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Making a hard brake line or fixing one rusted to crap.


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Vehicle is the world famous Snow Shark , 1978 4WD Wagon. I'm going into my second winter as a no brakes knucklehead - yes the parking brake works still somewhat. I've got a blown out line somewhere around midway within the passenger side rocker panel.

 

Any of you guys work around this or actually remove and replace ?

 

Thanks

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Yeah , thanks Pete. I have the tube cutter from bow hunting years ago. Have thought about the cheapie flaring kit.

 

That leak I have to investigate more thoroughly but it was oozing out around 3/4 of the way back from the rocker sill which is now becoming what you'd expect a 70's Japanese car would be like in the rust zone. I'm pretty sure you're correct but I may have gotten sand/salt/etc. far enough into it that it caused the rupture.

 

It's 11 degrees out now so I'll wait until it gets over 40 then get the truth on location.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Update:

 

The lines travel in the interior along the side rockers but they travel outdoors in front of the passenger side rear wheel.

 

That's my "hot spot". If posting pics was easy here the pics would be included but suffice to say it's ugly back there.

 

So my plan is to make a new hard line , or two. Since both rear wheel lines are exposed enough I could easily see the other line going south just after I finish the first one.

 

No time , it's cold , probably will suffer thru the second winter sans brakes.

 

But at least I located the burst. It is more like 4/5 or the way back and leaking from the external section(s) of line , not from the interior. But I have to tell you that area of rocker sill has finally rotted thru and it's getting very Flintstone along the sill edge of the rear floor. So I wasn't so crazy to think my leak was internal since the outdoors is now moving into my car's interior via the rocker panel etc....

 

Getting very close to the end of this cars life with me , I think.

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Yeah , everything external can no longer be relied upon. Even what looks solid.

 

This car was given Zeibart protection when new and some places things like brake lines also got shot. But the protection also wore off from our winter road treatment.

 

I will check Gator as soon as I'm done here. Thanks!

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  • 3 weeks later...

I'm late to the party, but do not use gator grips for brake line. Gator grips are not designed for high pressure at all and are not legal for use. You could be held criminally negligent if something bad were to happen. That said, those flaring tools are garbage. The cal van tools inline flaring tools are great, and you only need the 3/16" die and block kit for subie brakes. About $25. Pair that with nicopp brake line which is easy to cut and flare, its the quickest brake lines you will run

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Seeing as you don't intend to fix it properly and instead are just driving around on the handbrake, the next best solution would be to block the leaking line off. Trace it back to a fitting under the hood, undo the fitting, and put a flat head nail that fits inside the the tube and the head fits inside the female side of the fitting and tighten it back down. the head of the nail will seal against the flare of the fitting. You can bleed it by having an assistant push down on the pedal after you've filled the brake master reservoir and loosening the fitting a bit. Tighten it back down and see if it has a firm brake pedal again. That will at least get you front brakes back working on the pedal.

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Devin , I blocked off the two rear lines at the junction block using some bolts I dug up that threaded in well enough. I have been lazy about getting the reservoir refilled and the front brakes bled. Lazy and crazy.

 

I'm probably going to let this car go now. It's a tough decision and it's not definite yet , but I just don't have the spare time right now.

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  • 3 months later...

No need to bother with cutting/flaring your lines at all. Not unless you're building a show car. Auto parts stores have several different lengths. Just buy some unions and get as close as you can with what they have. Just take the long way round or even bend an "s" or a loop if you have way too much length. Ziptie it up and head down the road!

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