Only a matter of weeks ago I suffered a total brake failure on another 1960s
Datsun due to a corroded plastic covered brake pipe. Usually the first thing I
do when I buy another classic Datsun is to cut the plastic off all the brake
pipes, which is what I did on this car, except I somehow missed one pipe, which
is the one that went. Only sheer luck saved me from a massive accident, I was
approaching an intersection at a slightly excessive speed, I hit the brake pedal
pretty hard and the pedal slowly went down to the floor, and I went straight
through the intersection.
For those who don't know about the dangers of the dreaded plastic coated brake
lines, here's the problem. Nissan fitted most (if not all) of their 1960s cars
with steel brake lines that are covered with a protective black plastic coating.
Nissan no doubt thought that they were doing the right thing putting the plastic
on the lines to protect them from damage. The problem is that water can slowly
start to seap in between the steel pipe and the plastic, eventually this will
cause the steel pipe to rust behind the plastic coating, eventually it will rust
right through the pipe, leaving only the plastic to contain the hydraulic
pressure.
ALL brake pipes should have the plastic coating cut off them (I use a single
edged razor blade) and the pipes should be thoroughly inspected, if there is ANY
sign of corrosion the pipe should be replaced.
Do it now !
Alan Bent - Mapleton, Queensland, Australia
1966 Fairlady SP311-01060 * 1965 Silvia CSP311-70231
1966 Fairlady SP311-00925 * 1964 Fairlady 4-SP310-00134
1964 Fairlady 4-SP310-00134 * 1964 Cedric Wagon 4-WP31-50620
(the Cedric is the car that had the brake failure !)
1963 Bluebird P312-3-32984 * 1963 Bluebird P312-3-39741
1963 Cedric G31-3-07024 * 1964 Cedric Wagon 4-WP31-51579
1969 Super Six G130-005415 * 1965 Bluebird P411-021358
Early Datsun Homepage http://www.geocities.com/olddat
Nissan Silvia Homepage http://www.angelfire.com/ns/silvia
Planet Cedric http://nav.to/planetcedric
Datsun Sports Owners http://DSOAnews.tripod.com/index.html
Paul wrote:
> WARNING:
> I need some advise, but first a warning. If you have not replaced your
> brake hoses (all three of them), call Les/Dennis at CDM and order them! I
> have read the warnings about the plastic coating over the steel lines and I
> checked all mine a few years back. But some how the rubber hoses avoided my
> inspection. Well I finally removed the drivers front side ( sprung a leak
> in the steel line just above the caliper at the PVGP) and the hose almost
> fell apart in my hands while I unscrewed it. The outer rubber is dry and
> crumbling and cracked from one end to the other! Needless to say, all three
> hoses will get replaced before my 1600 goes back on the road.
>
> ADVISE:
> is there any way to remove the steel line from the pressure switch to the
> drivers side caliper short of pulling the heated hose, choke cables, master
> cylinder, and .... oh what the heck, .. the motor?! That thing curls up and
> down around everything even remotely close.
>
> Brakeless in Ohio,
>
> Paul
> OROC
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