Michael Madigan wrote: > We have a 1999 Honda Accord in excellent condition that just blew a brake > line.
Hi Michael, Thirty-something years ago when the government started to require auto mechanic certification I tested for, and received, a Master's ticket. Around that time cars started to have disk brakes. Now they all do. Disk brakes use a higher line pressure. Thus, when there is a little rust pitting on the brake lines the line *will* burst. Disk brake cars, such as the 1999 Accord, will burst brake lines at about 11 years old, while drum brake cars, such as a '50 Chevy might go 15 years without this problem. This is in climates where there is moisture and a little salt. In Phoenix, maybe a little longer than 11 and 15 years. When a brake line bursts on a modern car two wheels will have no brakes. The other two will stop the car *eventually* perhaps avoiding a crash - perhaps not, but the car should not be driven until the brake line is fixed. All of the brake lines on a new car will be the same age, and have the same degree of rust exposure. Therefore, when one goes, the others are suspect. If you don't replace all of them another one can burst at any time. Inspecting them is no help. They can rust from the inside and look fine. You *could* change them yourself. You would need a set of jack stands, a big rug or creeper, a special wrench for the size of brake line - looks like a six-point box end wrench with a segment cut out - and, of course, all the lines. But, you would have to know how to route them - they shouldn't be rubbing on anything for example - how to line up the threads so they will seal and you would need help bleeding the system. I have seen first time brake mechanics spend days on the last step, only to get out on the road and have the master cylinder go out. $1700? The shop could lose money if everything that can go wrong on the job does. Don't skip the jack stands. I have seen a good man die under a car when he was too busy to properly place the jack stands. We pulled him out and he seemed sort-of OK for a few minutes until he passed out. Then we took him to a hospital where he passed away. -- Regards, Pete http://pete-theisen.com/ http://elect-pete-theisen.com/ _______________________________________________ Post Messages to: [email protected] Subscription Maintenance: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profox OT-free version of this list: http://leafe.com/mailman/listinfo/profoxtech Searchable Archive: http://leafe.com/archives/search/profox This message: http://leafe.com/archives/byMID/profox/[email protected] ** All postings, unless explicitly stated otherwise, are the opinions of the author, and do not constitute legal or medical advice. This statement is added to the messages for those lawyers who are too stupid to see the obvious.
