HELP! brake line HELP!!
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HELP! brake line HELP!!
Ok. this morning I was changing the front brake pads on my 2000 expedition. everything went fine for the first side. everything was going fine for the second side til I went to carefully put the caliper back on. SNAP!!!!! the freakin brake line snapped off at the fitting about four inches or so up from the caliper. first it is steel line then looks like maybe a compression nut. snapped off right there. Didn't have much time because I have to leave for work. my question is, Do I have to replace the whole brake line or is that a compression nut/Ferrel type deal that i can replace? If I have to replace the whole line does anyone know how hard it is to do? oh, it is the passenger side if that makes a difference. Thanks for your help.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2013
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From: Windham, CT
Buy a piece of line, a flare kit, and a union set at any auto store ( they should assist you). Then measure carefuly and splice it in. Pretty easy to do. In the future use a coat hanger to hang the caliper. One thing about brakes to look for is once one line goes they sometimes all start going. I would look for leaks periodicaly. And dont drive with a broken line... lol. Sure you know that. If you cqn get a pic up it would help for a more technicql answer to see the line.
Fleet Owner
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Up about 4" from the caliper would make it the steel to brake hose crimp connection, correct? If so, replace the brake hose, do not try and repair it.
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From: Windham, CT
After sticking my head into my wheel well I would agree with alloro. I wouldnt mess with the banjo fitting I would replace the rubber/ steel line that goes to the caliper. On my truck there is a fitting right after the rubber part.
Fleet Owner
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Here is the brake hose in question: 2000 Ford Expedition Brake Line Centric, Front, Passenger Side, OE replacement
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Hey thanks everybody for the help. I am going to stop and pick up a new line this morning. for the price it isn't worth messing with anything else. so..........i just take the banjo fitting off and disconnect the other end, then put new line on? fill back up with brake fluid? do i have to bleed the line? if so how do i do that. anything else i should know? thanks for all the help.
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Yes you will.
With the tire still off, remove the brake fluid reservoir cap, open the bleeder screw on the caliper and have a helper press and hold the brake pedal to the floor. Close the bleeder screw and have the helper let the pedal come all the way back up. Repeat this a few times until no more bubbles come out of the bleeder screw. The amount of brake fluid used will be minimal and you should not need to add any to the reservoir.
With the tire still off, remove the brake fluid reservoir cap, open the bleeder screw on the caliper and have a helper press and hold the brake pedal to the floor. Close the bleeder screw and have the helper let the pedal come all the way back up. Repeat this a few times until no more bubbles come out of the bleeder screw. The amount of brake fluid used will be minimal and you should not need to add any to the reservoir.
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Hey, thanks for the help. I have my new hose so when i get home tonight i'll give it a whirl. I'm sure i can do it. the thing that scars me the most is getting the old one off. been on there a long time. Thanks again for the help.
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Fleet Owner
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Yes they can be tough to get off without twisting the brake line sometimes. The bottom end with the banjo bolt is not a problem, as long as you don't lose the copper washers. I just did mine recently and did have some difficulty with the upper fittings on both sides.
A couple of tips to try:
1. Leave the bracket bolted in place until you crack the upper nut loose.
2. Hold the bracket from flexing side to side with channel-locks or vise-grips.
3. Once the nut is cracked loose work it back and forth a 1/4 turn to try an loosen it's grip on the brake line. Loosen it a bit more then work it back and forth a 1/4 turn again. Keep doing thing until the nut is out of the hose.
4. If the nut breaks loose but won't spin on the brake line without twisting the line, hold the nut with a wrench and spin the hose off instead, followed by spinning the new hose on. Bolt the bracket down then tighten the fitting.
A couple of tips to try:
1. Leave the bracket bolted in place until you crack the upper nut loose.
2. Hold the bracket from flexing side to side with channel-locks or vise-grips.
3. Once the nut is cracked loose work it back and forth a 1/4 turn to try an loosen it's grip on the brake line. Loosen it a bit more then work it back and forth a 1/4 turn again. Keep doing thing until the nut is out of the hose.
4. If the nut breaks loose but won't spin on the brake line without twisting the line, hold the nut with a wrench and spin the hose off instead, followed by spinning the new hose on. Bolt the bracket down then tighten the fitting.
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Hey, i think the pb blaster must have helped. got home last night and changed it out in 20 minutes. carefully loosened the nut up top on the steel line. then the banjo then the bracket. everything came off great and everything went on great. now. I'm thinking it was so easy and as cheap as they are I should probably just go ahead and change the other side out. it can't be in any better shape than the other one was. thanks alot for all the help.
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