Brake Lines

Hey guys I'm leaking break fluid pretty bad. The leak is right about the middle of my car. My car is a 1992 Grand Prix LE. Anways I went to my local garage to get estimate on the cost. They said about $225 for the cables plus $60 an hour labour and it would take about 2 - 3 hours. When i asked if I could do this at home, they said "No you need to do this on a hoist." Well firstly can I do this at home. Also can I only buy break cables OEM?

The brake lines are what would leak, not the brake cables. As long as you don't mind getting rust and dirt in your eyes, you can replace them yourself. You'll need to measure how long a piece you need, and either re-flare the old line and patch a piece in, or replace the whole line. DO NOT use compression unions on brake line. Brake pressure can exceed 1,000 psi on a panic stop, and compression unions are only good for about 150psi tops. Factory pre-bent lines are not available, so you'll have to run and bend straight pieces of line to repair the leaking one. Also, if you live near a church, your language while doing this job may get you hosed down with holy water.

i ment break lines :P sorry ok .. im gonna talk to some friends of mine who do this kinda stuff...also...im prolly guessing its bad to drive the car with the brake fluid leaking right

Don't drive the car, as you could lose all brake pressure and crash.

All right...but can I only get the Cables OEM? and is $2.99/ft (CDN) about right for the price of them?

i dont want to highjack your thread, but i just have one quick question. My rear brake lines are rusted to hell, from the middle back. They will last the winter, but its going to be a project for next year. How does this rate as a DYI type job. I dont mind getting dirty, and i know brake fluid will eat through skin, but what is the potential to screw up/break something/go wrong ??

Thanks

PS let us know how it turns out skaven, so i know whether or not to attemp it next year :-)

-Steve

well a friend of mine says from the sounds of it and wheres it leaking the brake line may be missing a bushing or something of that sort where it connects

The hardest part of replacing brake lines is getting the line bent and run properly so it's away from sources of heat and tucked up so it doesn't get snagged. The most technically difficult part is bleeding the system prperly after you're done. It is well within a DIY job, just frustrating and dirty. As far as the original thread, x-shaven-x, you can buy the line in pre-made pieces, and join them together with the proper flare unions. You CANNOT cut them and join them with compression unions, as compression unions cannot handle the pressure. The hardest part is matching up the end threads, as the factory uses different sized nuts to prevent line-workers from putting them in the wrong fittings.

Brake lines are readily accessible. If a section is rusted out, your leak maybe coming from a loose fitting or a rusted section. By the way it sounds like you live in an area where it snows. Take the appropriate safety precaution when jacking up your car. I recommend force bleeding it by a brake shop, or you will need the assistance of your buddy to bleed the brake system cause someone has to pump the brake pedals and refill the reservoir.