The inboard rear brakes

The E-Type carries its rear brake discs inboard, mounted on the differential output shafts inside the rear suspension cage. The arrangement reduces unsprung weight, which is why Jaguar did it, and it makes the brakes hard to see and awkward to service, which is what owners live with.

What the layout means in practice

Rear pad and disc condition cannot be judged by a look through the wheel, because the brakes are not at the wheel. Inspection means getting under the car, and some service operations mean dismantling parts of the rear cage. A seller who reports recent rear brake work has either spent money or spent hours; both are worth a look at the invoices.

Heat, seals and the handbrake

• The discs and calipers live beside the differential, so brake heat and differential oil share a small space. Leaking output shaft seals can contaminate the discs, and brake work that ignores the seals invites a repeat.
• The handbrake acts on the rear discs by its own mechanism, and its cables and linkages run the length of the car. A weak handbrake is commonly adjustment and condition of the mechanism rather than the main calipers.
• Damp or binding rear brakes after a lay-up are common; the inboard location dries slowly.

On a test drive

Rear brake problems show as a pull under braking, a handbrake that will not hold on a slope, or a hot, dragging corner after a run. Given the access the layout demands, any of these deserves a proper look underneath before purchase rather than a hopeful adjustment afterwards.