2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Broken Brake Line...

[Sasquatch]

My right front brake line broke today on the way home from work, and the pedal went to the floor. I was near the Dodge dealership, so I took the truck there, but the service department was closed for the night. Filled out one of those envelopes, dropped the key in and asked them to replace the lines and do a brake service (flush/refill).



I guess if the fronts are old and spongy (120,000 miles) it'd be a good idea to replace the rears as well. Anybody have any sense of what this might cost, or what I should expect, ballpark, cost-wise?



Thanks

 

[AKAMAC]

God forbid giving a dealer near me a blank w/o. The book time is about 2. 5 for brake R&R with rotor turn and fluid flush. The line R&R is . 75 which includes bleeding. About $30. 00 for the line and who knows what for the pads. If you can get it out of there and to a local FE shop your cost will drop about 40%.

If your handy with a wrench you can do it for ~ $100. 00.

 

[Rams-n-Hogs]

I don't know what it will cost, as I do my own work. I do know it's possible for the steel line running down the frame, (tucked in behind the fuel tank), from the front to the rear to rust through. Might be something else to have them look at, or replace. That will run the cost up, though, as it requires dropping the tank. Make sure they show you all the old parts.



Jim

 

[DBentley]

mine rotted out behind the tank and i ran a new one fished thru frame. Got some vacume rubber hose that slid over all12 feet of new metal line and sleeved it the entire way and tiewraped each end real tite to keep moisture out. Hope this saves it for a few extra years. Only a 1 hour job in driveway and 25. 00 for parts+free labor to have wife step on pedal to bleed brakes

 

[y-knot]

You know, i think one of the most overlooked areas on the trucks brake system is the brake lines. Too often people just discount them as OK, even if the truck has several thousand miles or is pretty old. I guess it is one of those. don't fix it unless it breaks things?

Fact is, brake lines break down like any other line or hose on a vehicle. The braking system operates under pretty high pressures, and when combined with literally thousands of pressure applications, from normal everyday braking, and the effects of aging, our brake hoses loose their integrity. Over time, the rubber compound cracks and breaks,causing the hoses to swell and stretch. This reduces the braking effect tremendously, when the hose swells up instead of keeping shape, it allows the pressure to drop. The bad part is it happens over such a long period, that people forget what the brakes are suppose to feel like. They become accustom to the spongy feel. Many times a pull to one side or the other can be traced to a bad hose, it swells when the brakes are applied and the pressure to that side is lower then the side with the good hose, which makes the vehicle pull.

Most experts agree that 4 years or 60,000 miles is a great reference to use for belt and hose replacements. I also happen to agree with with these theory, and change all my vehicles out at that interval. Drive belts, radiator hoses and anti-freeze are the most common replaced parts, but brake hoses should also be changed at these intervals. And just as most will flush the radiator when changing out old hoses, the brake system should be flushed and new fluid added when the old brake hoses are replaced.

Ever wonder why the new cars and trucks seem to drive and stop so well?? They have new parts that have not had time to wear. You will not get back that new car smell or experience with replacement parts, but you will make your current ride much safer and more enjoyable to drive.

Price wise for the brake hoses, replacement hoses are normally around 20-30 bucks each. the Dodge truck has three brake hoses, two in front and one for the rear. The high end stainless steel/Kevlar replacement lines run around 200 bucks for the set. I think they are money well spent.

 

[Sasquatch]

Thanks, all, for your thoughtful responses. I've been trying to do my own maintenance, including a recent valve job, but I think I'll leave this one to my friends at Marietta Dodge in Atlanta. They are a cut above, and have never done me wrong when I've been in a fix, so I trust them to do the right thing -- particurarly now that I know what's involved and about how much the job should run.



I'm grateful to have access to such a great group as the TDR membership, and apprecaite your prompt replies.

 

[Dane]

high end stainless steel/Kevlar replacement lines

The high end stainless steel/Kevlar replacement lines run around 200 bucks for the set. I think they are money well spent.

I've been looking for those... Where did you get them?

 

[ben_ak]

Try www.egrbrakes.com



I have the lines for my truck. My stock RF line was blistered at about 35k miles so I decided to just do it... easy job, about an hour with a buddy to help bleed when your done.



-Ben