In a message dated 01/06/02 22:12:29 GMT Daylight Time, walker@xxxxxxxxxxx writes: << It sounds as though your mechanic is conscientious and responsible. I'm still having a problem visualizing what happened and why. >> The hardest thing to explain is how the brakes lasted for 1500 miles. On the face of it, the first application of the brakes should have caused the pipe to separate since there was no flare to hold it in place. The pipe itself was way too long and was left in a loose loop hanging below the level of the rear axel. In addition it was rubbing against a metal flange and wearing away. Either this is the worst case of negilgence I have ever come across or I am missing some important element of the situation. The only explanation I can come up with is that the joint might have been made temporarily whilst the mechanic shaped and fitted the other end and then got overlooked in a rush to finish the job. It even occured to me that the flare might have broken off inside the connector, but if that was the case, I would not have been able to refit the union after I had remade the pipe. Best wishes, Tony