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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

OT: RANT--Steel Brake Lines

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Blue3992 (N Ill

07-13-2007 12:15:32




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Last December, a steel brake line on my '93 Eclipse rusted through and broke. Left me stranded.

This week, another steel brake line rusted through on my '92 F-150. Luckily, I was close to home, and was able to limp back.

Why are manufacturers still using steel for brake lines? Why don't they use stainless steel, or something that wouldn't corrode so easily?




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e

07-13-2007 20:58:45




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 Re: OT: RANT--Steel Brake Lines in reply to Blue3992 (N Illinois), 07-13-2007 12:15:32  
Our honda doesn't have steel brake lines. I think they might be anodized aluminum???? Maybe the nickel copper? They are not magnetic for certain. Every three years the brake lines need to be flushed to keep them from rotting from the inside out. After four years in the salt, I can say they still look like brand spankin new.



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JK-NY

07-13-2007 18:52:34




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 Re: OT: RANT--Steel Brake Lines in reply to Blue3992 (N Illinois), 07-13-2007 12:15:32  
I AGREE!!I feel that instead of all the new safety standards that keep being proposed such as roll over protection (stability control) and having tire pressure monitors , a much better idea would be that ALL brake, fuel, oil/tranny cooler lines should be made of stainless or another corrosion proof material or coated to be equivallently corrosion proof.(like copper clad brake lines).I have noticed on many newer vehicles that brake lines are coated with a hard black coating over the steel line. If you go with bare steel replacement lines be sure to paint/undercoat them good as I have found often the replacement lines rust even faster than OEM.

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dan hill

07-14-2007 02:25:47




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 Re: OT: RANT--Steel Brake Lines in reply to JK-NY, 07-13-2007 18:52:34  
replacement lines can be wrapped with plastic tape before installing.New lines are plastic coated now.Mechanic says lines dont rust on import cars.He sees big increase in rusted lines since liquid calcium has been used on highways.You can expect line blow out at 50000 miles now.Friends ranger gas tank straps rusted away at 60000.Have your lines inspected now..



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fixerupper

07-13-2007 18:39:36




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 Re: OT: RANT--Steel Brake Lines in reply to Blue3992 (N Illinois), 07-13-2007 12:15:32  
I replaced a rusted out section of brake line on a 92 S-10 and it seemed to me like the replacement line I got at the parts store was thicker than the original. Jim



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Keith-OR

07-13-2007 15:34:16




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 Get riD of salt on highway!!! in reply to Blue3992 (N Illinois), 07-13-2007 12:15:32  
Well all you need to do is get your state to outlaw the use of salt on the roads!! They don't use salt out here in the west on the roads and I have never had to replace brake lines because of rusting out. Oregon,and Washington uses gravel and sand on the roads in winter time, even in the mountains.



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Matt from CT

07-13-2007 19:52:25




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 Re: Get riD of salt on highway!!! in reply to Keith-OR, 07-13-2007 15:34:16  
Connecticut this year moved to salt-only on State Highways. Newspaper said it's at the same rate of salt per mile that they used to use in the salt / sand mix. Although we didn't get snow until late in the season...have to say it went better then I thought.

Benefit to the state is no handling the sand in the first place, and not having to sweep the highways / suck the storm basins as often, and the Environmentalists prefer just salt contaimination in the water instead of silt too.

Town Roads are still salt / sand. Can't see salt only on a lot of those, since many don't see a lot of traffic. Bad winter once in a while, I can remember hard-packed snow across the town roads for 6+ weeks 'cause it never got warm enough for the salt to kick in.

Used to be you had to keep salt mixed with the sand piles outside, otherwise they'd freeze up in winter. But you're not supposed to store salt or sand/salt mix outside anymore so the salt doesn't leach into the ground water.

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JK-NY

07-13-2007 18:56:51




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 Re: Get riD of salt on highway!!! in reply to Keith-OR, 07-13-2007 15:34:16  
Here in Upstate NY , where some areas can get 200+ inches of snow a year, we use salt and sand. When you see sand applied to the road here it is a sand salt mix , otherwise the sand would freeze in the pile. Straight road salt is becoming more popular here in recent years , which takes a toll on cars and roads/bridges.



