What's the general consensus on brake lines.

[slowchevy]

As title says.

Bought '02 Grand Prix GT, Stepdad wants it since I'm probably keeping my Impala to replace his aging '99 Astro.

One of the brake lines that goes across the lower firewall is rusted through to the point it spurts brake fluid out every time the brake pedal is pushed to any degree.

Asked a buddy of mine who runs the local Car-X (has good employees working there, is the only place I will take my car now if I'm not working on it) how much it'd cost to replace the two. $250.

My stepdad seems to think that's a bit on the high side because we are "short on money" and instead wants to go to the junk yard and cut some lines off of a GT/GTP/SE/W-body and use those to replace existing lines. He has no experience with hard brake lines to my knowledge and the only braking system knowledge we have is pads/shoes/rotors/drums/soft lines/caliper replacement/bleeding. That said, I don't know if it's the best idea HE/WE do the lines. His outlook is "it can't be that difficult"

I see it as..well I think it's a foolish risk. If I don't know how to do something, I ask or take it somewhere if I don't have confidence in myself to do it. To save a hundred bucks or two hundred bucks, is the risk of losing your life really worth the hassle of paying a bit knowing it's done right and having wiggle room if shit does happen?

tl;dr, stepdad wants to replace brake lines on a new (to us) car with junkyard shit to save dollars and I think it's a dumb idea. am I right?

Click to read more...

 

[79vette]

well if you cant repair it your self with new lines, pay some on who can. brakes are not something to fuck around on or go cheap on.

 

[Shibby50]

well if you cant repair it your self with new lines, pay some on who can. brakes are not something to fuck around on or go cheap on.

X2 just had the rear 2 replaced on my 94 park ave. 2 days ago and it cost me 300

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

you'd be better off getting new lines and/or bending them and flaring them yourself but if its beyond your mechanical ability then you're better off getting it done.

its not hard but it does take some specialty tools and knowledge.


either way i wouldn't bother putting used brake lines on a car.

 

[slowchevy]

I'll be showing him the thread, keep 'em coming. Trying to get him to realize that it's silly to put used shit on a car that your life depends on when he will be driving the car for *work*

 

[Shibby50]

More-so OTHER people's lives than his own.

 

[Dasfinc]

you'd be better off getting new lines and/or bending them and flaring them yourself but if its beyond your mechanical ability then you're better off getting it done.

its not hard but it does take some specialty tools and knowledge.


either way i wouldn't bother putting used brake lines on a car.

X2,

The tools are affordable (I spent like $30 for everything I needed Minus a Rental flaring tool from Autozone which you get your money back on)

I'm still nervous making fresh lines, but it's very satisfying once the line is done and sealed up nicely etc.

 

[slowchevy]

How much is the line itself and what would we need? Assuming some sort of bending tool, flaring tool.. maybe someone could help us out.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

You can rent all the tools at autozone too for free.

I bet lines with fittings are under $30. They're damn cheap

 

[Dasfinc]

http://www.thechicagogarage.com/forum/showthread.php?t=55247&

I'll just post here instead of PM'ing you.

You will need a set of Line wrenches (like $5.99 at rock auto for a full set)

A brake line bending tool (was $9.99 at autozone IIRC)

A brake line cutting tool (Looks like a tiny PVC cutting tool, a pair of rollers on one side, and a cutting wheel on the other, was like $3.99 or so)

A brake line flare kit ($19.99 to rent at Autozone)

PB blaster obviously, and maybe some bungies to hold things in place while you measure. You may want a small tape measure too to see how long a line you need before you go shopping.

 

[Dasfinc]

You can rent all the tools at autozone too for free.

I bet lines with fittings are under $30. They're damn cheap

I have not found an Autozone that rents the Bender, never asked about the cutter or line wrenches.

But yea, the lines and fittings are usually $20-30 to get most projects done.

 

[Nealoc187]

brake lines are optional. fred flintstone that shit.

 

[slowchevy]

thanks Dan.

Would it be smarter to do this with the car on ramps instead of jackstands?

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

Whatever gets it the highest off the ground.


You can buy a bender from harbor freight for very cheap.

 

[Bob Kazamakis]

http://www.harborfreight.com/1-8-eighth-inch-to-1-4-quarter-inch-tube-bender-94571.html

 

[02BlueGT]

02 gp gt...... Trying to be like me?

 

[Nealoc187]

ok just read the thread for real. i agree with you. i personally would make the lines myself, but if you aren't experienced with that or don't feel comfortable, have a shop do it. don't f around with ghetto rigging some used lines off a junkyard vehicle. the nastiness and annoyance of removing old ass corroded fittings and having old brake fluid all over the place is enough to turn me off from it, let alone the fact that these lines are used as shit, fittings possibly mangled now from being removed, lines bent in ways they shouldn't be, etc. fuck that.

 

[Dasfinc]

Also, www.rockauto.com may sell the WHOLE line for dirty cheap. I got Transmission lines for like $8 a piece (like 4-5 feet of pre-bent lines, it was crazy)

 

[RICH17]

250 isnt a bad deal at all IMO.

But I sell lines like crazy at my Napa. I am getting pretty good at setting newbs up to do the job. Where are you located?

 

[slowchevy]

Gurnee. I tried explaining it and all he has in his head is "we don't have enough money at the moment" .. we got a good deal on the car, 101k miles no real rust no dents or scratches. So we bought it to work on / for my stepdad to drive for better mpgs than our astro.

 

[syP]

why need a bender??

bend them manually over a Chrome Socket... they will not kink

 

[Lord Tin Foilhat]

Tell him to quit being cheap on something that important. Shit fill half the tank instead of full and get them done correctly with new lines

 

[Wrencher]

$250 is average. Remember they're also gonna have to bleed it out.
If there is any siezed bleeders, ABS hydraulic control unit with air they'll have to deal with it.

 

[bmoore04]

I had a brake line go out when I was driving on a previous car. Once you blow threw an intersection (north ave and glen ellyn road for me) with no brakes you think about stopping differently. Don't put used shit on the car get new lines or have it done professionally.