Do you live in a place like Michigan where road salt treats your car like a school of piranhas treats a wounded duckling? The line wrench is for the connection from the hose to the metal brake line. Then, remove the hoses from your brake calipers or wheel cylinders. Over time brake lines are exposed to the exterior elements and eventually they will rust away, creating a rupture, therefore losing braking power. Nice. I could probably write that a million times, and youd still forget. They mounted near the front and rear of the vehicle and serve to distribute brake fluid from the main line to each of the wheels. Bleeding brakes removes trapped air from the car brake system and flushes old fluid and contaminants. For the flare, this is a double flare connection. Loosen it from the distributor. Modern cars use a combination of metal lines and rubber hoses to contain and transfer the fluid that applies your brakes. This article has been viewed 218,023 times. Repairs covered by 12-month/12,000-mile warranty. Dont put the clip back in just yet, we want some play in the hose so we can get everything lined up correctly. Finally, youll need to drain and replace the fluid and bleed the air from each line. Spray the area where the hard brake lines and the soft rubber hoses connect at the rear of the car with penetrating lubricant. On the other side, tighten the bolt snug, but not too tight. Step 5: Crack open the connection going into the brake caliper. Of those, 3/16-inch (about the same as 4.75mm) is probably the most common, and thats what we ended up using. One small mistake could cause the brakes to fail, which is incredibly dangerous. Install the fitting first, the side which is being flared must be on the chamfered side of the clamp. Replacement lines will vary, you can buy a length or buy a roll depending on the material. Walter was a pleasure to work with and friendly, polite, professional, and very knowledgeable. Fitting, then flare. In case of fluid spills rinse the area immediately with cool water. Before you drive your car, have a certified mechanic inspect the brake system. Reply About: Car enthusiast YouTuber creating helpful tutorial videos on both repairs and customizations. because they fail. Only use the brake fluid and brake lines that are recommended for your make and model vehicle. Just need to live to be 135 now. Most vehicles are equipped with a hydraulic braking system that allows the driver to stop the car by pressing a brake pedal. Take a look at the rules for all types of racing-NO COPPER LINES. Lines I replaced 50 years ago are still as good as when I did them so properly attached , copper will not work harden . Have you ever pulled an all-nighter before a big race or off-road event? I know I will. Youll need a wrench for the bleeder valve, typically 9 mm. Dot 3, Dot 4, and Dot 5.1 brake fluids are most common in modern vehicles. Jason was a lifesaver. There are various dies available based on what size line is used which is determined by which fits best within the inside of the line. Clean all the end connections of the hard lines, at the distributor and at the brackets for the soft rubber hose connection, with brake cleaner to remove any dirt. Match up the old and new line, place the bender in the correct position and continue to bend the line. See the brake flush/bleeding guide for help with this. Metal wouldnt be able to cope with the movement of the wheels, so we use a rubber hose that can move and bend with the suspension. You may begin on either side. Before beginning to remove the hard brake lines you'll need to drain the fluid from your rear caliper(s). YourMechanic All rights reserved. Stainless steel lines are also an option which can be harder to work with, yet is corrosion resistant. Cost me around $140 to replace it. Step 3: Retighten the nut on the top connection. They should be snug, not as tight as possible. Again, dont unscrew it all the way, we just want to make sure it will come out easily later on. When you undo the brake line from the junction at the master cylinder or at any other fitting, be sure to hit the nut it with some penetrating lubricant (PB Blaster is your friend), and if necessary, apply heat. Its best to use a bender so you dont risk kinking the line. De-burr the cut line by simply sticking it in the center of the line and rotate back and forth until the burr is gone. Using the cutter tool, set it in place, remember to cut about a 1/4 longer to account for the flare, then tighten the knob, spin the cutter until its loose, tighten again, spin, and repeat until the end separates. Due to the issues with copper, In some areas with a required safety inspection copper is cause for failure. Step 5: Fully tighten down both connections. Lay the adapter on its base right next to the brake line thats jutting out of the vice and look at it from the side to make sure youve got it lined up. The alloy lines are usually a dull copper color and will develop a green patina over time, this can make it difficult to differentiate between an alloy and a pure copper line. This will greatly help getting the connections loose. Our certified mobile mechanics make house calls in over 2,000 U.S. cities. Youll notice is either an oily residue on the ground or somewhere underneath the vehicle, with close relation to the brake lines, besides the reservoir level dropping. References. Note that this line may be routed through a bracket that holds both the hard brake line and the hard fuel line from the fuel tank in place with a rubber