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Keith-OR

07-13-2007 20:55:06




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 Re: Get riD of salt on highway!!! in reply to JK-NY, 07-13-2007 18:56:51  
JK, there are places here in the greater NW that get that amount of snow fall and more, especially when you have mountain passes well over 5000 ft. They just keep the big road plows running and followed by sand and or gravel trucks..

Keith & Shawn



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oldrustycars

07-13-2007 15:08:51




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 Re: OT: RANT--Steel Brake Lines in reply to Blue3992 (N Illinois), 07-13-2007 12:15:32  
Ive done several repairs for people that had rusted brake lines. i insist on replacing every brake line, front to back, with stainless lines. costs about $125 for parts. I use regular steel when making my own lines on show cars, i just cant get a good double flare on stainless.



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El Toro

07-13-2007 14:18:57




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 Re: OT: RANT--Steel Brake Lines in reply to Blue3992 (N Illinois), 07-13-2007 12:15:32  
The use of salt on highways is a killer for metal.
Frames and brakes lines are in the area where all
that salt comes in in contact. Hal



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IH2444

07-13-2007 14:17:55




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 Re: OT: RANT--Steel Brake Lines in reply to Blue3992 (N Illinois), 07-13-2007 12:15:32  
Not sure why but fords seem to have brake lines on them that rust thru worse than others.....
just an observation from over the years of working on vehicles.



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NC Wayne

07-13-2007 14:15:51




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 Re: OT: RANT--Steel Brake Lines in reply to Blue3992 (N Illinois), 07-13-2007 12:15:32  
My thinking is their simply using a lower grade steel. Ever notice the way a piece of good steel from way back gets a thin layer of fust and then seems to stop. Now look at the new stuff, it's like it goes straight to pitting and flaking and then just disintegrates. Heck when my 55 Chevy was on the road back in the late 80's it still had origional steel brake lines and they looked as good as the day they rolled off the showroom floor. Granted I replaced the rubber ones but why mess with the steels when they appeared to be thicker than what was available at the time and were still looking good.

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RustyFarmall

07-13-2007 13:17:45




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 Re: OT: RANT--Steel Brake Lines in reply to Blue3992 (N Illinois), 07-13-2007 12:15:32  
Your vehicles are 14 and 15 years old respectively, and this is the first time you have had problems with the brake lines. Do you think those lines should last forever?



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bill mar

07-13-2007 18:34:07




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 Re: OT: RANT--Steel Brake Lines in reply to RustyFarmall, 07-13-2007 13:17:45  
why wouldnt you expect the brake lines to last the life of the car ? they really cant be considered a wear item.



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Blue3992 (N Ilinois)

07-13-2007 14:40:54




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 Re: OT: RANT--Steel Brake Lines in reply to RustyFarmall, 07-13-2007 13:17:45  
No, I don't need them to last forever, but it would be nice if they were a little more durable.

I can think of very few pars on a car that can break without warning, and put you in such extreme danger as a failing brake line.



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RAB

07-13-2007 15:13:50




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 Re: OT: RANT--Steel Brake Lines in reply to Blue3992 (N Ilinois), 07-13-2007 14:40:54  
Extreme danger? Isn't that why they fit dual brake circuits and have a hand brake that works. On older vehicles you had to rely on the brakes being good, all or nothing - well no you didn't, you drove with more care, slower, and more in sympathy with the terrain/traffic. These days with ABS etc there are a lot of drivers who wouldn't have a clue how to control a vehicle in poor road conditions without these aids. Lets face it there are a lot who don't even know how to oil the dipstick! The price of progress, I suppose. Did you change all your steel brake lines for cupro-nickel hydraulic pipe. It will last more than long enough for your needs. If you didn't YOU know your steel lines are bad so change them all NOW, and why are you taking the risk? If you did, why didn't you change them earlier, much earlier? I know, COST. But there again costs for cupro-nickel brake lines is small compared with a partial brake failure. We can all rant but it won't change the world. Back to horses or a red flag? Even they had their dangers. End of my rant!
RAB

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ohio

07-13-2007 13:37:03




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 Re: OT: RANT--Steel Brake Lines in reply to RustyFarmall, 07-13-2007 13:17:45  
for safteys sake, yes. they put stainless exuast on, don"t they?



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Donnie Baker

07-13-2007 12:34:12




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 Re: OT: RANT--Steel Brake Lines in reply to Blue3992 (N Illinois), 07-13-2007 12:15:32  
Very simple word "COST" I gotta go



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