So tonight I go outside and hop in my truck, only to notice on my second stop that the brakes are really squishy and go all the way to the floor. Upon further inspection, there is brake fluid pretty much gushing out of a tube leading up to the rear left wheel anytime I press the brakes.

Are these hard to replace, and should I attempt it with no past experience? Also, assuming I do replace the hose, do I have to somehow purge the line to remove any air that gets in there? Thanks in advance.

1/28/2006 9:02:57 PM

you're replacing something directly related to keeping you and others on the road alive. i think that speaks for itself on whether or not your should replace it by yourself with no experience.

1/28/2006 9:18:24 PM

no, its not difficult to replace. first, year, make, model of car? second, is it a metal or rubber line? if it's rubber, just go to NAPA and buy a replacement. if it's metal, go to Brakes, Inc. on New Bern Ave. and have them make you one. yeah, you can go to any parts house and try to match up the size of line, have it bent, make sure you have proper ends, etc. for probably more than what it would cost at Brakes, Inc. they'll charge roughly $5 for a new line. all you need to do is bring the old one with you and they'll have a new one ready in about 10 min.

yes, you'll need to bleed the brakes when you're done.



^good fucking point. i never thought about it that way. i'm just accustomed to fixing the shit.

[Edited on January 28, 2006 at 9:21 PM. Reason : -]

and damn. the motherfucker even asked if he needed to bleed the brakes when he's done and i actually responded to that.

fuck, it's been a long day. been up since 4:30am only to catch one 15" fish. Harris sucks in the winter.

[Edited on January 28, 2006 at 9:23 PM. Reason : --]

1/28/2006 9:20:38 PM

It's a 99 Dodge Ram.

And how do you bleed brake lines?

1/28/2006 9:24:08 PM

you have it towed to a professional and let them do the repair like bigblueram said.

1/28/2006 9:27:11 PM

I know you are trying to do the right thing and make sure everyone is safe, but I am actually really good with stuff like this, I just have unfortunately never done any brake work. Anyway, I found this website.... it seems simple enough.

http://www.4x4wire.com/toyota/maintenance/bleedingbrakes/

1/28/2006 9:40:04 PM

i love how people come in here asking for advice/opinions, when it's plainly obvious they've already decided what they're going to do. then proceed to justify their choice.

1/28/2006 9:43:51 PM

^no shit.

^^have at it, man. at least take my advise and have the brake line made for you rather than piecing one together yourself.

1/28/2006 9:46:24 PM

I like how since you've changed your Dad's oil once you think you're God's gift to automotive knowledge.

There is a big difference between someone who has done lots of automotive work but is lacking in one area and someone who has never worked on a car who is attempting to do something.

1/28/2006 9:46:48 PM

look, you came in here asking our opinion on something. you recieved two educated responses. then you want to throw it back at us and argue about it. i also find it pretty hard to believe that you've never encountered bleeding brakes, yet have done "lots" of automotive work.

i'm hardly God's gift to cars, but i have replaced many a brake line, hard and soft. i also happen to own a *gasp* 99 dodge ram.

if you're going to do it yourself, at least get someone that DOES have experience replacing lines do it with you. it's VERY easy to damage the threads, fittings, etc. on hard lines. not to mention challenges inherent to that particular axle, it can be a royal pita to get the line back into the backing plate/wheel cylinder even for someone experienced. brakes and steering are two things not to screw around with.

[Edited on January 28, 2006 at 10:03 PM. Reason : .]

1/28/2006 10:02:03 PM

flare nut wrench

1/29/2006 12:36:22 AM

plus if you have it done by a professional, you have someone to blame aside from yourself when it breaks and you do cause an accident.

1/29/2006 3:07:47 AM

one time I was heling james out with his SAS and I cut through a hard line with the angle grinder.

which he wasn't to happy about.

1/29/2006 6:59:16 AM

one time I was helping james out with his wagon and he cut through the radiator with the angle grinder.

which he wasn't to happy about.

1/29/2006 10:20:33 AM

just clean it off with brake cleaner then put alot of electrical tape around it, if you use atleast 7 layers it should hold

1/29/2006 10:28:38 AM

just make sure you start the flare fittings finger tight a couple of turns so you dont strip out the wheel cylinder or t block, and for gods sake use a tubing wrench so you don't round it off, and you're good. its not that hard to bleed. just keep the mc full of fluid, have a friend pump up the brakes hold it, and then loosen the bleeder screw, then tighten and repeat until no air comes out and you have a healthy spurt of fluid. you need to bleed both rear wheel cylinders or calipers, and the front too if the fluid ran out. wherever you finish up, go to the opposite side of the vehicle and bleed it once. finally, why did the hose leak? rubbing? exhaust too close? fix that or you will be doing it again shortly.

1/29/2006 11:15:03 AM

nigger just duct tape that shit

1/29/2006 12:51:59 PM

^

1/29/2006 1:10:09 PM

Ahaha, I know precisely DICK about cars compared to some of the guys in this thread, and even I know how to bleed brakes for the most part.


Save a few lives and get it towed and have a professional do it for you.

[Edited on January 29, 2006 at 1:24 PM. Reason : .]

1/29/2006 1:24:09 PM

Well, I went out and got a brake bleeding kit, but then I found there was no way I'd be able to reconnect the hose even if I could get it off cause of where it was located.

1/29/2006 4:23:58 PM

???

1/29/2006 7:18:20 PM

^^you are pretty bad off if you actually went out and bought a brake bleeding kit. the only "kit" required to buy is a [6-pack of] cold beer for your friend [with experience bleeding brakes] you hire to sit there and pump the brakes while you open the bleeder screw. bleeding the rears is an easy one-man task. just open the bleeder screw and let the fluid leak out on its own. make sure you keep the resevoir full or else you'll have to start over. this is called gravity bleeding.

[Edited on January 29, 2006 at 9:20 PM. Reason : insert]

1/29/2006 9:19:05 PM

but dont you need the kit to do it with one person

1/29/2006 9:22:45 PM

i bleed the rears on my pos truck by myself all the time by the gravity bleed method.

why do i have to bleed the rears, and rears only, all the time? A: my truck's a piece of shit and B: i can't figure out where the fuck air is getting into the system at.

1/29/2006 9:25:05 PM

speed bleeders

HELP! brand

1/29/2006 9:55:09 PM

wow...just get someone else to do it or go on and kill yourself...you're only delaying the inevitable

1/30/2006 1:57:24 PM

^^Russell

1/30/2006 8:21:04 PM