brakes

[ma99ie]

normally our buddie works on our jeep but the brakes went out when i was driving the other day forcing us to tow it to our old mechanic(our buddie is too far) ... he tells us all the brake lines are leaking and need to be replaced BUT he said that the brake lines for our jeep are no longer made so its going to be expensive since he has to fabricate them... we have a 96 XJ... is he bullshitting me or do they really not make the brake lines anymore? any feedback will help guys, thanks!

 

[REWSTER]

He is probably not BS'in you, its pretty common for full lines to be not available tho i never checked on them for mine. at the shop i work at we pretty much fab em all up

 

[IllianaXJ]

It would be more expensive to buy factory lines than it would be to fab new ones anyway. I used to do that all the time when I was working at the shop. The expensive part comes in when the bleeders break off in the caliper/wheel cylinders; could potentially have to buy both calipers and both rear wheel cylinders depending on the level of rust.

 

[SAMSET]

no BS there. i need to replace the entire steel line in order to put a longer brake hose on the rear.

 

[ma99ie]

thanks guys, i was just skeptical cause this mechanic has really enjoyed over charging us for our other cars...lol

 

[XJ&CHZ4ME]

a few hours, a brake line wrench and some aptience and this is as easy as a parking lot fix if the ends dont break off while removing the old ones. I fabbed up a set on the rig while it was still on the trailer at Winterfest 09...and I was less then sober :cheers:

 

[cherokee-for-me]

The line bending tool and line flairing tool can be rented from autozone or the like for a couple of bucks and a new coil of line depending on size should be between 25 and 50 bucks. The rest of the money will just be labor now its just a matter of is what he asking to much for you to take on the project yourself. I can tell you from exp. this is not that hard either especially if your replacing the whole line.

 

[XJosh95]

Line is cheap. Fittings are cheap. If you're having to replace the whole line, starting from the front with new bending and adding as you go, you should really only have to make one flare per line.

That being said, the flaring tools you can rent at AutoZone or the like are worthless. I've never been able to get a very good flare with them and have always had to resort to the hydraulic flaring tool which is expensive and I don't know of anywhere that rents one.

At any rate, I can't imagine it being that expensive to get new lines installed. Unless your mechanic is just trying to drag you through the ringer. I don't know how much my shop would charge, but I know it's easy.

Byron hit the nail on the head for as far as the largest expenditures could be. Calipers can get pricey though wheel cylinders are relatively cheap. I've never really worried about wheel cylinders. If I'm replacing my own brake lines in the rear, I've already got new wheel cylinders to go with.

Wheel cylinders are to re-doing rear brake lines as beer is to a bonfire. (As per my opinion.)

 

[87manche]

That being said, the flaring tools you can rent at AutoZone or the like are worthless. I've never been able to get a very good flare with them and have always had to resort to the hydraulic flaring tool which is expensive and I don't know of anywhere that rents one.

Wheel cylinders are to re-doing rear brake lines as beer is to a bonfire. (As per my opinion.)

i've never had problems with the bar style mechanical flare tool. I've owned one for a while and made a crap ton of flares with it.

wheel cylinders are the devil. I've gone so far as to just slap a rebuild kit on them while they're installed when it looks like touching them will result in doing brakelines.

I hate brakelines.

 

[cherokee-for-me]

Line is cheap. Fittings are cheap. If you're having to replace the whole line, starting from the front with new bending and adding as you go, you should really only have to make one flare per line.

That being said, the flaring tools you can rent at AutoZone or the like are worthless. I've never been able to get a very good flare with them and have always had to resort to the hydraulic flaring tool which is expensive and I don't know of anywhere that rents one.

At any rate, I can't imagine it being that expensive to get new lines installed. Unless your mechanic is just trying to drag you through the ringer. I don't know how much my shop would charge, but I know it's easy.

Byron hit the nail on the head for as far as the largest expenditures could be. Calipers can get pricey though wheel cylinders are relatively cheap. I've never really worried about wheel cylinders. If I'm replacing my own brake lines in the rear, I've already got new wheel cylinders to go with.

Wheel cylinders are to re-doing rear brake lines as beer is to a bonfire. (As per my opinion.)

I would not call them worthless because I have done a few line jobs with these tools. I will agree that they are not top of the line but wouldn't that be pretty stupid of autozone to loan out tools of that caliber to everybody and anybody. Bottom line can you do the job with them yes is it something I would buy for my tool box no. ( which makes me wonder how much a flare tool is) Since it looks like I wil have to do lines at some point when I buy my Cherokee.

 

[87manche]

a decent flare kit will cost you about 60 bucks.
Mine does 3/16 to 3/8 lines I think.

 

[seanR]

... really enjoyed over charging us for our other cars...lol

Why did you go back?

 

[ma99ie]

Why did you go back?

i have no f-ing clue, i guess since i was familiar with the guy and he was within the 5 miles to be towed...BIG MISTAKE... we got the jeep back monday... over $500 later and the brakes go out on me AGAIN last night...while i was driving...guess i should have asked u guys before i had it towed!!

 

[poorboy87]

If your doing it yourself refrain from purchasing the green line from advacne auto parts. Its harder than hell and doesnt flare very well. broke a snapon flaring tool flaring that stuff.

kinda drukn

 

[XJosh95]

That must be my problem. I've always tried to flare the thicker lines.

 

[rockclimber]

about 6 months ago I was able to get the hard lines for my 99 XJ from the dealer.

they ordered them from detroit and got them 3 days later. they were about 40$ each.

sounds like he is BS-ing you.

 

[cherokee-for-me]

i have no f-ing clue, i guess since i was familiar with the guy and he was within the 5 miles to be towed...BIG MISTAKE... we got the jeep back monday... over $500 later and the brakes go out on me AGAIN last night...while i was driving...guess i should have asked u guys before i had it towed!!

Wow, I would be pissed thats alot of money, so if my previous estimates are true he charged you like 400 in labor? This guy is one of those guys that gives honest mechanics a bad name. Did he give you a itemized reciept for the work cause i would want to know what he did with 500 bucks of my money.

 

[ma99ie]

yep about 431.25 in "labor" charges...BIG MISTAKE taking it there, dont know what i was thinking... wont let that happen again

 

[darksidemj]

as far as the flaring tool debate goes, the bar style will work but once you use a hydraulic bender you will never want to use the old style flare tool again. Line is cheap and so are the fittings. You're mechanic way over charged you for a side job. Sorry to hear about your misfortune this time man.

 

[Fore Wheeler]

maggie, you guys should really plan on attending winterfest