I purchased 4 new rubber brake lines at Oreily's today (had to order them). I get the car up and pull off the rear drivers side line & go to install the new one.

the threads on the new one are too long and totally strip out as I'm tightening it down.

WTF? I told them it was a "79 early model.

Now I'm afraid to even mess with the front lines.

I'm thinking its time to just part this junker out. Its more than a money pit - its an hours and hours of my time pit.

Expecting "Happy" results trying to fit "O'reilly's" parts on a Mercedes.

Everything else is down hill from there.

Mayhaps ,You should dispose of the Vehicle.

Changing out brake hoses on a Mercedes is Not Rocket Science.

[Oh, and what you "Tell" the guys at "O'reilly's" has No Relationship to what
Parts you end up walking out the door with.]

You have to look @ ALL the "Big Box" parts operations "Brick and Mortar" and
online as being staffed by Martians,whose main life enterprise is getting back
to Sexting that Big Hairy F.BI. agent (Who they think is a 12 Year old Venusian).

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'84 300SD sold
124.128

The threads on the brake lines are hydraulic lines - they have tapered threads.

Go look at how the brake lines mate up on the front side. You'll see about half the threads on the rubber brake line are exposed - it doesnt go in all the way. Same deal on the hard lines to rubber lines, but not as noticeable without taking them apart.

Get some new rubber lines from a reputable source (i.e. this site) and hope you didnt mess up the caliper threads.

And when tightening them they do not need to be stupidly tight - or else in a few years youll never get them apart.

EDIT: Be really careful working on brakes. Make a list of bolts and fittings to tighten and check it twice. Read the FSM. If you dont know, ask. Its not part of the car you want to mess up and have fail.

__________________
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'85 300D, 'Lance',250k, ... winter beater (100k on franken-Frybrid 3 Valve Kit)
'82 300D, 'Tex', 228k body / 170k engine ... summer car
'83 300TD Cali Wagon 210k, wife's car

I always suggest that the first time someone does brake work they have someone experienced supervise them...
Just too important to take any chances...

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1980 240d ,

chain elongation, cam marks reference:
http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?threadid=10414

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/305365-9-degrees-chain-stretch.html

evap fin cleaning:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/showthread.php?t=156207&highlight=evaporator

A/C thread

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/297462-c-recommendations-mb-vehicles.html

Why didnt you just click on the buyparts link at the top of the page??
Your frustrations are of your own making !!

__________________
Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving