How To Deal With Rusty Brake Lines

Рет қаралды 175,216

5 жыл бұрын

In particular this video is about removing wheel cylinders with rusty brake lines. Sometimes the brake line will rust to the inside of the nut. When this happens, if you try and remove the brake line, it can damage it and cause a leak.
The method in this video shows you how to deal with this issue.
*Note* this method is really only to get you out of a jam. Rusty brake lines should be replaced. If not, they could suddenly fail causing a loss of brake pressure.
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Пікірлер: 457

@louisaguns4318 5 жыл бұрын

Good pointer for dealing with stick brake lines. I like how you closed the video. A brake line in that condition, it's just a matter of time before it develops a leak.

@hotice8885 5 жыл бұрын

For those complaining that he didn't just replace the line right away, how about for the situation of having to remove a brake cylinder for a customer, a customer who does not have the money to replace both the cylinder and the line? How about for the situation in which you go to the store and they have a replacement wheel cylinder for you, but will have to order the brake line, which won't be in for two more days, and you are stranded on the road, in another state? Good tips, Eric. Thanks for addressing the need to replace the line all together, at the end of the video. I wish more guys had acknowledged that you took care of that.

@drummerboysmith968 5 жыл бұрын

I'd tell my customer that I cannot put that piece of crap back on your car. It's dangerous and I could be held liable and if you don't like it, take it down the street. It's only a few bucks. I rarely buy preformed lines and have become very good at bending and flaring my own.

@stephenrobson6480 5 жыл бұрын

Loads of people saying a new brake pipe isn't expensive but us mechanics aren't free, if a pipe snaps and a customer won't pay why should we be out of pocket. Eric's channel seems to have the most people trying to nitpick over his methods.

@Wulthrin 5 жыл бұрын

everybody's all butthurt but the fact of the matter is we dont live in a perfect world. this information would be useful to many people.

@hotice8885 5 жыл бұрын

@@drummerboysmith968 --I wonder how many customers we would lose, talking to them like that....

@hotice8885 5 жыл бұрын

@pakking Who you were quick to call an idiot may just not have the money to pay the extra hour of labor you were about to charge for the line. I have been in that very position. But you are absolutely correct in saying that you have the right to send that customer out of your shop. They would go down the road, and look for somebody willing to do what Eric just did, until they get the money to come back and fix the lines.

@justicefornone3411 5 жыл бұрын

This trick has saved me more than once. Northern Ohio winters suck.

@beehappydaysweets7626 5 жыл бұрын

Eric. Just need to say thank you. Have been working on my wife's car for two weeks and ran into the last wheel cylinder, and was worried about twisting and snapping the line. I saw your vid and went duh. Thank you. It worked. Props to you from one backyard to another. Niccccccccce!

@custom67 3 жыл бұрын

This by far the easiest way to remove & replace your wheel cylinder without the head ache of twisted or broken brake lines ! Thank you very much, every step was a challenge but slowly the bolts came out & the removal was quite easy ! Best tip i have learned in a while !!!

@daveschultz3132 5 жыл бұрын

I have used Freeze off. Have not broke a line sense. Your advice on just replacing the line is spot on! The crap they spray on the roads in the winter just eats everything. I have started using Fluid Film on the underside of my cars.

@yambo59 5 жыл бұрын

Ive run into this situation many times, sometimes on my car sometimes not. One friend of mine was a real cheapskate and always took the least expensive way - least expensive for that moment until the line blew on an old single master cylinder system and he lost all braking, fortunately no traffic and he got it stopped with the parking break and downshifting. But Eric is right, replace any lines that are this badly rusted - if theyre rusted bad enough to be froze to the nut it wont be long before youre taking a white knuckle ride-lol

@CleanSC 5 жыл бұрын

If you strip out the nut and you're truly SOL, you can also just rebuild the wheel cylinder in place. Pillage the new one and install the parts into the old body still bolted to the car.

@danielsolorzano8997 13 күн бұрын

I can't begin to tell you how much this saved my ass on a customers car. I love learning a thing or too from the guys who've been doing this longer. Thanks Eric!

@robertmedina6875 4 жыл бұрын

Great idea! Critical thinking!! Love your videos and I would truly be at a loss without them bro! I been stayin dirty since I was 15 years old! Now 49 an accident has slowed me down... but I never give up!! Keep up the great work Eric!

@andrewhallett-patterson9778 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks Eric. Loving theses short snippets of mechanical wisdom. 👍👍

@jetjazz05 5 жыл бұрын

One of the best tips I've ever seen, and this seems to be pretty true, is if you can knock all the loose rust off the threads/where the bolt or nut meets the other metal surface, down in those cracks that rust and dirt create a lot of friction and sometimes that's why a nut or bolt is binding. I know it's not possible every time, but I know I've hit brake lines with a steel brush for a minute and got it nice and clean, then sprayed it with penetrating oil and it broke loose nicer than the other lines on the same vehicle where I just started twisting.

@ohnoao9847 2 жыл бұрын

Eric I just want to say THANK YOU!!! This GD brake line is the last part holding me back from finishing this month long nightmare project that was never supposed to be this big of a pain in the ass. Idk what I expected though she is a 20 yo Wrangler and she's getting old and crabby like me 😆

@lordvolvo9801 5 жыл бұрын

I'm dealing with this exact problem on my rusty volvo. Thx for the info, and hello from Dayton ohio!

@ArchimedeanEye 5 жыл бұрын

Very clever way of getting some additional leverage and brute force to remove the fitting without rounding off the nut or breaking the line, even with a line wrench. Nice!

@stinkycheese804 5 жыл бұрын

Umm, putting a wrench on something to get more leverage to turn it is a concept that's been around for two centuries... maybe it was clever the first time some guy made a wrench from scratch to do that but since then, it's pretty much what a wrench IS FOR.

@Senna03-21 Ай бұрын

This video saved my day when replaced rear brake cylinder on my 86 Fifth Avenue. Thank you Eric!

@donep3 5 жыл бұрын

Good job Eric, very informative and intuitive.

@xtreme4rage 3 жыл бұрын

perfect info, went ahead and ordered stainless lines to replace all of them but for the time being it works well.

@samueladams2649 5 жыл бұрын

First time I seen that done, thanks Eric thats good information, keep em coming.

@victorgalicia6607 5 жыл бұрын

Awesome tip Eric. I'd replace it anyway but that will get you to the parts store again

@MrAzahills 3 жыл бұрын

Youre doing the lord's work, my friend. Thank you so much. I was losing my mind trying to figure this out.

@warrenlange6106 5 жыл бұрын

Good video. This could save us when the brake job extends past closing time at the auto parts store. We might still make it to work the next day. Thanks.

@carolinegreen6594 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you again Eric the car guy for helping us

@The513Warning 3 жыл бұрын

This video is a godsend. My brake lines aren't rusty but the nut was seized. As soon as I started to spin the cylinder, the but broke free, fortunately.

@Kendell_Bidwell 5 жыл бұрын

I'll admit I was rather skeptical part way through the video about following this advice, but the ending was great! Thanks for the video.

@davidhamm5626 5 жыл бұрын

A great tip. Not having to bend a new line is a time saver also.

@josesalazar6620 5 жыл бұрын

The good old type of videos 👍👍👍

@imports4lifetoyotalexus98 5 жыл бұрын

I just replaced my whole brake line and wheel brake cylinder on the driver side front and rear because it was rusted inside the brake line so I replaced them along with brake wheel cylinder cause I know I will go through this trouble. Thank you for this video Eric. @EricTheCarGuy

@spiderdoll5883 Жыл бұрын

Nicely done, Eric the car dude.

@fieldmanstyle1831 4 жыл бұрын

Saved my day today. Thanks for all the helpful videos!

@EngineeringGoneWrong 5 жыл бұрын

Buy a 99-07 silverado and you will get really good at replacing brake lines!

@aodox 5 жыл бұрын

Use nickel copper lines, you'll never have another problem.

@robs1852 5 жыл бұрын

Does the Tahoe from same years fall into this category too?

@EngineeringGoneWrong 5 жыл бұрын

@@robs1852 unfortunately yes.

@toddmccarter45 5 жыл бұрын

@@aodox theyre not legal some places

@PJBonoVox 5 жыл бұрын

@@toddmccarter45 Well that's fucking stupid. Nothing wrong with them whatsoever.

