Of all the vehicles I have owned since I got my permit in 1958 (and there
have been many, and from all over the world) only 2 gave me problems with
the brake lines: a much abused Fiat 850 purchased and junked in 1963 and
the 1979 Dodge WD150 that I still use for snow plowing. I suspect that the
Dodge's brake lines rot out because the truck isn't used much and sits
outside all the time. Fortunately, they have never burst when I was on the
road. So far, none of my replacements have failed, but the entire OEM set
has now been replaced, front to back. I use the same methods as Herb.
Mike Sloane (msloane@worldnet.att.net)
At 07:44 PM 3/17/97 +0000, Herb S. Tobin wrote:
>
>
>I have had some experience replacing, and not replacing, old steel brakeline.
>
>As far as whether old brakeline may be trusted, I have run with some very
>old line without failure. The only failure I have experienced was with a line
>on a 7 or 8 year old Buick, but I think that abrasion rather than corrosion
>was the cause. One car which I use frequently for antique events is a 1935
BMW
>which was converted to hydraulics long before I acquired it in the mid
sixties.
>Although I have replaced the flexible lines, I have had no problems with the
>steel brake lines which must be over 40 years old.
>
>I have had rustout occur in steel tubing that was used to carry hydraulic
>fluid to the level control system on a 1979 Mercedes station wagon. That
>may be relevant or maybe not. This tubing is very much like brake line.
>
>Herb Tobin, MA
>
>
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