Turkey hunting and brake repairs - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

connerm · #1 04-25-2009, 05:35 PM

After an unsuccessful turkey hunt this morning near Orlean, VA, I helped my buddy fix his Dodge Ram brakes. Truck was stuck in a hay field. Rotten front brake line stranded it. He drove it in low to his driveway where we worked on it. We bought several sections of straight brake line and bent it with a tubing bender. We got it connected without leaks and bled the system. He said two local Dodge dealers couldn't get a pre-bent brake line. (This line had at least 15 bends). Anyone ever deal with that metal brake line you can bend by hand? I've seen it on ebay.

jplinville · #2 04-25-2009, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by connerm

After an unsuccessful turkey hunt this morning near Orlean, VA, I helped my buddy fix his Dodge Ram brakes. Truck was stuck in a hay field. Rotten front brake line stranded it. He drove it in low to his driveway where we worked on it. We bought several sections of straight brake line and bent it with a tubing bender. We got it connected without leaks and bled the system. He said two local Dodge dealers couldn't get a pre-bent brake line. (This line had at least 15 bends). Anyone ever deal with that metal brake line you can bend by hand? I've seen it on ebay.

It's ok to use as an emergency item, but I'd stay away from it for a permanent fix. The lack of strength of the walls lead to "soft pedal" issues. The walls tend to "balloon" out and can burst in hard braking conditions.

The dealer could get the proper bent line, he would have had to purchase it upfront, and wait for it to come in. It is a standard item, that most dealers should stock at least 5 of.

strelnik · #3 04-25-2009, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jplinville

It's ok to use as an emergency item, but I'd stay away from it for a permanent fix. The walls tend to "balloon" out and can burst in hard braking conditions.

The dealer could get the proper bent line, he would have had to purchase it upfront, and wait for it to come in. It is a standard item, that most dealers should stock at least 5 of.

Much wisdom here, I just helped a guy who had replaced a line less than a year ago and after a hard winter it has fractured.

If you can afford it, buy an Imperial Eastman tubing bender, they are the ones used by the pros and have a wide variety of uses and sizes.

Regarding the Dodge stock availability: locally (Michigan) no one carries more than one of the most popular items to keep inventory costs down. And DDS (Mopar's Dedicated Delivery Service) can get the part to you from the national Warehouse the same day, if you are local.

Which is why repairs take longer in times like this: no parts on hand.

Curious, isn't it? You would expect it would take less time. In reality the wait time to get in is less, but the total elapsed repair time is long due to parts non-availability on hand.

jplinville · #4 04-25-2009, 07:37 PM

I would also suggest, especially on Dodge 4X4's, that if you are replacing the brake lines, go the extra amount and replace with Stainless Steel lines. They are MUCH less prone to bursting, and give MUCH better hard braking capabilities.

I guess that owning a few Dodge Trucks and SUV's, both past and presently, hold some merit on a MB board...Whodathunkit?

P.S. Thanks for the accolades...

connerm · #5 04-25-2009, 07:41 PM

jplinville,
So where do you get the stainless stuff. Does it come prebent? I consider myself pretty handy, but this tube bending thing frustrated me more than the lack of longbeards. The fix was primarily to allow him to get to town to have it fixed by a pro. Flatbedding it out would have cost him $100. Brake lines cost us $12 + Burger King (and we got to look at some girls there).

jplinville · #6 04-25-2009, 07:50 PM

For my lifted Durango and stock height Dakota, I purchased pre-bent SS lines from Classic Tube (www.classictube.com). There are a number of online stores that carry them, you just have to take the time to search. Also, another place to look would be on the Dodge Talk or Dakota-Durango forums (www.dodgetalk.com and www.dakotadurango.com). They are a wealth of information for dodge vehicles in general, as well as specialized areas for Dodge Trucks and SUVs.

The cost is higher than standard steel lines, but they are such a great enhancement to the braking system, that I'd consider replacing any stock brake line with them.

I have them for my 1978 F-250 hanging on the wall in the garage just waiting for time to install them.

Being new to the MB scene, I'm wondering if I can get them for my 560sl. Perhaps it's something I need to look into, as the stock braking system leaves so much to be desired for such a sporty car.