@DavidMirandaF 5 жыл бұрын

Nice, I have to do my brakes and I think this trick will come in handy. Thanks Eric!

@juanyoi87 5 жыл бұрын

Wow this idea is amazing I never thought about that. Thanks Eric. 👍

@VacFink 5 жыл бұрын

Glad you mentioned the option to pull the line up further. I would be hesitant to trust it for any duration with that kind of corrosion. However I'm not in a part of the country where rust is a real problem.

@sayavongtri 4 жыл бұрын

Eric, nice trick, love your videos and sense of humor.

@widetube54 9 ай бұрын

Glad to have found this one !!! Thank you Eric . And now I go and give it a try ))

@FaithisKey792 Ай бұрын

Thank you Eric. God bless you all.

@laurenbina4188 5 жыл бұрын

Super useful in a pinch!!! Thanks, Eric!

@stephenrobson6480 5 жыл бұрын

Used this trick for years, when people won't stump up the extra for new pipes. It's also useful when someone has previously fitted copper brake lines and the union is siezed, trying to undo the union will twist the pipe and eventually snap it.

@ericthecarguy 5 жыл бұрын

Exactly!

@oswaldomendez8672 5 жыл бұрын

Eric, your videos are so helpful for when I have to work on my 96 civic. Thanks man and I'll stay dirty

@sjancura 5 жыл бұрын

Great tip Eric! Love your videos!

@bobcole7283 2 жыл бұрын

1962 chrysler rusty break lines thank you for this tip , helpful

@jamesmchenry4708 5 жыл бұрын

...yeah, I had to re-do all the brake-lines on one side of the front of my '71 Super Beetle because of this issue. Unfortunately, it'd had a disc brake conversion...and needed the lines replaced anyway, but they did break on me in a similar manner.

@slickmotormotorszerviz3599 5 жыл бұрын

Here in Iceland we deal with badly rusted parts on a daily basis. How I get over this problem is as simple as heating up the fitting. By heating it up, 9 times out if 10 it will come loose pretty easily. Most of the time the issue is not the break line corroding onto or into the fitting but the rubber sleeve that is fitted onto the factory brake line gets pushed into the fitting by the oxidation or corrosion underneath it.

@kellismith4329 2 жыл бұрын

I am about to change the rusty cylinders in an old truck, I am glad I watched this as I will first gather new rear brake lines before I start lol

@DavidStCyr 5 жыл бұрын

Just a little heat even from a small propane torch has always worked for me. Also anti sieze between the line and flare nut and on the flare nut threads will prevent it from happening again.

@ianphil397 5 жыл бұрын

I was watching that; looking at the crusty brake line and thinking "oh man just replace it for the sake of it." I'm glad I kept watching.

@ericthecarguy 5 жыл бұрын

I'm glad you did to. Thank you.

@AntonioClaudioMichael 5 жыл бұрын

Great video Eric

@ronwatson4902 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the tip Eric.I got a wheel cylinder sticking on my van.

@danielkenny161 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you Eric. If installing new wheel cylinder remove as Eric and put lots of penetrating oil on the brake fitting and remove piston in the wheel cylinder. Put lots of penetrating oil on brake fitting insert large screw driver threw cylinder and turn cylinder while holding the brake line. Lots of penetrating oil on brake fitting and it should turn but only turn in 1/8 - 1/4 turns and go back same amount till it rotates freely.

@josephdrost6978 5 жыл бұрын

You're the man Eric

@omarG19100 5 жыл бұрын

always good videos man.

@jamesblair9614 3 ай бұрын

Brilliant, which is why I do it that way too. After I’ve removed the wheel cylinder, at that point I put a torch on the ferrel, heat it up and expand it, and it will break free of the line, pull it back, clean out the crud and your good to go.

@E-N-A-R-D-L-A-V 5 жыл бұрын

This could very well come in handy. Replacing the shoes and cylinders on my daughter's old 98 Protege tomorrow, it's pretty rusty as well being an Iowa car. Hopefully, I don't run into any problems.

@loscaminosdemivida2283 5 жыл бұрын

You re awesome @Erickthecarguy

@godfreypoon5148 5 жыл бұрын

Good advice on how to avoid turning your brake line into a break line.

