Replace original steel brake lines or not?

[tristanblue]

I have a 70 bus from california, clean and dry. Was driver when bought but had been sitting for couple years. A couple wheel cylinders were froze and couple leaking. I am doing all new brakes, shoes, wheel cylinders, rubber hoses and master cylinder.

My steel lines look healthy from the outside, again this is a california bus. But I was wondering if they often get rust on the inside and is it common place to replace all the steel lines as well or should I just do a good flush and leave them intact. There is a lot of lines, connectors and work involved replacing all the lines and if they should be fine I would rather leave them be.

Any input appreciated.
T

[W1K1]

it depends on the condition of the lines. My last resto I had to replace because the lines were really rusty on the outside, and there was a pinhole. if you can run fluid through it, and not have any crud come out, they could be just fine.
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1973 super
1965 squareback 1500E
1971 bay window westy- subi swap

[germansupplyscott]

IMO leave them unless they are rotten. What you describe isn't rotten. Possibly the ones inside the front drums need doing, or the ones attached to the rear wheel cylinders, since they might have been abused over 50+ years. Some of them are difficult to make accurately, for example the ones on the rear torsion arms. Rubber flex lines should probably be done, metal lines can get damaged when taking those apart, especially the ones near the transaxle.
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SL

[tristanblue]

Yes they are nice on outside, no rust or pin holes. The bus is all nice original paint underneath other then the factory undercoating that is flaking off in huge chunks (and reveals like new orig paint) But steel brake lines on outside are fine. I was just curious about insides and if corrosion is usually a problem on insides. The system has been sealed up and usable never open to the elements. I was only replacing because stuff due to some weeping and frozen cylinders up front and the rubber lines were the originals still.

[nemobuscaptain]

[SGKent]

Be sure to use a flare wrench on the steel lines when disconnecting them from the rubber hoses. Don't try a regular open end.

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“Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin

[TomWesty]

[Abscate]

…and thirty seconds of propane heat. Watch the rubber carefully
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.ssS!

[SGKent]

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[SGKent]