Some of you may or not remember my fiasco with having to spend 800 smacks on rotors a little while back because yet another brake decided to crack and ruin my rotor. It is apparently a PITA to replace rotors on these trucks because they are pressed onto the hubs. As a result, I SWORE that I'd be replacing the front brakes every 10K or so needed or not !!!

When the guy replaced my rotors, he said that my RF caliper was shot and that he replaced it. The truck has been pulling "slightly" to the right ever since, so I decided that I would replace the left side on my next brake change, which was yesterday. I took my Ram to my friends shop to do the job. I've always been nervous about doing brakes myself. I dunno, I'm weird. I've got no problems making em go fast, but I want someone more qualified than myself making em stop ... LOL

anyway ...

He suggested that I also replace the front brake lines. I was always under the impression that unless they leaked there was no need, however he says that they get weak over time and that they start to collapse when under pressure giving the impresion that a caliper is wasted, when in reality it is the HOSE that is bad. I never knew that !!! So, I replaced the left caliper, both lines ( with his help .... LOL ) and the front padsand the truck stops like a dream.

Did you know about the hoses ???

 

Well I don't know everything about brakes but me being a heavy truck mechanic I do work on some trucks that have hydraulic brakes and I have never seen brakes not work properly because the lines were weak. My first question is were they rubber or metal hoses? Next question were they leaking anywhere or through the line.I am not saying that he is wrong but i am just saying that I have never heard that or seen that. I am curious to see what other people have to say. Sorry I could not be of more help.

 

Yes I have also replaced rubber flex line hoses, also they will swell to the point of almost closing, have seen this on my 69, and 72 trucks.
It is also a little known fact that silicon brake fluid willretain moisture, causing regular steel lines to rust from the inside.

paul

 

Shadow, the lines replaced were the rubber ones comming off of the steel lines going to the caliper.

PRam, that is exactly how he described it. They swell to the point of almost closing. I didn't know about the silicone rust thing though ....

How often do you replace your rubber brake lines? This is the first time that I know of having them done on my truck and it has 118K on it. [sm=bangbang.gif]

 

I've driven cars and 1/2 ton trucks with 14 year oil brake lines and not has any problems from them. That being said it may be because most had the fluid flushed out about every 3 years. I never replaced a line unless they were starting to show big craks in them in several places, but then thats how I use to do it.

 

i replaced the hoses on my old chevy after 28 years. it started pulling hard to one side.

 

or sometimes the lines will swell under the pressure exerted to to caliper and over time one of the lines may pop leaving you with no brakes. . .when I do my brake job on my little yoda soon I'm putting steel braded lines on that bad boy.

 

I have seen many (a dozen or so) brake lines where the inner liner ruptures. What happens when you apply the brake is that the line swells outward rather than maintaining its shape. When this buldge occurs, it prevents the caliper from receiving any line pressure. It can give the impression that there is a caliper problem.

Also with these inner liners, they can prevent brake fluid from reversing in the line back towards the mc. The Ram calipers with the rubber bushing are a poor setup. I like the plastic/teflon bushings instead.


Mayfair, you can install stainless steels lines and never worry about them again.


And my personal opinon why caliper brake lines go bad is from mechanics who fail to secure the caliper with a wire hanger. Or those sh!thead mechaincs who let the caliper hang from the hose while they do rotors, bearings, etc. That's where damage comes from. That and the mechanics failure to properly replace and lubricate parts.


Good luck with your ride.

 

Yeah, had I know about all of this stuff ahead of time I probably would have gone the braided route. My friend picked up all of the parts for me since he was getting some stuff for his truck as well so he just picked up the rubber ones again.

How long do you think these will last?

 

[quote][How long do you think these will last? /quote] I'm not sure but the ones on my GTX are the original ones and still look/work good.