C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Steel Brake Line Repair - Rubber hose?

Old 02-09-2013, 12:41 PM
  #1  
BIGJIM13
Drifting
Thread Starter
 
BIGJIM13's Avatar
 
Member Since: Oct 2003
Location: Dallas Texas
Posts: 1,274
Likes: 0
Received 15 Likes on 14 Posts

Default Steel Brake Line Repair - Rubber hose?

Have a break in the brake line that runs from the front to rear drivers side on a 80 - can the rusty section be replaced with a piece of rubber hose without issue?
Old 02-09-2013, 12:54 PM
  #2  
'75
Le Mans Master
 
'75's Avatar
 
Member Since: Dec 2007
Location: McHenry Illinois
Posts: 6,416
Received 582 Likes on 504 Posts

Default

No, you need to either replace the whole line or splice in a piece of brake line to replace the bad part.
Old 02-09-2013, 01:12 PM
  #3  
leadfoot4
Team Owner
 
leadfoot4's Avatar
 
Member Since: May 2001
Location: Western NY
Posts: 82,706
Received 1,339 Likes on 1,092 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by BIGJIM13
Have a break in the brake line that runs from the front to rear drivers side on a 80 - can the rusty section be replaced with a piece of rubber hose without issue?
This is a trick question, Right??
Old 02-09-2013, 02:10 PM
  #4  
dtamustang
Pro
 
dtamustang's Avatar
 
Member Since: Nov 2007
Location: hernando fl
Posts: 707
Received 95 Likes on 45 Posts

Default

only if you want to turn 5 or 6 big pieces of fiberglass into a 1000 little ones
Old 02-09-2013, 02:31 PM
  #5  
ShefmonC3
Advanced
 
ShefmonC3's Avatar
 
Member Since: Dec 2012
Location: North East Ohio
Posts: 53
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

Front line runs to left and right front, rear line runs to left and right rear...
Old 02-09-2013, 02:32 PM
  #6  
Scottd
Drifting
 
Scottd's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jul 2011
Location: Syracuse NY
Posts: 1,697
Received 139 Likes on 80 Posts

Default

In a matter of days the brake fluid will swell the rubber and your repair will fail. Replace the damaged section with new lines or a compression fitting. Despite common belief, compression fittings work fine on brake lines.
Old 02-09-2013, 03:27 PM
  #7  
leadfoot4
Team Owner
 
leadfoot4's Avatar
 
Member Since: May 2001
Location: Western NY
Posts: 82,706
Received 1,339 Likes on 1,092 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by Scottd
In a matter of days the brake fluid will swell the rubber and your repair will fail. Replace the damaged section with new lines or a compression fitting. Despite common belief, compression fittings work fine on brake lines.
Scott, are you serious?? A brake line is a hydraulic line. Never mind the swelling from the brake fluid, one slight application of the brake pedal will blow off a "rubber hose patch"...



BTW, were you able to get the body centered on your chassis?
Old 02-09-2013, 03:33 PM
  #8  
FKING1
Safety Car
 
FKING1's Avatar
 
Member Since: May 2003
Location: Dearborn Heights Michigan
Posts: 3,814
Received 105 Likes on 78 Posts

Default

In-Line Tube sell replacement steel brake lines for ur car.
Bought one for my 70 drivers side front to back.
Wrks fine.
Old 02-09-2013, 03:37 PM
  #9  
gcusmano74
Drifting
 
gcusmano74's Avatar
 
Member Since: Mar 2011
Posts: 1,886
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts
Default

NO.
A rubber hose has not the slightest chance of working. A hard stop requires something like 2000 to 2500 psi of hydraulic pressure. The hose is probably safe for maybe 1% of that.
Old 02-09-2013, 03:59 PM
  #10  
stpman
Melting Slicks
 
stpman's Avatar
 
Member Since: Oct 2002
Location: I may be getting old but I refuse to grow up
Posts: 2,865
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

Originally Posted by gcusmano74
NO.
A rubber hose has not the slightest chance of working. A hard stop requires something like 2000 to 2500 psi of hydraulic pressure. The hose is probably safe for maybe 1% of that.
NEVER use rubber line for brakes
Old 02-09-2013, 10:08 PM
  #11  
garygnu
Burning Brakes
 
garygnu's Avatar
 
Member Since: Sep 2012
Location: coon rapids mn
Posts: 818
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

maybe with alot duck tape wrapped around it .seriously NO !
Old 02-09-2013, 10:39 PM
  #12  
72LS1Vette
Safety Car
 
72LS1Vette's Avatar
 
Member Since: Aug 2001
Location: North Easton Mass
Posts: 4,883
Likes: 0
Received 8 Likes on 8 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by Scottd
In a matter of days the brake fluid will swell the rubber and your repair will fail. Replace the damaged section with new lines or a compression fitting. Despite common belief, compression fittings work fine on brake lines.
In Mass. compression fittings on a brake line are not legal and rubber lines are certainly not legal. New lines or flared couplings are the only options here.



