NCT Failure Brake Lines.

pissed

Just home from test and car has failed due to advanced corrossion on all four lines. The car is a 02 Zafira.

Can these be replaced in a regular garage or is it a specialist job? Can anyone recommend a place in Dublin/Meath area and a rough cost for replacement.

Thanks in advance.

Crapbag

What a coincidence. I just started a thread on the same problem. The cost can be pretty big depending on the model. One lad I met at the NCT center had just spent €450 on getting them replaced. He had an older BMW. Here is some of the things ive learned from this.

1. Dont just clean them off and send them for retest. Even if the lines are fine and arent badly corroded, they will fail you for not replacing them. This could depend on the centre or the technician but my guess is, that it is standard.
2. Dont use copper brake lines for replacement. Apparently they are no longer acceptable replacement. They must be nickel or steel (FYI this is not confirmed as I only got this information from a mechanic and not the NCT themselves)
3. Brake line replacement is a curse to do even if you have the right tools. The brake lines on their own cost me €120 for the 2 large lines running to the master cylinder and the 2 small lines from the flexible hose to the rear drum.
4. There is an appeal process if you feel the car should have passed and the brake lines are actually ok. It might be worth a look at least. You would probably need evidence from a garage that the lines should have passed, this would be almost impossible to get.

Id say most garages with a ramp could do this. You could see about getting a patch job done by snipping the old lines where the corrosion starts and clamping part a new line on. However I dont know if the NCT see this as an acceptable repair. Shop around for price because it is guaranteed to cost you im afraid. Welcome to the brake lines club, it just reinforces my dislike of the NCT system and how it should be more tightly regulated.

Nissan doctor

pissed wrote: »

Just home from test and car has failed due to advanced corrossion on all four lines. The car is a 02 Zafira.

Can these be replaced in a regular garage or is it a specialist job? Can anyone recommend a place in Dublin/Meath area and a rough cost for replacement.

Thanks in advance.

Don't worry, its nothing like as dramatic as above.

Any competant garage/mechanic will be able to make up the lines. There is no need to replace the lines right back to the master cylinder, the sections which are rusted can be replaced. Labour costs depends on the extent of the corrosion and access to the effected areas.

Crapbag

Nissan doctor wrote: »

Don't worry, its nothing like as dramatic as above.

Any competant garage will be able to make up the lines. There is no need to replace the lines right back to the master cylinder, the sections which are rust can be replaced. Labour costs depends on the extent of the corrosion and access to the effected areas.

In fairness, you would know better than I would.

pissed

Thanks for the advice. Have contacted a local guy and have to drop the car to him for inspection before he can quote me.