Front Brake Hose rust
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Front Brake Hose rust
I haven't posted much here lately, because frankly these trucks do not break down all that much. I have a 1995 F150 XLT Supercab Lariat 4x4 with 111,000 miles on it, and she really looks like the day she left the factory.
I recently did a brake job on her, as we are going to be towing a 7,000 lb trailer up the east coast. The rear brakes are factory original, the fronts have been replaced three times. (We tow).
I replaced the rotors (I have been using those cross-drilled and slotted ones from JC Whitless with some success) and the pads and calipers. I noticed that the brake hoses have this rubber sleeve that covers the crimp fitting on the end of the hose.
Inside this sleeve was a LOT of crunchy rust. I cut away the sleeve on one hose and after a ton of rust fell out, I realized that the entire crimp fitting was gone. The only thing holding the brake hose onto the fitting was the tension of the rubber over the innner steel tube, that and shear luck. A good stomp on the brakes and this thing would have come apart.
I think the problem is in the protective sleeve they put over the fitting. It seems to hold in water and cause the crimp fitting to rust. Also, since this sleeve covers the crimp portion of the fitting, you can't see the rust until it is too late.
Fortunately the local parts jobber and the Ford dealer both had the hoses for cheap, and I also replaced the brake line than runs between the two sides (under the engine).
Bear in mind this rust occurred on a truck that has rarely seen salt or snow. The rest of the truck is still bare primer underneath with no corrosion whatsover.
So I can't imagine what the effects of real salt would be on these brake hose fittings.
I also did a cooling system overhaul on her. The plastic header tanks were starting to leak where they joined the aluminum core. After removing the radiator, I realized the core was starting to corrode at the bottom.
I found a place on the net that had all brass chinese-made 3-row core radiators for less than $200. I did the water pump with a high performance job and replaced the tstat and hoses at the same time.
Hopefully it is good for another 100,000 miles...
I recently did a brake job on her, as we are going to be towing a 7,000 lb trailer up the east coast. The rear brakes are factory original, the fronts have been replaced three times. (We tow).
I replaced the rotors (I have been using those cross-drilled and slotted ones from JC Whitless with some success) and the pads and calipers. I noticed that the brake hoses have this rubber sleeve that covers the crimp fitting on the end of the hose.
Inside this sleeve was a LOT of crunchy rust. I cut away the sleeve on one hose and after a ton of rust fell out, I realized that the entire crimp fitting was gone. The only thing holding the brake hose onto the fitting was the tension of the rubber over the innner steel tube, that and shear luck. A good stomp on the brakes and this thing would have come apart.
I think the problem is in the protective sleeve they put over the fitting. It seems to hold in water and cause the crimp fitting to rust. Also, since this sleeve covers the crimp portion of the fitting, you can't see the rust until it is too late.
Fortunately the local parts jobber and the Ford dealer both had the hoses for cheap, and I also replaced the brake line than runs between the two sides (under the engine).
Bear in mind this rust occurred on a truck that has rarely seen salt or snow. The rest of the truck is still bare primer underneath with no corrosion whatsover.
So I can't imagine what the effects of real salt would be on these brake hose fittings.
I also did a cooling system overhaul on her. The plastic header tanks were starting to leak where they joined the aluminum core. After removing the radiator, I realized the core was starting to corrode at the bottom.
I found a place on the net that had all brass chinese-made 3-row core radiators for less than $200. I did the water pump with a high performance job and replaced the tstat and hoses at the same time.
Hopefully it is good for another 100,000 miles...
