Date: Mon, 30 Jan 2006 13:15:58 -0600
Reply-To: Al and Sue Brase <albeeee@MCHSI.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Al and Sue Brase <albeeee@MCHSI.COM>
Subject: Re: Brake Lines - Replacement
In-Reply-To: <5.2.0.9.2.20060130125834.02e31b68@mail-hub.optonline.net>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed
Wow! Nice stuff. I'd say they've got it together. $300 for a flare tool!
Now you guys know what I want for (next) Christmas! It was nice to put
up the pics of the Aston Martin on their website. Kinda let's us know
where the compay's thinking comes from!
Al Brase
Tim Demarest wrote:
> Steel lines and couplers will get the job done, but I bucked the
> consensus
> and bought my brake line (and tooling) here. I've got no association with
> these guys except for using their stuff for this one brake line job:
>
> http://www.fedhillusa.com/pages/709975/index.htm
>
> I did an (almost) total replacement this past summer. I still need to
> replace the lines down from the master cylinder to the bottom of the
> van, I
> ran tubing (and time) before I got to those... I expect to pull the
> dashboard in the near future, when I do, the last bits will get replaced.
>
> The van stops nicely, and no leaks have surfaced, but I can't claim any
> long-term testing. I *do* know that my old lines were going to pop if
> they
> saw one more salty winter. There were at least three places where the
> lines
> just snapped while I was pulling them out. For reference, this was on a
> 1985 van with an upstate NY, PA, and NJ pedigree... you guys in the
> southwest probably have nothing to worry about.
>
> The tooling is quite expensive, but I got a couple of sets of dies, and I
> can order more if I need to do different sizes/styles of flares for other
> vehicles. I tried a hand-held flaring tool that was supposed to make
> bubble
> flares, but I got 'flattened' bubbles and scored lines... I decided my
> life
> was worth investing in a good tool.
>
> YMMV
>
> Tim
>
> At 09:25 AM 1/30/2006 -0800, you wrote:
>
>> I thought the consensus was: steel hard lines and braided stainless flex
>> hoses.Cost effective and high performance.
>>
>> On 1/30/06, JAIME E FORERO <jforero@sbcglobal.net> wrote:
>> >
>> > Hi, from the emails on this subject I gather that steel braided brake
>> > lines are not recommended and that even might not be DOT approved.
>> Who has
>> > experience with the steel braided hoses?? I am interested in
>> changing over
>> > but now I am not sure.
>> > Thanks
>> > Jaime
>> >
>> > robertmstewart <robertmstewart@MAC.COM> wrote:
>> > So, I a couple of days ago my mechanic did a tune-up for me and I
>> asked
>> > him
>> > to check the brakes.
>> >
>> > He told me that the brake lines are very rusty (which surprised me
>> since
>> > the
>> > previous owners mechanic who also owned the van told me he replaced
>> them),
>> > and my local Long Island mechanic worried that if the line gets a
>> pin hole
>> > it will need to be replaced.
>> >
>> > So I am wanted top get some feedback:
>> >
>> > 1. What is the cost for the metal brake tubing for a complete
>> replacement?
>> > 2. What would you estimate the time to be to do the replacement?
>> > 3. Can steel braided lines be used for the entire Van? Would this be a
>> > better long term investment?
>> > 4. If the steel braided lines are best what length, connectors and
>> what
>> > kind
>> > of lines would I purchase, and does anyone have a source?
>> >
>> > The mechanic also told me that the bleeders on the calipers looked
>> very
>> > rusty and worried that the calipers might need replacement as well.
>> >
>> > He said the brakes were fine but if the lines sprung a leak it
>> would be a
>> > big job.
>> >
>> > I am looking for feedback on the best way to go, I do not want sell
>> the
>> > van,
>> > I would like to complete the repairs necessary.
>> >
>> > Thanks in advance.
>> >
>> >
>> > --
>> > Rob
>> > NYC/Long Beach, NY
>> > 88 Wolfsburg, Silver
>> >
>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Jake
>> 1984 Vanagon GL
>> 1986 Westy Weekender "Dixie"
>> www.crescentbeachguitar.com
>
>
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