buffer. Steel on the other hand is susceptible to corrosion so coatings are applied such as an epoxy or zinc. Repeat with the passenger side line. I wanted to change brake hoses, as part of troubleshooting a leak. Tom has over 10 years of experience in the auto industry. He didn't have the brake hose, so he had to come back the next day. Just get a nice, tight-fitting, wide wrench that makes lots of contact with the nut. Well need the wheel out of the way to access the brake hose and fittings. Ive been working on my $600 Moab Jeep for months now, trying to get it ready for the inevitable shit-show that will be the 1,600 mile road trip from Michigan to Utah. Dont undo it completely, we just want to be able to unscrew it quickly later on when we actually take the hose out. Using the old brake line as reference, make some light bends in the brake line by hand. The work hardening is not the problem, it's the way copper tubing is made. You could flare the line before you install it, but your initial length estimate for the brake line should always be a bit on the long side, as its easier to cut the line down than to splice in a new line. Its not nearly as comfortable as doing the flare on your work bench, but wrenching and discomfort go together like manual transmissions and wagons. He confirmed everything that other shops said, including pricing. Install the line and the line may need to be adjusted in the bends slightly, ensure they do not rub on any adjacent objects which may damage the line. Route the line into its approximate final location and use the brake bending tool for major bends like 90 degree-ers. Last Updated: May 6, 2021 5 years ago, I believe you have a misunderstanding here. ", "Very useful information. Step 4: Use hammer to tap in mounting clips. Well, I havent, but it. At my local OReilly Auto Parts store, they charge about a dollar per foot, and we only needed about 13. Step 7: Repeat for all hoses that need to be replaced. Genaro was absolutely great. They differ in wet and dry boiling points. You can also rent brake flaring kits, like the one shown above free of charge, though its worth noting that different cars have fittings for different kinds of flares. Its one thing to provide excellent service, but Anthony goes out of his way to fully explain the work he is doing to make you as the customer feel comfortable. Bleed brakes when the brake pedal is spongy. I have a 1997 Chevy k1500 truck. Thats what I did: I installed a little too much brake line, then I went underneath and cut it down to size and flared it from under the car. I guess the convenience makes up for it. Copper is a bad idea. Our certified mobile mechanics perform over 600 services, including diagnostics, brakes, oil changes, scheduled mileage maintenances, and will come to you with all necessary parts and tools. Let the brake cleaner dry. Step 3: Check the brake fluid level in the master cylinder. Remember that: fitting, then flare. Its always good to have a rag handy to prevent any fluid from dripping. Have your new hose ready to go as we want this transfer to be quick. Here is the link to the product http://www.jegs.com/p/JEGS-Performance-Products/JEGS-NiCopp-Nickel-Copper-Brake-Lines/2111534/10002/-1, I had wondered if you were using cunifer (NiCopp) lines but the reference to copper was worrisome, particularly if the instructions were to be used by a novice. So just buy one of these pizza cutter-like tools, tighten the cutting wheel against the brake line, and start spinning the tool around the line, gradually tightening the cutting wheel screw as you go. These connections can be tight if they havent been changed for a few years. Youll put it together the opposite way you took it apart. Am considering hiring him again before his scheduled move to another state. Copper should never be used in brake systems. The top connection should come undone with no problem since weve already cracked it open. There are 8 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Then try wiggling the tire up and down or side to side to see if you feel any looseness in the wheel bearing and hub. Your distributor will now look like this. Modern Tire Dealer Magazine voted his shop one of the Best 10 Operations in the Country. Brake fluid can damage other components, namely rubber and paint, so we want to make sure we clean everything. My go-to brake line removal method involves hitting the fitting with PB Blaster, applying heat with a torch, and hammering on the end of a flare nut wrench to apply an impulse load. Then tighten the nearest vice bolt all the way, squeezing the flaring bar halves together. Step 2: Reseat the top connection into the mounting bracket. Why? He will be THE requested mechanic that we use moving forward. If so, your brake lines might be rusty, so you should replace them to avoid things like death, despair and turmoil. It is just up behind the driver's side axle. Test the brakes in an empty street or parking lot first before going into traffic. Ram 1500 V8-5.7L - Brake Hose Replacement (Driver Side Front, Passenger Side Front) - Hauppauge, New York. After a minute or two, the wheel should cut through the line and youll be ready to start bending. But if you dont know what size your line is, either measure it with a caliper go online to find the answer in some informative automotive content. If you forget to put the fitting on before flaring, just cut the line down a bit and try again. This guide will start on the driver's side line. Consider replacing these hoses at this time since