blew a brake line in north carolina outer banks with no tools...

[83countrysquire]

So i drove my car all the way from jeresy to nc with no problems got like 23mpg doing 55 so i was content.... but today went to the store and the brake light went on i blew the driver rear part of the brake line just before it goes to axle... wondering if its ok to replace it with rubber brake line from napa.

[1987cp]

Not sure I understand the question. Where did the brake line fail, exactly? There's no driver's side or passenger side before the axle, just one long piece of 3/16" hardline going all the way back from the distribution block.

[83countrysquire]

sorry kinda realy typed that up wrong...stressed out right now...anyways from what i can tell with car still on ground it leaking from the driver side just before the axle... i ll have more info when i jack it up... i dont know exactly where its leaking from yet it could be distribution block...all i know is that there is a wet spot on frame rail where i assume its leaking from (right where the frame necks in fro the axle... kinda start of rear fender well) and i went and checked brake fluid front bay of the reservoir is empty and brake light is on and i have no brake pressure... thats all i know 87cp, my question is that I was wondering if it is ok to use the rubber brake hose to patch the leak?

[mrltd]

hell no. You have to get it fixed properly.

[1987cp]

That's odd, thougth I'd posted something.

The quick fix will be to buy some 3/16" steel line and a pair of compression unions at AutoZone, cut the old line on either side of the rupture with a tubing cutter, and make yourself a patch that will work for a while. Won't pass PA safety inspection that way, and several people we know will blow a gasket about it being unsafe, but it'll get you around for quite some time if you need it fixed immediately and don't have the time to do it right.

The better (approved) fix will be to buy a couple of long pieces of preflared brake line and a inverte-flare union, and replace the entire piece of hard line from the distribution block to the rubber hose that goes to the rear axle. Or better yet, get bulk 3/16" steel line and cut and flare exactly the right length.

[85crownHPP]

kink the rear line off and drive it up here slow... I can fixey lol

[Lincolnmania]

as much as i hate to use compression fittings, they would get you home
youre gonna need a mini tubing cutter, some wrenches, preferably line wrenches, two compression fittings, and a piece of 3/16" line......how long i dunno......gotta put the compression fittings on unrusted lines or they wont seal

[1987cp]

Right, forgot about the unrusted-lines part. Can always just get the longest piece available, I suppose - probably 60 inches ... whatever you don't use will probably come in handy when you go to fix the whole thing correctly later on.

If getting parts at AutoZone, I think they may be able to rent you a mini tubing cutter if you need one just for this job.

[83countrysquire]

I fixed it with compression fittings... 36" piece... I will repair the whole things when i get home. But its holding up for now thanx guys

[82LTDQS]

Buy a chain about twenty feet long. Tie one end to a cinder block or better yet, a large boat anchor. Then tie the other end of the chain to one of your seat frames. Keep the cinder block on the passenger seat with the chain coiled up. When you need to stop, just throw the cinder block out the window. Done! For better stopping power, use two cinder blocks, or better yet, one on each side.

[Nathan in MI]

Good thought. This is also an occasion where severe floor rot can come in handy. Can you say Fred Flintstone?

[tim marks]

i drove from harrisburg home to reading with nothing but an e-brake. it was mostly highway and no matter how many times i kinked the rear lines i couldnt get them to close off, even with vise grips clamped on them......

glad you made it safely with the compression fittings!