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wayne1230cars Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2010 Posts: 2684 Location: Canada
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Posted: Sat May 04, 2019 7:28 pm Post subject: Changing rubber brake hoses - how often? |
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How often should the rubber brake hoses be changed? I am thinking it has more to do with time rather than mileage. I changed the hoses on my ‘70 in 2008. I do a flush and bleed every 2 years and keep them adjusted. Are the hoses due for a change at 11 years? _________________ 1960 beetle
1970 beetle convertible |
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Danwvw Samba Member
Joined: July 31, 2012 Posts: 8892 Location: Oregon Coast
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Posted: Sat May 04, 2019 7:47 pm Post subject: Re: Changing rubber brake hoses - how often? |
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They usually fail by stopping up such that you still have pressure to the other wheels, it's the metal lines and the master cylinder etc that let go on you all of the sudden. My 1967 Beetle lost it's original front rubber hoses within one year of each other in 2004 so that was what 37 years? Probably a good idea to change them well ahead of that age. _________________ 1960 Beetle And 1679cc DP W-100 & Dual Zeniths!
Last edited by Danwvw on Sat May 04, 2019 8:30 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Eric&Barb Samba Member
Joined: September 19, 2004 Posts: 24671 Location: Olympia Wash Rinse & Repeat
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Posted: Sat May 04, 2019 7:51 pm Post subject: Re: Changing rubber brake hoses - how often? |
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About every 8 to 10 years for us. _________________ In Stereo, Where Available! |
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bluebus86 Banned
Joined: September 02, 2010 Posts: 11075
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Posted: Sat May 04, 2019 7:54 pm Post subject: Re: Changing rubber brake hoses - how often? |
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wayne1230cars wrote: |
How often should the rubber brake hoses be changed? I am thinking it has more to do with time rather than mileage. I changed the hoses on my ‘70 in 2008. I do a flush and bleed every 2 years and keep them adjusted. Are the hoses due for a change at 11 years? |
I have gone considerably longer. If they are not damaged, not yanked, not exposed to harmful environment, low miles, they can last a long time. I have run them until failure, never once did they rupture, instead they failed by internal swelling , creating a restriction, making brakes drag upon brake release. Well kept hoses have been in use for decades by me. These are designed to have a long service life
Although time is a factor, so is usage. Usage brings on repeated expansion cycles when brakes used. flexing of hoses from suspension or steering movement, and exposure to impacts, abrasion, heat, and chemicals (oils, grease). All of these can shorten the hose life.
I am more proactive on hose replacement on my older single circuit cars, than the newer dual circuit cars. But even so, 11 years is not a concern to me on the old single circuit systems.
Bug On! _________________ Help Prevent VW Engine Fires, see this link.....Engine safety wire information
Stop introducing dirt into your oil when adjusting valves ... https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=683022 |
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BUGGED11111 Samba Member
Joined: February 03, 2006 Posts: 1819 Location: Oregon
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Posted: Sun May 05, 2019 9:36 am Post subject: Re: Changing rubber brake hoses - how often? |
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I've never had those hoses fail and I've probably had them on for 15+ years I've changed them as a preventive maintenance measure more than anything when doing other work on the brakes. Just seems a good idea, especially if you don't know when they were put on. |
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TDCTDI Samba Advocatus Diaboli
Joined: August 31, 2013 Posts: 12818 Location: North Carolina
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Posted: Sun May 05, 2019 11:44 am Post subject: Re: Changing rubber brake hoses - how often? |
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At $5-$10 each, they cost less than an oil change at a quicky-lube, why is it even a question? Doing it more often reduces the likelihood of seized fasteners. _________________ Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.
GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!
An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.
Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it. |
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Eric&Barb Samba Member
Joined: September 19, 2004 Posts: 24671 Location: Olympia Wash Rinse & Repeat
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Posted: Sun May 05, 2019 12:08 pm Post subject: Re: Changing rubber brake hoses - how often? |
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TDCTDI wrote: |
At $5-$10 each, they cost less than an oil change at a quicky-lube, why is it even a question? Doing it more often reduces the likelihood of seized fasteners. |
Adding anti-seize to the locking spring plates and inside/outside of the brake line nuts will eliminate that. _________________ In Stereo, Where Available! |
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wayne1230cars Samba Member
Joined: April 05, 2010 Posts: 2684 Location: Canada
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Posted: Sun May 05, 2019 12:59 pm Post subject: Re: Changing rubber brake hoses - how often? |
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Eric&Barb wrote: |
TDCTDI wrote: |
At $5-$10 each, they cost less than an oil change at a quicky-lube, why is it even a question? Doing it more often reduces the likelihood of seized fasteners. |
Adding anti-seize to the locking spring plates and inside/outside of the brake line nuts will eliminate that. |
Good points. As far as cost, I notice that Rock Auto has “economy” hoses @$4.82. WW has Brazilian @$11.00 and German @$18.80. I am thinking Brazilian or German. _________________ 1960 beetle
1970 beetle convertible |
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Vanillagurilla Samba Member
Joined: November 21, 2017 Posts: 1061 Location: California
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Posted: Sun May 05, 2019 1:38 pm Post subject: Re: Changing rubber brake hoses - how often? |
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wayne1230cars wrote: |
Eric&Barb wrote: |
TDCTDI wrote: |
At $5-$10 each, they cost less than an oil change at a quicky-lube, why is it even a question? Doing it more often reduces the likelihood of seized fasteners. |
Adding anti-seize to the locking spring plates and inside/outside of the brake line nuts will eliminate that. |
Good points. As far as cost, I notice that Rock Auto has “economy” hoses @$4.82. WW has Brazilian @$11.00 and German @$18.80. I am thinking Brazilian or German. |
Why not stainless braided hoses for under $20 and never change them again? |
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Eric&Barb Samba Member
Joined: September 19, 2004 Posts: 24671 Location: Olympia Wash Rinse & Repeat
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Posted: Sun May 05, 2019 1:42 pm Post subject: Re: Changing rubber brake hoses - how often? |
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wayne1230cars wrote: |
Good points. As far as cost, I notice that Rock Auto has “economy” hoses @$4.82. WW has Brazilian @$11.00 and German @$18.80. I am thinking Brazilian or German. |
Good thinking!
When using the anti-seize on the all brake lines, just before threading into the female threads, wipe off the very tip of the brake line to keep the AS from contaminating the brake fluid. Those cone shaped pipe ends is where the all metal and flex brakes seal to each other, to brake cylinders and "T" fitting/s.
Inspecting any brake cylinders by taking them apart before installing, and use brake paste for the brake fluid used is a must today. Quality today of VW parts is just not it was back in the 1960s & 70s.
Standard brake paste for non-silicon brake fluids. Silicon grease for use with silicon brake fluid. _________________ In Stereo, Where Available! |
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Eric&Barb Samba Member
Joined: September 19, 2004 Posts: 24671 Location: Olympia Wash Rinse & Repeat
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Posted: Sun May 05, 2019 1:46 pm Post subject: Re: Changing rubber brake hoses - how often? |
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Vanillagurilla wrote: |
Why not stainless braided hoses for under $20 and never change them again? |
Are they made of solid stainless steel? _________________ In Stereo, Where Available! |
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Eric&Barb Samba Member
Joined: September 19, 2004 Posts: 24671 Location: Olympia Wash Rinse & Repeat
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Posted: Sun May 05, 2019 1:58 pm Post subject: Re: Changing rubber brake hoses - how often? |
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Think of it this way. If you went out and had pants made of braided SS, would they leak if you ever peed your pants?
The answer is they would leak. How do they make SS braided flex lines not leak? By taking your normal two layer rubber flex brake line technology and wrapping it in Stainless Steel braiding. So you have all the inner rubber problems that will crop up with rubber lines after enough time and miles.
Advantages of SS braided flex brake lines:
1. SS braiding does not flex outward as much as stock rubber lines, so pedal is a tad stiffer on first brake pump.
2. If you like to flail your brake lines with sharp objects like say black berry vines, the flex lines will more likely not shred or puncture. _________________ In Stereo, Where Available! |
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Eric&Barb Samba Member
Joined: September 19, 2004 Posts: 24671 Location: Olympia Wash Rinse & Repeat
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Posted: Sun May 05, 2019 2:06 pm Post subject: Re: Changing rubber brake hoses - how often? |
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Forgot to mention that at least some of the SS flex lines have a plastic Teflon line in them. Even those will fail due to dirt/sand caught between the SS and Teflon line causing chaffing, especially when flexing back and forth when one turns the wheels. Which in turn means leaks. _________________ In Stereo, Where Available! |
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