I recently inherited a series 1 E-type, the kind with two Dunlop brake master cylinders fed by little square bottles. It had not been driven for about two years, but started up fine and I went out for a short test drive. At first the brakes seemed adequate, but after a couple of miles, the front brakes started to drag and then got very hot (smoke from both fronts) and finally locked up. After they cooled I was able to put the car away, but there was almost no stopping power.

When I got the car back to my garage, I discovered that the aluminum tube that's part of the fluid level switch in the front brake reservoir had corroded and there were bits of aluminum floating around in the brake fluid. The fluid in the rear brake reservoir seems fine.

Here is what I have done so far:

1. Remove reservoir bottle, clean and replace.
2. Remove both front flex hoses.
3. Use Motive pressure bleeder to run clean fluid through the rigid tubes.
4. Replace rubber lines with new SS braided lines.
5. Use Motive bleeder to run almost a quart of fluid through the system and out the bleeders.

There is still no pressure from the master cylinder. When I try using the "pump the brake pedal" method of bleeding, nothing comes out of the bleeders.

I suspect that this means I'll need to rebuild or replace the master cylinders. I would appreciate any words of wisdom from anyone who has had similar problems.

Submitted by bblackwell@jcna.com on Tue, 08/16/2011 - 22:57

I would suggest disconnecting one of the lines from the master cylinder closest to the pedal box, and put your finger over the hole. Then, have someone else slowly press the pedal. if nothing squirts out, you need a master cylinder replace or rebuild. Or, the hoses to the master cylinder are not some of the hoses you changed, and they are collapsed internally or kinked or both. if the hoses are old and car has set up, change everything that is not metal, and change the metal tubing if the car is rusty underneath. the pipe kits are not expensive.

Checked out what a Motive bleeder is so I doubt you have an air bubble in the master cylinder like I have had on some other cars before.