Brake Lines Rusted Thru: Replacement Questions ?

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Robert11 - 28 Aug 2005 14:40 GMT

Hello:

Have a '97 Buick LeSabre with about 65K miles on it.
Live in Northeast, and car has been garaged, porobably, about 50% of time,
although
most always in the winter time.

Just had a brake line go out on me, totally, while driving.
Quite exciting experience.

Had the burst line replaced, but have been told that all the brake lines are
pretty rusty, and they all should be replaced.

Questions, please:

a. Is this fairly "typical" for a car like mine with the mileage I have ?

b. Don't they use stanless steel for these important lines ?

c. Garage says that these lines are not available as exact replacement
pre-bent and configured lines, and that
they all must be bent to fit. Is this so, or should I go to a regular Buick
dealership ? Have been hoping to
avoid, due to the costs involved at local Buick dealership.

What should be a typical cost to replace "all" of these lines ?

Any thoughts on this would be most appreciated.

Thnaks,
B.

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Shep - 28 Aug 2005 18:22 GMT

Do this work in upstate NY every week, stainless lines are not readily
available at local stores and are difficult to custom make, my 98 Chevrolet
is getting there also. The rust problem is actually worse in a garaged car
environement because the salt and dampness accelerates rusting in a warm
garage. Left ouside in the cold weather rust is slower to form. All new
undrchassis lines, if the bleeders are not frozen, can be a 6 hour job. All
the lines have to custom cut, flared and bent to fit.

> Hello:
>
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
> Thnaks,
> B.

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Al Bundy - 28 Aug 2005 22:06 GMT

I took every inch of line and coated it with marine grease. Here I am
with a 23 year old Chevy and no leaks or rust. I plan to do the same
with any vehicle I own.
I suggest the poster shop around online for the custom bent lines just
to see whether they are available and go from there. They would be
available for a Ranger truck, for example, because of the volume. They
may not be as available for the Buick. The prebent lines save a ton of
labor and provide a much better job.

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Steve W. - 29 Aug 2005 01:18 GMT

http://www.inlinetube.com/ has a bunch of preformed stainless and will
custom duplicate lines as well.

Signature

Steve W.

> Do this work in upstate NY every week, stainless lines are not readily
> available at local stores and are difficult to custom make, my 98 Chevrolet
[quoted text clipped - 39 lines]
> http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups
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Reynaud - 28 Aug 2005 22:36 GMT

> Hello:
>
[quoted text clipped - 28 lines]
> Thnaks,
> B.

@#@
Making up replacement brake lines is no big deal . Get an good double
flaring tool and follow directions . Takes a bit of practice knowing the
proper length to flare but its not rocket science. Just remove old lines
(may have to cut and hammer away ) and use as samples. I have not seen any
stainless steel lines that I can recall, but I'm in Hd. mostly air systems.
Good luck.

Rey

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