have your brakes checked.

[SIK1]

if any do need repairing, DO NOT let the shop do it with compression fittings.....and you should ask. the cadi i had a few weeks ago had a previous repair done with compression fittings, and that was one of the failure points on this car. you either need to have them replace the entire length of the affected line, or if they do just a section, they need to flare the ends, and use the proper flare nuts and unions.

Cap I can't believe that anyone, especially a shop would use compression fittings on a brake system.    That borders on criminal.

Just an fyi brine is made when you mix salt with water so any time icy roads are salted you end up with a brine solution.
I guess that's one benefit to living in Commiefornia. We don't get enough snow and ice for them to salt the roads.

[oakranger]

Cap I can't believe that anyone, especially a shop would use compression fittings on a brake system.    That borders on criminal.

Just an fyi brine is made when you mix salt with water so any time icy roads are salted you end up with a brine solution.
I guess that's one benefit to living in Commiefornia. ^{We don't get enough snow and ice for them to salt the roads.}

Out here in Kansas, we just have dirt roads.  No need for salt on icy roads.

[CAP1]

Cap I can't believe that anyone, especially a shop would use compression fittings on a brake system.    That borders on criminal.

Just an fyi brine is made when you mix salt with water so any time icy roads are salted you end up with a brine solution.
I guess that's one benefit to living in Commiefornia. We don't get enough snow and ice for them to salt the roads.

i thought there was other stuff in brine too. i think it's still much much worse than putting down salt, as now it's already in a liquid form, prime and ready to cling to parts underneath your car.
 at least when they put down rock salt, it doesn't dissolve into the water immediately, and even then, i think it's a bit weaker than that in the brine.

 that crap does nothing but make a slushy mess...which someone else mentioned already.

 as for the compression fittings.......i've seen it a few times, and considering 3,000 to 4,000psi in those lines, it doesn't border on criminal....it IS. i had a chevy venture van last year, that had a steel line replaced in florida. not only did they use compression fittings, they ran the line through the rear axle........it actually lasted till new jersey before it rubbed through, and they almost killed themselves.

[oakranger]

i thought there was other stuff in brine too. i think it's still much much worse than putting down salt, as now it's already in a liquid form, prime and ready to cling to parts underneath your car.
 at least when they put down rock salt, it doesn't dissolve into the water immediately, and even then, i think it's a bit weaker than that in the brine.

 that crap does nothing but make a slushy mess...which someone else mentioned already.

 as for the compression fittings.......i've seen it a few times, and considering 3,000 to 4,000psi in those lines, it doesn't border on criminal....it IS. i had a chevy venture van last year, that had a steel line replaced in florida. not only did they use compression fittings, they ran the line through the rear axle........it actually lasted till new jersey before it rubbed through, and they almost killed themselves.

WOW, i wish i had you as a mechanic in my area.  Can i find a worth mechanic that is honest and dose his job for the love of it, not money.

[CAP1]

WOW, i wish i had you as a mechanic in my area.  Can i find a worth mechanic that is honest and dose his job for the love of it, not money.

try going here.
http://www.iatn.net/

i think you may have to create a free account, but i've found most all of the mechanics/techs on this site to be honest, and doing good work.

 for those of us repairing cars, this site is an excellent exchange of information.............

[oakranger]

try going here.
http://www.iatn.net/

i think you may have to create a free account, but i've found most all of the mechanics/techs on this site to be honest, and doing good work.

 for those of us repairing cars, this site is an excellent exchange of information.............

Thx, in the mean time i think i will go to you for info. 

[CAP1]

Thx, in the mean time i think i will go to you for info. 

later on tonight or in the morning, i'll get those pictures up. rather convienently, i have a 96 suburban on the lift.......and he'll be getting a phone call concerning his brake lines, as they're bad.

[cattb]

I thought it was agains the law to use compression fittings on brake lines. Not that it would stop someone. I wouldn't use a comprssion fitting on a fuel line either.

