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tristanblue Samba Member
Joined: May 30, 2019 Posts: 294
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Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2022 9:20 am Post subject: Replace original steel brake lines or not? |
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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.
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W1K1 Samba Member
Joined: March 04, 2004 Posts: 4921 Location: Southern AB
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Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2022 9:27 am Post subject: Re: Replace original steel brake lines or not? |
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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. _________________ http://www.thesamba.com/vw/archives/manuals/jim_martin_engine_build.php
1973 super
1965 squareback 1500E
1971 bay window westy- subi swap |
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germansupplyscott Samba Member
Joined: May 22, 2004 Posts: 7093 Location: toronto
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Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2022 9:35 am Post subject: Re: Replace original steel brake lines or not? |
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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. _________________ SL |
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tristanblue Samba Member
Joined: May 30, 2019 Posts: 294
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Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2022 10:19 am Post subject: Re: Replace original steel brake lines or not? |
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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. |
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nemobuscaptain Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 3874
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Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2022 9:15 pm Post subject: Re: Replace original steel brake lines or not? |
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tristanblue wrote: |
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. |
Sounds like a fabulous bus. You're a lucky man to have this in the midwest.
I agree with the others, flush them attach the rubber hoses and check for leaks. The rubber hoses OFTEN fail internally without any evidence of failure on the outside. I've never seen the steel brakelines do the same. _________________ Ohio Valley Tribe, Full Moon Bus Club https://www.facebook.com/groups/294422277314227/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/FullMoonBusClub
RIP Bob Hoover https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=427791
Hoover Sermons: https://www.vwsage.com/images/vwsage/Bob%20Hoovers%20Sermons.pdf |
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SGKent Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007 Posts: 41031 Location: Citrus Heights CA (Near Sacramento)
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Posted: Fri Sep 30, 2022 11:02 pm Post subject: Re: Replace original steel brake lines or not? |
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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.
_________________ “Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin |
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TomWesty Samba Member
Joined: November 23, 2007 Posts: 3482 Location: Wyoming,USA
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Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2022 7:00 am Post subject: Re: Replace original steel brake lines or not? |
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SGKent wrote: |
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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x2 _________________ If you haven't bled on them, you haven't worked on them.
Visit: www.tomcoryell.com and check out my music! |
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Abscate Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 22665 Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2022 7:53 am Post subject: Re: Replace original steel brake lines or not? |
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…and thirty seconds of propane heat. Watch the rubber carefully _________________ .ssS! |
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SGKent Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007 Posts: 41031 Location: Citrus Heights CA (Near Sacramento)
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Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2022 11:43 am Post subject: Re: Replace original steel brake lines or not? |
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Abscate wrote: |
…and thirty seconds of propane heat. Watch the rubber carefully |
never had to use it but then my cars aren't EV _________________ “Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin |
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Abscate Samba Member
Joined: October 05, 2014 Posts: 22665 Location: NYC/Upstate/ROW
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Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2022 12:21 pm Post subject: Re: Replace original steel brake lines or not? |
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SGKent wrote: |
Abscate wrote: |
…and thirty seconds of propane heat. Watch the rubber carefully |
never had to use it but then my cars aren't EV |
Six kids later I know little about rubber, either
_________________ .ssS! |
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SGKent Samba Member
Joined: October 30, 2007 Posts: 41031 Location: Citrus Heights CA (Near Sacramento)
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Posted: Sat Oct 01, 2022 12:47 pm Post subject: Re: Replace original steel brake lines or not? |
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Abscate wrote: |
SGKent wrote: |
Abscate wrote: |
…and thirty seconds of propane heat. Watch the rubber carefully |
never had to use it but then my cars aren't EV |
Six kids later I know little about rubber, either
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In my lifetime I have personally known 5 generations of my family. 6 children per generation to the 5th power is 7,776 people. If it the lack of knowledge of rubber runs in your family no wonder the freeways are so damned crowded. By the time we are gone, 6 to the 6th power is 46,656 Abscate family look-a-likes. _________________ “Most people don’t know what they’re doing, and a lot of them are really good at it.” - George Carlin |
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