E-Type

1961-1975 / Coupe / Roadster / 2+2 / United Kingdom

Common Brakes

Inboard rear disc brake issues (Series 1 and 2)

Symptoms

Poor rear braking, grinding noises, excessive pedal travel, uneven braking. Heat soak from the differential oil can boil brake fluid.

Cause

The inboard rear discs sit next to the differential and run hot. The calipers seize, pads glaze, and the whole system is harder to service than conventional outboard brakes. Heat from the diff degrades brake fluid.

Fix

Rebuild or replace the rear calipers.

Fit new pads and discs.

Use high-temperature brake fluid (DOT 5.1 or silicone DOT 5).

Ensure the handbrake mechanism is free and adjusted.

Budget $1,500-3,000 AUD for a rear brake rebuild.

Cost mentioned in fix

Budget $1,500-3,000

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// More E-Type problems

Other known issues

Critical Brakes

Brake servo failure

Very hard brake pedal, poor braking performance, the car feels like it has no brakes.

Minor Bodywork and Rust

Structural floor pan corrosion

Floor pans rot through, usually starting from the inside where moisture sits under the carpet and sound deadening. The car loses rigidity, doors stop closing properly, scuttle shake increases, the windscreen cracks.

Minor Bodywork and Rust

Sill corrosion (inner and outer)

Sills collapse, doors sag, the car visibly droops in the middle. Outer sills may look fine while the inner sections are completely gone.

Minor Bodywork and Rust

Bonnet corrosion and distortion

The enormous forward-hinged bonnet develops rust in its seams, inner structure, and around the headlight openings. It can also distort if the car has been jacked incorrectly or been in a minor shunt.

Common Bodywork and Rust

Boot floor and rear end corrosion

The boot floor rots, the spare wheel well fills with water, and corrosion spreads to the rear inner wings and battery tray area.

Minor Bodywork and Rust

Bulkhead and scuttle rot

The joint between the bonnet section and the cabin, the scuttle, rots. Water leaks into the cabin, the windscreen frame weakens, and eventually the whole front of the car becomes loose.

View all 24 E-Type problems