Just to clarify a few things. The pedal pressed as normal, slowed the car but then went to the floor. If I stamped on it as it went to the floor it was snatch and stop the car violently. Bring the pedal up, hard as normal and then it repeats. It’s not any cylinders at fault.

The hose affected was the offside rear.

The car was a Cat S write off. A typical Cat S that wasn’t structural in any way. The only things replaced or repaired were both drivers side doors and the front wing. ABS pump/sensor was also replaced as it was faulty and stopped the ABS/hill start assist/electronic handbrake operating. There was no damage to that part of the car and I have been happily driving g it for nearly two years.

My money is on a fox, in fact about a year ago there were reports in a nearby town that brake lines were being cut. There were lots of reports to police and cctv was found of a fox doing it. I think this was the case here. I do t think for a minute this is a failure of a part. It’s not just split, it’s chewed/cut in several places.

typecastboy said:

Just to clarify a few things. The pedal pressed as normal, slowed the car but then went to the floor. If I stamped on it as it went to the floor it was snatch and stop the car violently. Bring the pedal up, hard as normal and then it repeats. It’s not any cylinders at fault.

The hose affected was the offside rear.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the recap


When you 'stamped on the pedal'..
(having stood the car on its nose.. or lots of ABS stuttering..)
Did the pedal still drift to the floor ?
Or did it feel more 'natural'


I know in the heat of the moment things are a blurr..

But you seemed to have experimented a little on the careful return journey


Glad you clarified RH rear... my memory is obviously still fair

Cheers

Charlie

typecastboy said:

Just to clarify a few things. The pedal pressed as normal, slowed the car but then went to the floor. If I stamped on it as it went to the floor it was snatch and stop the car violently. Bring the pedal up, hard as normal and then it repeats. It’s not any cylinders at fault.

ABS pump/sensor was also replaced as it was faulty and stopped the ABS/hill start assist/electronic handbrake operating.

My money is on a fox, in fact about a year ago there were reports in a nearby town that brake lines were being cut. There were lots of reports to police and cctv was found of a fox doing it. I think this was the case here. I do t think for a minute this is a failure of a part. It’s not just split, it’s chewed/cut in several places.

Click to expand...

The behaviour of this pedal troubles me a lot, just doesn't sound right does it?

However the statement in the next paragraph is possibly a clue? It seems to say the ABS pump was replaced? - or was it just a sensor? If the ABS unit itself was replaced the intermittent nature of the problem might be explained by an incorrectly bled ABS unit?

I also agree with you I think it's very unlikely the hose failed "naturally" or due to a manufacturing defect. I've never heard of a fox causing this sort of damage - so that would be a first for me and I'm not discounting it as a possibility, because, I've more than once, seen similar damage done to wiring looms by mice and/or rats. Can't think why they might not fancy a nibble at a brake pipe just to vary the menu?

Have you been over the rest of the braking system yet? As I said earlier, I'd be very nervous about driving this car before I had comprehensively examined the entire braking system - and had a good general look round - whatever it was it might have had a nibble at something else - for the desert course?

Just seen this thread and it’s very scary indeed what happened. I’m with Jock getting the braking system checked out. Whether a cat s has any baring on things here, in my book could be a possibility, but I’m only guessing.
Unlikely a Fox has had a nibble, in fact i’d Put money on it.

I haven't checked the rest of the system but I will do. As for a Fox, well locally a year or so ago, Police were getting reports of brake lines being cut. There were several instances and they thought they were looking for a serial criminal damage suspect. CCTV was found and it was seen to be a Fox doing it. I have lots of foxes here so I would not be at all surprised.

The ABS Pump/Sensor unit (under the bonnet) was replaced as the old one was fried. The mechanic that fitted a used one initially said it looked like someone had tried to do something to it and had fried it in the process. As it was a secondhand one out of another car the light remained on so I had to have a new one fitted at the Fiat Stealers in January before my first MoT.

There was a faulty speed sensor on that wheel, but there was no damage anywhere near that corner, it was just panel damage. I think the ABS sensor was just something else, not something that was caused in the accident.

Don't forget these are also checked in an MoT, of which it had its first one in January.