@deltoidsforaltoids 5 жыл бұрын

AYOOOOOOOOOO

@NickMyers1 5 жыл бұрын

Very punny...haha

@4DIYers 5 жыл бұрын

I think we need to pump the brakes on your puns!

@messylaura 5 жыл бұрын

ended well, i wouldnt think twice about that, just change it if its that rusty, i find if you 'get by' the customer or yourself tends to forget about it till it pops. good info all round

@stinkycheese804 5 жыл бұрын

Except it's not that simple. If one line is that bad then it is probable that all are, and while doing lines, you ought to do hoses, and suddenly la $150 repair turned into a $1150 repair. It's always best to try to save any parts possible and inform the customer, as it is their vehicle and their money and their choice.

@joehyundaitech7961 Күн бұрын

Eric thank you for this video ever since I watched you use this trick to remove wheel cylinders this is how I do it all the time now I have learned so much and saved so much time and money from your videos I cannot thank you enough

@overryd8573 Жыл бұрын

Made me feel like a genius thanks again brother!

@mcozpda3392 3 жыл бұрын

I have to replace the rear brakes together with the cylinder of my 93 escort . and your tutorial is good ,, thanks for sharing

@trezsr 5 жыл бұрын

THANK GOD you changed that brake line! I think you trigger my OCD on purpose -- right.there.at.the.end.

@ramtrucks721 5 жыл бұрын

Nobody cares about ur ocd idiot

@ncyankee101 5 жыл бұрын

@@ramtrucks721 Apparently you did enough to comment on it LOL

@masonryan5139 5 жыл бұрын

I used vice grips everytime. Works a treat

@magnumkdb44 5 жыл бұрын

Good tip!

@andyarmstrong1493 Жыл бұрын

Liking that, brilliant solution!

@TheRealMrCods 5 жыл бұрын

Very helpful Eric

@steffydog 5 жыл бұрын

Nice job

@mindthependulum6245 5 жыл бұрын

Good stuff man!

@ganeshnarayan4339 5 жыл бұрын

Great video.

@williamtse6238 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for your video. I just have same issue today ... Will update you if I can make it. Thank you again and have a nice day.

@davidhendrickse2256 2 жыл бұрын

great vid! is such a help.

@quantumfixits7574 5 жыл бұрын

Great idea Eric...thanks...

@MegaEmagic1 5 жыл бұрын

Keep em comin!⛾

@adgnehtaol3857 5 жыл бұрын

Nice video..loved the advice will keep that in mind...

@EppingForest304 3 ай бұрын

Nice tips 👍🙏

@terrellmassey9808 4 ай бұрын

Great idea!

@adamsheldon6176 5 жыл бұрын

Great tip

@toyotaahir 2 жыл бұрын

This video saved my life

@JUNK4UCREW 5 жыл бұрын

Cheers eric. Very useful. I had a similar issue on a good condition and fairly new copper line so its not always the rusty ones.

@ericthecarguy 5 жыл бұрын

Yes, I wish more people knew that.

@tammyvaughn549 6 күн бұрын

Thank you sir.. very helpful for this girl whom is figuring it out as she goes along

@snubbelbuff1471 5 жыл бұрын

You are my spirit animal!!

@daves_not_here_mannn 5 жыл бұрын

Ted nugent? Great white buffalo?

@rooster5755 5 жыл бұрын

for those people that say "replace the line since that bad"i will say that its not always that easy.usually a customers car that is this bad,your lucky you got to sell them the rear brakes!now put on top of that $100 more!thats right,why that much you ask, line is $10.yeah,this is of course if you can just "wish" the line to be installed itself.the replacing of the line can cost easily as much as the whole brake job!now you may have to move other lines,that may break also and so on..the best rule of thumb,the less you have to take apart the better.work smarter,and you will work faster.nice video showing this simple little trick.been a tech for 25 years now and have dont this quite often in the past.not so much now with the advent of rear disc.

@willmartruckingllc1586 11 ай бұрын

I really thank you for your videos. They have helped us a ton. But this time I think that replacing that rusty line should have been the best solution. It will have a hole very soon and if it happens while driving, the driver might get into an accident if he or she panics. I'm saying this because I'm currently replacing a rusty brake line that I thought would not be a problem but now it has a hole on it.

