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We've had our 2010 XKR parked for several weeks after the headliner decided to droop during this boiling summer. I decided to finally move the car out of the garage to get some well-needed road time but the battery had run low, go figure I had forgotten to plug in the trickle charger. So I plugged in my fast charger and headed back inside for a few hours. On the next attempt to start the car, I had no brake pedal - it pushed straight to the floor. The car warns me that I'm low on brake fluid, so I check and the reservoir is bone dry. The heck?? I look underneath and can't see any puddles. So I add brake fluid to the proper level and try again. Now the low level warning has gone away, but I have no pressure after pumping the brakes several times. The car warns me to press the brake pedal while starting the car, so apparently these cars have a pressure-based switch rather than a typical electrical contact switch on the pedal. Still don't see any fluid on the floor. Great, so no pedal pressure means no engine start, which means no gear selector. I can't even get the car in Neutral to push it out of the garage. There must be a way. So I break down (no pun intended) and read the owner's manual. I discover the EPR procedure. Who in the world thought this thing up??? Remove cupholder, remove torx screw, turn slotted cap one quarter turn, then pull up on red handle to finally put the car in Neutral. I push the car back a few feet, and finally discover about a pint of brake fluid near the front right side. Out comes the jack, off comes the tire, and I discover to my horror that the front right brake line had cracked and BURST! Why in the world, while it has been sitting idle in the garage would this happen? Certainly better there than out on the highway, we could have been killed! I believe I have found the correct part from Jaguar, C2P25731 for the right, and C2P23042 for the left side. But these lines sure are skinny! I tried searching the forums but was unable to find anyone replacing these lines with braided stainless lines. I'm a bit wary of the factory ones now. Thanks!
You are a good writer. Despite your pain, I was in tears.
Getting to the point, I had my SS braided lines constructed at a speed shop... To be fair, these cars are getting old. I suspect the line split the last time you were out. Or the previous time you touched the brakes.
My right side did the exact thing, but mine occurred while driving. Lucky I didn’t slam into the rear of the car in front of me. Repair shop said my brakes were upgraded and that is why I had the braided stainless lines. Called back and said braided stainless lines were standard on my 2012 XKR. Couple of flushes later and a new line...good as new, less a few hundred dollars for the tow and repair.
A hydraulic hose shop crimped some aircraft braided teflon high pressure lines onto my old fittings for my race car brakes. Cost me about $45, but that was like fifteen years ago. They sure were pretty.
The hoses on my XKR are Goodridge stainless braided from the factory. When I did the Alcon upgrade, the new ones were also Goodridge stainless braided.
Thanks, everyone. I got the new OE hoses in and guess what, they're SS Goodridge! The old ones are as well, but they were just so dirty that I couldn't tell.
So now a new issue... even after replacing the front hoses and power bleeding the system (went ahead and did a flush on all four lines), I have NO pedal pressure. AND STILL CAN'T START THE CAR!!!
Does anyone have any suggestions before I drop $400 on a new master cylinder? My power bleeder has been holding steady at 25 lbs for over an hour, so I don't appear to have a new (external) leak. ::crying::
What a mess... brake hose options?
