Brakelines...true story?
 

Friend of mine has a 1995 C 220, in need of some new rear brakelines.
The dealer suggested, to replace the lines, the gastank, rearaxle & many other items would have to be removed, to install new lines.
Is this correct ?

tell him to run not walk away from that place.

first i would ask why would the brake lines be needed? i dont think i have ever replaced a brake line on any of my benzes from ordinary wear. some have been well over 25 years.

second, unlless the car has had a fire there is no way in hell that all that stuff could be bad.

the whole thing sounds fishy to me.

what symptoms is he chasing?

tom w

Thinking they run up around/above the rear subframe. They should be able to weasel them up and around there, I doubt they come pre-bent anyways, they should be able to do some handy-work up and around that without pulling everything out of the way. Fuel tank I am doubting, I think they run on the side and not over the tank, but they could. Big question is what happened to the brake lines??
Gilly

We're talking about the german safety Gestapo ( TUV ).
They inspect your car every 2 years and, in this case, rejected the vehicle because ( in the inspectors opinion ), the lines are too corroded looking. :confused:
Keep in mind, this is in a country where they DO NOT use alot ( if any ) roadsalt.

Oh man....



We had TUV audit us for ISO 9000:2001 cert.



THAT was a fun week :rolleyes:

The lines on the 400E are starting to get on the borderline status and will need replaced in the next year or so. I hope to be able to get MB preformed lines, and do whatever it takes to replace them. We live in the rust belt, so for a 93 we aren't doing too bad.

My definition of TUV?
Another bureaucracy playing GOD. :eek:

For information, my car just passed its annual road worthy test (MOT) in UK.

But, an advisory mentioned slight rust on rear brake lines which will need attention at some future point, so I have purchased some from M/Benz.

They are very cheap and are the correct length and have the finished ends BUT are straight NOT bent to shape.

Car is E320 Coupe (W124) 1995.

brake lines are very easy to bend using just your hands. you just have to put your thumbs on the inside of the curve while you make the bends to prevent crimping the line off. i have replumbed several old cars from stem to stern.

yours sounds like in reality a waste of time to do functionally but if the tuv requires it ...oh well.

normally brake lines can be fished out without removing any major components. they are generally installed in places where driving over a high spot in a lane wont mash them but at the same time they can be changed out if needed.

tom w