@Jim-ie6uf 5 жыл бұрын

Sweet tip

@jonathancabrera3411 5 жыл бұрын

Hey Eric, could you do an updated video on how to replace the rear trailing arm bushings or toe arms on this civic? Love the content, keep the new videos coming!

@1999Shortstuff Жыл бұрын

Excellent tip to remove the wheel cylinder first snd then remove the brake line next. Road salt sucks!

@herbwag6456 5 жыл бұрын

Good trick, thanks!

@thomaspatnode7053 5 жыл бұрын

I blew the lines right out of my new old car. Scared the hell out of my passenger. Take care of your rusty brake lines fellas, you don't want that kind of adrenaline rush.

@HalfdeadRider 5 жыл бұрын

I had the brake cylinder /slave cylinder (wheel cylinder lol ;) fail on me braking at like 40 mph once as a young driver, instantly no brakes, had to use the handbrake to slow myself and very carefully drive to my destination. I later found out the handbrake was also only attached one side lol easily fixed on the roadside.

@5Dale65 5 жыл бұрын

Shouldn't there be two independent parts of the brake system? Of course independent untill the fluid didn't leak out completely lol :) I mean that the brakes for left front and right rear should be independent from right front and left rear. This way when a line goes bye-bye, you still can stop your car. The brakes won't work for long, as there will be a massive fluid leak, but it will be enough for you to just stop on the side of the road safely. Two wheels of four braking is better than nothing I suppose ;)

@thomaspatnode7053 5 жыл бұрын

If I just say that it's a fiero and its older than me, does that explain it? But yes, when I started replacing all the hard lines, the forward reservoir had a little fluid left in it. I'm guessing some parts may have seized. Well, new calipers and rotors all around is like $100 anyway so may as well do it all

@richardprice5978 5 жыл бұрын

did you use substandard Chinese parts?? had the same thing happen to me lucky me i was in the driveway unlucky me the bleader tried to get me in the face it was torqued down to 10 ft LBs after that time i decided to disk swap it with a USA based company parts because i was tired of rebuilding my no name R&R drums for the 3th time ( slow air leaks X 3 times from bad seals , a bad spring @ 40 mph locked up fL tire ) in one year with less than 5k miles on them, the oem where ok an i like them but they were used up and junk and 20 + years old so that wasn't a good option

@thomaspatnode7053 5 жыл бұрын

@@richardprice5978 probably original equipment from 34 years ago, they were so gone from rust. I was literally driving it home from having bought it.

@user-io3hw7hx7q 5 жыл бұрын

Awesome have a great time

@BigFrogs4x4 5 жыл бұрын

Awesome job. I've done this but like you said it's just better to replace the line. Why bleed the brakes twice? Thanks for the video.

@OnlineAutoRepairVideos 5 жыл бұрын

You do realize that those thumbs down are from people saying "NOW HE TELLS ME", LOL! Great tip Eric!

@khaledganimi6663 5 жыл бұрын

good job man

@robertmontgomery7158 5 жыл бұрын

Nice tip

@drewb242 5 жыл бұрын

With winter coming up I was wondering your thoughts on undercoating and the different kinds. Might make for a short ETCG1 video.

@SpecialAgentJamesAki 5 жыл бұрын

Both of the front brake lines on my 71 olds rusted out to the point where they gushed. Coupla squirters. Got some parts store lines and bent them as close as I could to the ones that came out. Held my tongue just right and no issues. It’s not too hard don’t rear end some one! Lol.

@EarlSinclair97 5 жыл бұрын

Today: ETCG1 Brake Drum Pain & Misery Series, Part II. I too, have executed that same technique when extracting a wheel cylinder...with marginal success.

@mtejada1 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@bobl78 5 жыл бұрын

good tip

@silasmarner7586 5 жыл бұрын

Ugh! That northeast salt horror would make me wanna fly a balloon to work and back. Untenable.

@petersipp5247 10 ай бұрын

I put never seize on the threads. Then axel grease outside on the line right up against the nut. Can't rust. Been doing this foe 41 yrs. on my '65 F100. Works.