[CAP1]

I thought it was agains the law to use compression fittings on brake lines. Not that it would stop someone. I wouldn't use a comprssion fitting on a fuel line either.

it is in some places. i know it is in nj.

believe it or not, in a fuel line, they're considered a proper repair. i've got a kit with the fittings specifically sized for the different fuel lines. mostly the plastic ones. it gives me a couple of different options....i normally use the barbed fittings.

[cattb]

I would suppose the compression fittings would work for a fuel line, as you expressed the fuel lines don't have the pressure. I have used a fuel line fix kit before but been a few years and between many fixes, don't remember what kind of kit it was anymore.

I have used a compression fitting in a brake line couple times, but only as a quick temporary fix. Living in the country, have to do what a person needs to do. I keep extra brake lines and fittings on hand now hanging in the shed.

[redwing7]

They should make the brake lines from stainless steel.  They finally wised up and started making exhaust systems from stainless, why not brake lines?

I've been prototyping and manufacturing brake, gas, AC and every other kind of tubular product on vehicles for the better part of the last 25 years. Let me tell ya as far as tubing goes, stainless SUCKS to work with. (and that "stainless" they use for exhausts barely falls into that classification.) But that's not why they don't use it for brakes, it's because it wouldn't pass the burst test. Unless you use seamless stainless which is cost prohibitive. In the past and present all OEM brake line are made from double wall brazed tubing with a burst test rating of about 5000 psi. If you need a line replaced make sure this is used and not fuel line tubing, which is single wall welded and only has a burst test rating of around 2500psi. In the past few years OEM's have been using double wall brazed tubing with NYGAL coating, it's a type of plastic coating. That stuff will outlast most vehicles life expectancies.

By the way, GM switched to stainless fuel lines on their HD trucks for 2011. Ford and Dodge went that route a while ago, GM was the last to "get a clue" as usuall. 

it is in some places. i know it is in nj.

believe it or not, in a fuel line, they're considered a proper repair. I've got a kit with the fittings specifically sized for the different fuel lines. mostly the plastic ones. it gives me a couple of different options....i normally use the barbed fittings.

Surprisingly, compression fittings are used quite regularly in fuel systems. But you're rite CAP, the barbed ones are defiantly better.

[CAP1]

I would suppose the compression fittings would work for a fuel line, as you expressed the fuel lines don't have the pressure. I have used a fuel line fix kit before but been a few years and between many fixes, don't remember what kind of kit it was anymore.

I have used a compression fitting in a brake line couple times, but only as a quick temporary fix. Living in the country, have to do what a person needs to do. I keep extra brake lines and fittings on hand now hanging in the shed.

if you do this for a living, check with your local parts houses. i have a brake line repair kit. it has somethign like 30 feet of easily bendable brake line, and about a dozen different types of fittings and unions.
 it was well worth the investment.

[CAP1]

ok. here's some pics.

this one is from a 2002 chevy venture van. these lines are perfect.

the proportioning valves for the rear brakes...


these following are from a 96(i think) chevy surburban.
both of the lines in this picture are brake lines. there's one for each back wheel on this vehicle. the bottom one is in good shape. the one on top, look to the right of the bracket.......that is actually not too bad. look to the left of the bracket now, and follow to where it bends. see where it's rusted enough to be flaking off? that's bad.


this following picture is a little further back in the vehicle. again, note the rust flaking off. what you need to remember, is that that flaking rust used to be part of the brake line.


this next picture is just at the drivers footwell, just behind the front tire.


and this one here is a junction from the metal line to a rubber one to connect to the rear axle. this particular bend is a common failure point for these types of problems.


 i really hope this stuff helps someone avoid what's happened to ranger.

[oakranger]

Thx, that will help us out.  As always, you love what you do, not for the money, but the passionate of it.   

[Babalonian]

snow?  road salt?