Just what I wanted for Christmas ... busted brake line

[JDub02]

I was on my way home from my office's Christmas lunch when, as I was coming up to a red light, my brake pedal went to the floor. The good news is I still have some stopping power with the pedal fully depressed. I got home and took a look at the resovoir and the front smaller portion that feeds the rear brakes was completely empty. I'd have been surprised, but this is the third vehicle that I've lost brakes in over the past 5 years or so. The first time was in a Jeep Wrangler and I had nothing even with the pedal fully depressed. That one was scary. I used alot of engine braking to get that slow enough to whip into a parking lot. This time I was going fairly slow, fortunately. I guess my truck spent a few too many winters in the saltiness of upstate NY.

Going to the shop tomorrow. Looks like my truck is going to get an early Christmas gift of new rear brake lines. Fun!

 

[StageLeft]

Yikes, I've never had nor known anybody to ever have a faulty brake line!

 

[JDub02]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
Yikes, I've never had nor known anybody to ever have a faulty brake line!

1995 Jeep Wrangler .. lost them completely
1992 Buick LeSabre .. split resevoir .. pedal went to floor, but had brakes at the bottom
1997 Dodge Ram .. same as Buick. still have stopping power way at the bottom.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

That's either really bad luck or do you do a lot of gravel road driving, believe you're "General Lee" or, have a vindictive Ex?

 

[boomerang]

You guys must not live in the rust belt. A 10 year old car is living on borrowed time in regards to brake lines.

The stone guards, (wire wrapped around the lines) actually are a great place for dirt and moisture to collect and rot the lines. When you don't flush your brake fluid, they're also being attacked from the inside. Any low point is a typical place for them to rot through.

Edit: Living near the ocean is a contributing factor too.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Originally posted by: boomerang
You guys must not live in the rust belt. A 10 year old car is living on borrowed time in regards to brake lines.

The stone guards, (wire wrapped around the lines) actually are a great place for dirt and moisture to collect and rot the lines. When you don't flush your brake fluid, they're also being attacked from the inside. Any low point is a typical place for them to rot through.

Edit: Living near the ocean is a contributing factor too.

Naw, something else is going on. I drove in Minneapolis for years and the newest vehicle I drove was at least ten years old. They used to salt the hell out of all the streets all winter long. Never had any brake problems due to broken lines, none of my acquaintances ever had brake line problems. I think it unlikely that there is anywhere with a harsher driving climate short of Alaska. To have three cars have the same fault really is breaking the coincidence meter.

 

[Bignate603]

I had an old rusty F250 blow out a brake line on me, and I was in upstate NY too. The truck had been parked for a while and I was driving down from my grandfather's farm which is at the top of a small mountain. Of course the line didn't bust until I started down the mountain. I downshifted and if pressed the pedal to the floor it would slow down just a little. I was literally contemplating driving it into a ditch to make it stop. After a few white knuckle minutes I made it to the bottom and limped the vehicle the 5 miles home as slowly as possible.

 

[Mxylplyx]

Any angry old girlfriends, bookies you owe debts to, or anything of those sorts?

 

[JDub02]

I think the Jeep had something to do with the fact that the Jeep was lifted, but the brake lines were not extended. And I off-roaded the snot out of it. The Buick was just at the point in life when everything was starting to go (~140k miles on it). The exhaust had rusted through shortly before the brakes went. With my truck, it had sat for about 2 years until I dusted it off last year when I got married and my wife took my Mazda.

 

[nwfsnake]

This Xmas break, I have much to do:

12 Tires to rotate
11 Wires for remote lock,
10 Platinum Spark Plugs,
9 Quarts of Coolant,
8 loose valves,
7 gaskets to seal,
6 pints of brake fluid,
5 Quarts of Oil!

4 Rear Disc Brake Pads,
3 Camshaft Seals,
2 Timing Belts,
and a leaking Accord Radiator!

Plus lots of other parts I just couldn't work into the song!

Hope my knuckles and back make it to the new year!

Merry Christmas All!

 

[Qoot]

How much did it cost you to fix your brake lines? I currently own a 92 jeep Wrangler and my brake lines just rotted out while I was moving it for alternate side parking (good timing). Just wondering about how much the parts will be, and about how much I'll be looking at in repairs if I take it somewhere.

Thanks.

 

[bruceb]

That all depends. But if your car just needs basic straight lines or you know how to make simple bends in them and don't need to make new flares, then you can use off the shelf lines at any auto parts store. They are under $10 or so each depending on length and diameter. You do need to be sure you get the correct threads as they make both SAE (american) and Metric versions. So basic thing is first locate the bad section. Remove it with the ends intact. Bring to store to match up ends & length as close as possible. If they need special bends or the fitting reflared, best to take it to a shop that has those tools. And of course, the system must be bled afterwards,

 

[HannibalX]

OP I had something similar happen recently as well. I was rolling up to a icy intersection (slowly, about 25 mph) and the pedal went to the floor. I slid right on through! Luckily it was around seven in the morning and there were no other cars around.

Turns out the ABS control module took a dump.

 

[StageLeft]

OP I had something similar happen recently as well. I was rolling up to a icy intersection (slowly, about 25 mph) and the pedal went to the floor. I slid right on through! Luckily it was around seven in the morning and there were no other cars around.

Turns out the ABS control module took a dump.

Damn, and that kills all braking? That is not cool. It can't be common, either.

 

[Quiksilver]

Originally posted by: iFX
OP I had something similar happen recently as well. I was rolling up to a icy intersection (slowly, about 25 mph) and the pedal went to the floor. I slid right on through! Luckily it was around seven in the morning and there were no other cars around.

Turns out the ABS control module took a dump.

Had something similar go out on me as well, ABS Sensors. Scariest shit I've even driven around in(and yes, I have had my brake lines go out on me; twice.). The brake pedal would lock up randomly so I wouldn't be able to apply any braking power as the pedal would be locked up. I would have to place all my weight into muscle onto the pedal in in a hard slam in order to get the pedal to unlock. Also you had to be quick to get your foot off the pedal when it would unlock unless you like coming to a very hard stop. Made for a great week driving back and forth to work in (I didn't have the money at the time for the parts; so I had to make it work until I got paid.)

 

[BW86]

The same thing happened to me as I was approaching an off-ramp at about 40mph. Boy was that an experience.