Having just completed a brake job on my Ercoupe, we (A&P/IA owner-assisted) found a similar problem. The rigid line had developed a leak at the fitting to the brake caliper housing. The flair/flange had worn away allowing brake fluid to leak. However, my A&P noted that the line was stainless steel rather than aluminum. It seems that a steel tubing would provide better rigidity than aluminum in between the brake caliper and the flexible line at the landing gear junction.
Frank Nelson N51DV TOA > I am in the process of writing up a 337 for the following modification to the > main landing gear brake lines: > > The existing aluminum brake line tubing is attached to the landing gear leg > by means of a metal bracket. A few inches below this attachment point is a > coupling where the flexible hose is attached to flex every time the gear goes > up and down. > In reality, a good portion of the flexing is also done by the aluminum tubing > causing the bracket to cut into the aluminum line and cause a leak of brake > fluid. This leak causes the brakes to fail. > Alan Fairclough > N87333 > N94694 >
