Car brakes - need help - Fixed

[larrys]

If one line has rusted through the others aren’t far behind. I have made more brake lines than I can remember. Nickel copper lines are the way to go. A simple bending fixture and a double flare flaring tool is all you need.
Larry

[pressureangle]

Yes, it *can* be fixed. But if you have a garage do it for you, it will be expensive and the result will be questionable; brake lines demand a double flare, which demands the correct tool and a measure of expertise and practice to get right so it won't leak. Bending lines to fit properly without kinking is another challenge. I grew up in SE Michigan and cut my mechanic's teeth on rusted lines. If you love the car and can devote a few days to the project, I'd have at it. Sometimes, you find a vehicle that has only a single specific place that always rusts out while leaving the rest intact (1990's GM Yukon etc) but the only way to know is get under it with a good light and inspect everything closely. It's not something you want to fool with on a Sunday afternoon when you have to work Monday.

[80CX100]

Thank you for the positive encouragement.  It's still a very nice car with just some minimal rust around the rear passenger side wheel well.  Word has it that the 3.8L V6 is an old work horse and is good for a lot of miles.  I've shied away from getting a new car as they have so much electronic crap on them.

Yup, way back in the day before big engines were available for Toyotas, the highly regarded 3.8 Buick V6 was the engine swap of choice for 4Runners & pick ups.

It sounds like you have a very nice solid old car worth keeping on the road, with new tires to boot.

For peace of mind, you may want to run all new brake lines (depending on set up, fuel lines might be a consideration as well).

Do it yourself or as others have suggested a lone mechanic or smaller garage that has the right mindset and doesn't mind getting their hands dirty, fwiw ymmv

Good luck

Kelly

[Two Checks]

Quote from: pressureangle on Today at 01:15:55 PM

Yes, it *can* be fixed. But if you have a garage do it for you, it will be expensive and the result will be questionable; brake lines demand a double flare, which demands the correct tool and a measure of expertise and practice to get right so it won't leak. Bending lines to fit properly without kinking is another challenge. I grew up in SE Michigan and cut my mechanic's teeth on rusted lines. If you love the car and can devote a few days to the project, I'd have at it. Sometimes, you find a vehicle that has only a single specific place that always rusts out while leaving the rest intact (1990's GM Yukon etc) but the only way to know is get under it with a good light and inspect everything closely. It's not something you want to fool with on a Sunday afternoon when you have to work Monday.

As I wanted a few posts ago I just had this done. New OEM lines and labor was about $300. A bargain IMO.

[rocker59]

Repairing brake lines is a fool's errand.

What does that mean?

In the case of rusted brake lines, the remedy is to replace them.

[redrider90]

Sometimes, you find a vehicle that has only a single specific place that always rusts out while leaving the rest intact (1990's GM Yukon etc) but the only way to know is get under it with a good light and inspect everything closely.

in 1977, 2 weeks before I was to move from central Illinois to Warm Springs Ga for a new job I had a brake line failure at a stop light. I was barely moving when the car in front stopped. My pedal went to the floor. No damage to either car. That 61 Ford Fairlane 500 had a single master cylinder. But like pressureangle said sometimes it is in a single bad place. Ford had attached the rear brake line along the side of the main frame and then for some reason wrapped it around over the top of the frame near the back. And right in that place is where water would pool and that is the only place it had rusted through. It was an easy fix. 2 weeks later I head south to my new job. Crossing those mountains in Chattanooga I was pulling a trailer with everything I owned including my 72 Ducati GT. I thought to myself what it would have been like if the line had failed going down those mountains. I had a 3 on the tree and maybe I could have got it into 2nd gear or I would have used on of those run away truck ramps.

Fast forward to 2006 and I was returning at night  to NC from a trip to Va. I inherited a 96 Grand Marquis from my father which was a Chicago car. That night the brake light came on and the pedal was a little soft but not to the floor. I pulled into a gas station and looked around. There was a leak in one of the lines. But is was very slow. I bought 5 cans of brake fluid and stopped every 30 miles or so and topped it off. Traffic was very light and I geared down and used the emergency brake to stop the car saving the reservoir. I made it home without having to put my foot on the pedal. The next morning upon looking at the brake lines it was a nightmare. There were so many lines going everywhere and most were degraded. I handed it off to a local guy who replaced them at a descent price. He had a muffler/brake shop and a lift and all the tools. 

[Vince in Milwaukee]

Thank you everyone for the advice / tips / interesting stories.  The car was picked up about 15 minutes ago by a flat bed tow truck.  It is on the way to a local mechanic.  Besides fixing the known bad brake line, all the others will be inspected.  With luck, I could have my car back by tomorrow or the next day.  Will keep everyone posted.   

[Tom H]

Sounds like a good plan. Let us know how it goes.

Tom

[Rough Edge racing]

What does that mean?

In the case of rusted brake lines, the remedy is to replace them.

 Exactly...I have personally replaced brake lines on at least a dozen vehicles....Double flare tools are not expensive or hard to use after a bit of practice.The worse part is not having a lift and doing the job on a creeper. However, for the OP's info, I had all brake lines replaced on the 03 Chevy Silverado I owned about 4 years ago.Later truck/car lines are a bit complicated due to the anti lock brake servo unit..Total price from a reputable private garage was just about $600...Do you throw away a otherwise good vehicle for $600? 

[oldbike54]

Thank you everyone for the advice / tips / interesting stories.  The car was picked up about 15 minutes ago by a flat bed tow truck.  It is on the way to a local mechanic.  Besides fixing the known bad brake line, all the others will be inspected.  With luck, I could have my car back by tomorrow or the next day.  Will keep everyone posted.

 Yep , good plan . Those two know-nothings Click and Clack stated repeatedly it is always cheaper to fix what you have than to buy a new car . Then again , who would take advice from those two jokers ?

 Dusty

[redrider90]

Yep , good plan . Those two know-nothings Click and Clack stated repeatedly it is always cheaper to fix what you have than to buy a new car . Then again , who would take advice from those two jokers ?

 Dusty

  

You beat me to it Dusty. I was just thinking of posting about Click and Clack. The big believers in fixing it.

[Moparnut72]

One of them passed a few years ago. I listened to them for entertainment purposes only.
kk

[Vince in Milwaukee]

Just wanted to follow up and let everyone know that my car has been fixed.  A small local mom & pop shop did it for @ $500.  They used the copper / nickle lines and the flare tool that were previously mentioned.  I just wasn't up for even attempting this on my own.  I don't have access to a garage, it's rather cold here in Wisconsin, work has been very busy, and "projects" that I attempt seem to take on a life all their own!     Thanks again for the help everyone.  We have a really good bunch of folks here with a lot of varied and unique knowledge.   

[oldbike54]

 

 Since $500.00 isn't 3 car payments on a new car , if you get 6 months out of the Buick you are way ahead .

 Dusty

[rocker59]

Word has it that the 3.8L V6 is an old work horse and is good for a lot of miles. 

Buick's V6 engine is iconic.  First introduced in 1962 as a development of Buick's 215 V8 (which became the Rover V8).

The V6 was sold to Jeep in 1967 and Became Jeep's "Dauntless V6".  GM bought the V6 back in 1974 and it's been a mainstay ever since.   

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buick_V6_engine

[Rough Edge racing]

 The durable Buick 3800 OHV engine has been out of production for 12 years years according to Internet info........The nickle copper brake lines are excellent and in theory will last a lifetime...

[Moparnut72]

I had a Buick odd fire V6 in a '53 Willys. Great engine, Buick built some of the best engines in the GM lineup.
kk