you already have them disconnected halfway. YourMechanics technicians bring the dealership to you by performing this job at your home or office 7-days a week between 7AM-9PM. Jason is very professional. Tip: Loosen the connection while it is still mounted. All youre trying to do is make sure the grooves in the vice hold the brake line and prevent it from slipping axially. What Does the Brake System (Hand Brake, Parking Brake) Warning Light Mean? Inspect the hoses on a regular basis to keep your car safe to drive. To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order. Find the brake line distributor at the rear of the car where the two hard lines split off to each wheel. What are the specs on them? If the line does fail, you will lose a substantial amount of braking performance and the brake pedal will feel spongy along with longer pedal travel. Be careful around the brake fluid, and wear protective gloves and safety glasses while doing the job. Brake fluid can ruin the paint on your car, and irritate your hands or eyes, so be careful. Use one hand to tighten them down. By using our site, you agree to our. Tom Eisenberg is the Owner and General Manager of West Coast Tires & Service in Los Angeles, California, a family-owned AAA-approved and certified auto shop. Before driving your car you will need to bleed the system to remove the air that has been introduced. You only need to drain the fluid from the side you're working on; if you're doing both lines, drain both. If it gets any painted part on your vehicle be sure to rinse it thoroughly. I still won't stop. If they are soft or spongy there is likely still air trapped in the lines and youll need to bleed them again. The final flare done and ready to be installed. The line is fairly malleable, so you wont break it or kink it as long as you keep your bends below about 45 degrees. Bending is fairly straightforward, as youre essentially just wrapping a tube around a smooth filleted corner. You will need to match the existing brake line diameter along with fitting type along with the lines being metric or imperial. If you are experiencing any difficulties with this job, our certified technicians are always available to assist you. Insert the dowel end in the line and install the cone tool which will push the die into place, forming the line, the cone will have a depressed area it sits into on the die. Block off any wheels that are left on the ground if you are not replacing all the hoses. Didn't change the rear because he informed me that it would break the brake line. Thanks. Dont bend or damage the clip otherwise youll have to replace it. Step 4: Use your line wrench and crack open the top connection. This small metal piece should just pull out of the bracket. What I DID get was a mechanic who CAME TO ME, fast, and was knowledgable, polite, and trustworthy. Youll need a cutting tool to whittle the brake line down to size, using the old brake line as reference. The flares on the line wrench make sure that you have a nice, tight grip on the connection while loosening so that the wrench doesnt slide off. Fitting, then flare. Nice! Its been a grueling wrenching experience filled with setback after setback, as rust turned the car into a tetanus-filled rust trap nightmare. Next, crank the yoke down until the adapter hits the vice and the yokes screw no longer wants to turn. My old brake line was really, really nasty. The last thing you want is rounded off fittings (though if you do round them off, use vice grips to loosen them). One is for the connection going into the caliper, typically around 15/16 mm. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Note: Youll need a few different sizes of wrenches. Fast, free online quotes for your car repair. You can use a box cutter for deburring, and you can buy fittings for a couple bucks at your local auto parts store. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Its not exactly pretty, as I intentionally put bends in the line to take up some of the slack. If you run into any issues during this process, get a certified mechanic to help you out. With that cleared up I like the instructions, a good overview on how to successfully replace brake lines. We would definitely request his services in the future. For more tips, including how to troubleshoot issues with your brake lines, read on! Step 2: Remove the wheel. Vito - Step 8: Unscrew the hose out of of the caliper. Theyre less than 10 bucks. The whole thing was covered in scaly rusty, and as soon as we bent one section, it broke off and leaked everywhere. Where can I buy/order those hard brake lines? Spark plug change??? Hard line to rear passenger side caliper. Remove the connection from the mounting bracket as well. By using this service, some information may be shared with YouTube. Step 2: Bleed the brakes of air. The whole hose will rotate and can fling brake fluid around so make sure you have safety glasses on. Begin by removing the soft rubber hose where it connects to the hard line. Remove the adapter, and the end of your brake line should look a bit like a mushroom: To finish off your double flare, cranking on the yoke again, this time without the adapter in place, as shown in the image below: In reality, youre more likely to be doing this under your car. Sign up for wikiHow's weekly email newsletter. Ensure everything is tight and finally we can move onto bleed the system. To drain them loosen the bleed screw and let the fluid drip in to a pan.
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