew Page, German
> Swedish etc to no avail. Had to bite the bullet and visit Audi main
> dealer - Result! assembly is around £13 each and comprises solid brake
line
> about 300mm fixed to flexy which has a captive banjo type bolt and TWO
> washers, one front one back.
> I replaced left and right as I had heard at last MOT that it is a common
> problem, the pipes that cam off were weird as left had no washers and the
> right just one! It was repaired for the same problem last year so the
> mechanic could have bodged the damm thing but be assured, the new ones
have
> two washers.

I ordered the brake hose today. I will advise if it comes with any sealing
washers. My only other thought was maybe to try to improve the surface
finish of the "banjo" end of the flexi-hose eg by honing with a sharpening
stone, but really dont want to take any risks with a safety item such as
this.


>
> Furthermore the official brake fluid was cheaper than at Halfords!!
> Now if I could just fix the ABS light........
>
> Paul

Good luck with your ABS problem. You may be interested in a brake related
problem my brother had on a Rover 620 diesel. Symptom was an almost total
lack of power when he switched the car lights on. Traced it to be an
internal fault inside the rear light/brake light bulb. The two circuits
became linked inside the bulb. Car lights on put 12 volts onto the brake
circuit. ECU thought the driver was braking and cut back power. Presumably a
fuel saving strategy. Should probably need brakes on PLUS throttle in OFF
position to do it "correctly"