ERA 452 -- crushed brake-fluid supply lines

[Exit32]

I noticed a small puddle of brake fluid under my ERA 452. I found a leak in one of the rubber hoses that carries brake fluid from the underhood reservoir to one of the master cylinders under the car. The leak was in a portion of the hose that's routed through the inside the car, against the firewall. The leak was caused by the clutch pedal "crushing" the hose against the area where the floor meets the firewall. It took 12 years to crush it enough to create the leak.

Turns out that both brake-fluid supply hoses showed evidence of crushing, so I replaced both of them. I attempted to re-route the hoses to avoid the clutch pedal, but the retaining clamp under the car seems to make it impossible to change the path the hoses follow from the underhood reservoir to the undercar master cylinders.

While working on the car, I also noticed that the clutch slave cylinder is weeping a little, so I think it's time to rebuild or replace it.

Two questions:

1. Does anyone know of a better way to route my brake-fluid supply hoses to protect them from being crushed in the future?

2. What's the best approach to resolve my slave cylinder drippage?

Your counsel and advice are sincerely appreciated.

-- Dan Somers

Cobra Dream