Rick B.
Old 02-10-2013, 08:22 AM
  #13  
7T1vette
Team Owner
 
7T1vette's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jan 2006
Location: Crossville TN
Posts: 36,599
Received 2,713 Likes on 2,271 Posts

Default

All you guys know that each of the brake calipers has a rubber line connecting it to the steel line....right? Now, I'm not recommending that this be done for the problem you have, but there are rubber lines that are made to handle high-pressure fluids. As long as you use the correct type of flex line, it would be OK.

But, you would be much better off with repairing a section of steel line with some good-quality compression fittings [if legal] and a new piece of steel tubing. Or, you could go with flared ends on the tubing and AN type [union] fittings.
Old 02-10-2013, 08:34 AM
  #14  
diehrd
Safety Car
 
diehrd's Avatar
 
Member Since: Jan 2009
Location: New York
Posts: 4,000
Received 293 Likes on 189 Posts

Default

Just replace the line with a correct steel replacement. I mean your talking about stopping the car which is its biggest priority don't ya think...
Old 02-10-2013, 02:27 PM
  #15  
dtamustang
Pro
 
dtamustang's Avatar
 
Member Since: Nov 2007
Location: hernando fl
Posts: 707
Received 95 Likes on 45 Posts

Default

the flex lines are hydraulic hoses with crimped hydraulic fittings,there is no way any amount of hose clamps will even come close to holding.as far as i know an average stop generates about 2000-2500 psi, a panic stop goes to 4500 psi +.
Old 02-10-2013, 02:57 PM
  #16  
stpman
Melting Slicks
 
stpman's Avatar
 
Member Since: Oct 2002
Location: I may be getting old but I refuse to grow up
Posts: 2,865
Received 1 Like on 1 Post

Default

Originally Posted by dtamustang
the flex lines are hydraulic hoses with crimped hydraulic fittings,there is no way any amount of hose clamps will even come close to holding.as far as i know an average stop generates about 2000-2500 psi, a panic stop goes to 4500 psi +.
and to add to that to use a rubber "brake" hose you have to put a proper flare and splice coupling so just use the steel line.
as said above if you were to check you'll probably find that it's not legal in more states/provinces than just Mass

if you like I can show you a pic of my avatar Z28 after the brakes failed and the PO rear ended a dump truck, not worth it

Last edited by stpman; 02-10-2013 at 03:00 PM.
Old 02-10-2013, 03:07 PM
  #17  
Garys 68
Melting Slicks
 
Garys 68's Avatar
 
Member Since: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,654
Likes: 0
Received 16 Likes on 16 Posts

Default

For less than $10 you can buy a short piece of brake line and SAE fittings. You need a double flare tool but you can splice in a piece.
I'm going to assume when you said rubber hose, you meant a brake hardline to caliper hose. That would be more expensive and complicated than splicing in a harline piece.
If you dont know the difference between seamless/non-seamless brake line, SEA, inverted flare, and JIC/AN fittings, single vs double flare, have someone who does do it.

Get notified of new replies

To Steel Brake Line Repair - Rubber hose?

Old 02-10-2013, 05:05 PM
  #18  
leadfoot4
Team Owner
 
leadfoot4's Avatar
 
Member Since: May 2001
Location: Western NY
Posts: 82,706
Received 1,339 Likes on 1,092 Posts

Default

Originally Posted by 7T1vette
All you guys know that each of the brake calipers has a rubber line connecting it to the steel line....right? Now, I'm not recommending that this be done for the problem you have, but there are rubber lines that are made to handle high-pressure fluids. As long as you use the correct type of flex line, it would be OK.

But, you would be much better off with repairing a section of steel line with some good-quality compression fittings [if legal] and a new piece of steel tubing. Or, you could go with flared ends on the tubing and AN type [union] fittings.

YES, we know that.... but those are "brake hoses", specifically designed for hydraulic pressure. The OP simply said "rubber hose", and most of us assumed he meant some garden variety piece of rubber hose, as a patch. Maybe he did, maybe he didn't....
Old 02-10-2013, 06:10 PM
  #19  
68-427Rich
Burning Brakes
 
68-427Rich's Avatar
 
Member Since: Mar 2010
Location: KY
Posts: 964
Received 21 Likes on 19 Posts

Default

Replace the entire line, you'll probably need two pieces of line with a brass, inverted flare union.

$10 or less for the materials.
Old 02-10-2013, 07:57 PM
  #20  
7t9l82
Le Mans Master
 
7t9l82's Avatar
 
Member Since: Oct 2010
Location: melbourne florida
Posts: 6,317
Received 566 Likes on 453 Posts
2023 C3 of the Year Finalist - Modified

Default

i agree under no circumstances unless you are fixing my ex wifes car should you use a rubber hose. if it is for her leave the clamps loose too.

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: Steel Brake Line Repair - Rubber hose?



All times are GMT -4. The time now is 07:35 PM.