bacelaw said:
how bad was it when they burst? my brake lines are rusty, chipped, and look terrible. no leaks, but especially the elbow towards the rear i could probably snap with two fingers.
how difficult is a full brake line replacement??
I had six people in the XJ (most of our softball team) passing a Combine on a two lane road, slightly uphill. Pulled out to take a look, decided to pass, got about half way and changed my mind, hit the brakes to pull back in behind the combine and the rear brake rubber line let go. Pedal went to the floor. I downshifted, looked to the left (ditch) floored it and made it around the combine and an oncoming truck by a couple of inches on both sides. If the combine driver hadn't been alert and braked, we probalby would have all died.
I've been fairly religious about brake line inspections ever since. Brakes are one thig, I don't procrastinate on.
Brake lines can be a beatch, but there are some tricks. Plan on trouble with something. The rears are actually easier, though the run is longer. Getting the old fittings out is tricky. Got to have good tools and be patient. My most used tool is Vice grip pliers.
Pits are more dangerous than rust. Clean it up with a brass brush and look closley. Coating all the fittings witha glob of grease once or twice a year, during the inspections, really helps when something has to be serviced or replaced. Coating the fittings with grease, is actually in the book someplace. One of those things most everybody has learned, but largely ignores.
I worked in a shop (Raybestos when it was owned by Ray). We would retube a brake system quick and fairly reasonably (brake lines in bulk and a whole wall of fittings). Check out a truck garage at a major service center (independant).