I hate brakes on old rusty trucks

[tw205]

It never fails. Fix one rusty brake line and another springs a leak.
I’ve got the nicest neighbor I could ever ask for. A little old man in his 70s. A farmer, construction worker and general handy man. Getting up in age he can’t do like he use to.
He’s got an old gmc van rusted to hell. Been leaking brake fluid for who knows how long. He asked if I’d fix it for him. Without hesitation I say sure. He dropped it off yesterday and I got after it. Leak was easy to spot by the puddle it left in the driveway. Main line to the rear about 4’from the y to the rear breaks. Cut out the last 4’ put on a new section. Got the bleeders loose and tried to bleed them out and splat!!! Another line blew out on the front left. Good grief!!! Got the shield out of the way so I could find the rupture and see what I need to fix it. Called it a day and closed up the shop. The truck is such a hunk of junk I’m sure the new brake lines will outlast the rest of the rig. I guess I know what I’m doing tomorrow. Helping my favorite neighbor.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

It never fails. Fix one rusty brake line and another springs a leak.
I’ve got the nicest neighbor I could ever ask for. A little old man in his 70s. A farmer, construction worker and general handy man. Getting up in age he can’t do like he use to.
He’s got an old gmc van rusted to hell. Been leaking brake fluid for who knows how long. He asked if I’d fix it for him. Without hesitation I say sure. He dropped it off yesterday and I got after it. Leak was easy to spot by the puddle it left in the driveway. Main line to the rear about 4’from the y to the rear breaks. Cut out the last 4’ put on a new section. Got the bleeders loose and tried to bleed them out and splat!!! Another line blew out on the front left. Good grief!!! Got the shield out of the way so I could find the rupture and see what I need to fix it. Called it a day and closed up the shop. The truck is such a hunk of junk I’m sure the new brake lines will outlast the rest of the rig. I guess I know what I’m doing tomorrow. Helping my favorite neighbor.

Brake lines are usually one of thosr fix one fixem all type things. They usually blow when you pump them up to bleed.

 

[racsan]

Been there done that, one time I was replacing pads on the ‘93 I had. When I pumped the brakes afterwards to seat the caliper pistons, the steel line from the left to right wheel blew. I ended up replacing everything from master to calipers, both rubber flex lines too. A few years before it was the rear brakes, the bleeders were seized so I ended up with new wheel cyls as well.

 

[Snoranger]

Just do it once and do them all.

 

[Ramcharger90]

Copper nickel lines are a wonderful thing.


After you remove all the rust prone steel ones...

Edit:
Then again so is the steel ones with that plastic coating line the wifes 11 lancer has never had to fo a single line in all the years or 200k...... very clean underneath...

 

[Snoranger]

Copper nickel lines are a wonderful thing.


After you remove all the rust prone steel ones...

Edit:
Then again so is the steel ones with that plastic coating line the wifes 11 lancer has never had to fo a single line in all the years or 200k...... very clean underneath...

The plastic coated ones hold up for a lot longer than the non coated... but they tend to rot right at the fitting where they’re not protected. It’s not as easily noticed on a PM.

 

[sgtsandman]

I had the same thing with my 1998 Ranger. I just replaced everything I could get at. The only brake line I didn’t change was the one that ran past the fuel tank along the frame.

 

[RobbieD]

You're a good person for helping out your neighbor. What goes around, comes around; so the good karma will come back to you one day.

 

[Ramcharger90]

I had the same thing with my 1998 Ranger. I just replaced everything I could get at. The only brake line I didn’t change was the one that ran past the fuel tank along the frame.

Lol I left the old one there since I knew I would have to drop my tank to put the new pump in. So it sat there quietly rusting away until then with the new copper nickel fed past it.

 

[ekrampitzjr]

The brake line on my 1992 Chevrolet Silverado (had been my dad's truck) blew in the same area in front of the rear wheels as the old guy's GMC van. Got it fixed a few years back. Seems to be a common Chev/GMC thing.

 

[Shran]

Had one rust through on my '88 right beside the gas tank. I was able to fish a new line through there but what a pain! It goes through one of the crossmembers and of course that whole spot was packed full of mud, no wonder it rusted off, it's impossible to clean out!

 

[superj]

i try to help my neighbors who are older too. unfortunately my 98 year old neighbor passed away last Christmas but butch, across the road is still here. he retired an e9 in the airforce and then retired from civil service to become a contractor, which he retired from 7 years ago. anything i cannot figure out, i ask him and its always fixed whatever the problem was. so i try and help him out anytime he needs it. or buy him banana bread when i run into people selling it, he loves banana bread (but who doesn't)

 

[ford4wd08]

Is it common to have to replace brake lines up north? That's a foreign thing to me down here in the south. I (knock on wood) can't recall anyone I know having to replace a hard line.

 

[tw205]

Is it common to have to replace brake lines up north? That's a foreign thing to me down here in the south. I (knock on wood) can't recall anyone I know having to replace a hard line.

Gotter done today. Did both front lines while I was under there, from the abs to the hoses. The salt really does some damage to parts up here. Yes it is a common problem. Kinda terrifying when they blow out exiting the freeway at 70 mph. YIKES!!! I get under there and pressure wash mine a few times a year but I think I’m the Lone Ranger ( pun intended )

 

[tw205]

i try to help my neighbors who are older too. unfortunately my 98 year old neighbor passed away last Christmas but butch, across the road is still here. he retired an e9 in the airforce and then retired from civil service to become a contractor, which he retired from 7 years ago. anything i cannot figure out, i ask him and its always fixed whatever the problem was. so i try and help him out anytime he needs it. or buy him banana bread when i run into people selling it, he loves banana bread (but who doesn't)

Not enough people take the time to gather wisdom and experience from our older generation. Get it while you can.