Brake Line Leak

[icanfixall]

I want to add something to this pips thread post. We actually have 2 completely different types of pipe threads. The one many are aware of is the tapered pipe threads. That seals by an interference fit with the female fitting. ?Then we have the straight pipe thread that has no taper to the threads. It the same size and pitch as the tapered thread but.. Its most common use is electrical conduit pipe. Thats the thin wall pipe electrical wires run thru for many uses. Never want to mix up those fitting either. Its just some helpful information for everyone to use someday. Information is power. The more information we have the more powerful we are.

 

[Zaggnutt]

I had an idea while trying to half-ass my brake line to keep it from leaking that I wanted to ask about... If you were in a tight spot and didn't have a flare kit or just needed a quick solution to get you home could you slip a 3/16" o-ring over the flare on the brake line between the flare nut and flare? Might seal a small nick in the brake line flare or a lopsided flare. What are your thoughts? Anyone ever try it?

 

[franklin2]

I had an idea while trying to half-ass my brake line to keep it from leaking that I wanted to ask about... If you were in a tight spot and didn't have a flare kit or just needed a quick solution to get you home could you slip a 3/16" o-ring over the flare on the brake line between the flare nut and flare? Might seal a small nick in the brake line flare or a lopsided flare. What are your thoughts? Anyone ever try it?

O-rings don't work unless the fitting is designed for them. The pressure from the brake fluid will just squeeze the o-ring right out. It needs a little chamber or "home" to sit in where it can't wiggle itself out. And the proper fitting is designed that when o-ring does try to get out, it seals even tighter.

 

[Zaggnutt]

O-rings don't work unless the fitting is designed for them. The pressure from the brake fluid will just squeeze the o-ring right out. It needs a little chamber or "home" to sit in where it can't wiggle itself out. And the proper fitting is designed that when o-ring does try to get out, it seals even tighter.

Oh, copy. Makes sense. Just thought I'd ask. OLDBULL jumped all over it when I said I tried RTV and Teflon Tape to half ass fix the fluid leak. I was brainstorming quick fixes if you were stuck. Thanks for the info!

 

[Wyreth]

Oh, copy. Makes sense. Just thought I'd ask. OLDBULL jumped all over it when I said I tried RTV and Teflon Tape to half ass fix the fluid leak. I was brainstorming quick fixes if you were stuck. Thanks for the info!

Realistically, with the pressures involved and with how the sealing system works in flared brake fittings.... if you don't have a flare kit, you're boned. If the seat is bad, you're boned. There just isn't a quick solution. You can crank it down hard and hope it doesn't leak enough pressure to kill the rest of your brakes. But if you do, realize this: We drive trucks that weigh three tuns, or more. Never half ass the brakes. We then, or at least I then, overload the crap out of them... NEVER half ass the brakes. Then, well then we take them out into traffic, with people who have small children in their cars... minding their own business.

NEVER
HALF-ASS
THE
BRAKES!

If you're stuck because of the brakes. It's time for a tow-truck.
</rant>

 

[Zaggnutt]

Realistically, with the pressures involved and with how the sealing system works in flared brake fittings.... if you don't have a flare kit, you're boned. If the seat is bad, you're boned. There just isn't a quick solution. You can crank it down hard and hope it doesn't leak enough pressure to kill the rest of your brakes. But if you do, realize this: We drive trucks that weigh three tuns, or more. Never half ass the brakes. We then, or at least I then, overload the crap out of them... NEVER half ass the brakes. Then, well then we take them out into traffic, with people who have small children in their cars... minding their own business.

NEVER
HALF-ASS
THE
BRAKES!

If you're stuck because of the brakes. It's time for a tow-truck.
</rant>

Yeah, I would be one of the people with small children in my truck. I get it. I wasn't looking for a reprimand or green light to do something stupid - just a little advice on options if stuck. Thanks.

 

[OLDBULL8]

Brakes a scary moment. Took this converted School bus on a vacation, went up to Mt Rushmore in it, was scary as hell coming down the mountain, bus weighed 12 ton. The next day while driving, the brake line broke on the rear pass side, just a small rusted hole in it, zilch, none, no brakes at all, thank God that didn't happen on the way down the mountain, Wife, I and the 4 kids would be all dead. My fix was to bend the brake line to shut off the flow, until I could get to a place to fix it. That's my oldest Son and me, while on that trip, don't remember where we stopped to go fishing, fishing was good tho, had to be someplace in the Dakotas. Moral of the story is, ya never know when a brake line or fitting will fail.

 

[icanfixall]

Brakes can be "fixed" by bending the line so it wont leak and you still have brakes some of the wheels. While in high school a guy could not afford to replace the right front brakes on his 68 corvair so he used baling wire around the wheel cylinder push pins and removed the shoes. Got him some brakes but crazy pulling to the drivers side too till he installed new shoes. Kids do what they need to so they can drive cool cars and trucks. Is it right.. Hell no but if you know whats hapening it can be done but not safely. Had an accident happened to that Corvair it was all over. but who knows if he even had insurance back in the 1970 year...

 

[Zaggnutt]

Brakes a scary moment. Took this converted School bus on a vacation, went up to Mt Rushmore in it, was scary as hell coming down the mountain, bus weighed 12 ton. The next day while driving, the brake line broke on the rear pass side, just a small rusted hole in it, zilch, none, no brakes at all, thank God that didn't happen on the way down the mountain, Wife, I and the 4 kids would be all dead. My fix was to bend the brake line to shut off the flow, until I could get to a place to fix it. That's my oldest Son and me, while on that trip, don't remember where we stopped to go fishing, fishing was good tho, had to be someplace in the Dakotas. Moral of the story is, ya never know when a brake line or fitting will fail.

What year was your trip/these pics taken?

Why would they design a system where if you lose one you lose them all? Well, hold on I know why... money. But no fail safe? No back up? The simple addition of another master to control the rears only would have worked, right? I do not know how current brake systems have solved that so feel free to educate me.

Everything happens for a reason, OLDBULL.... You were not meant to die at Mt. Rushmore... You were meant to live on and (among other things) give us beginners a hard time when we do something dumb!!!
Thanks for the pics, they are great! I really enjoy looking at old photos...

 

[Zaggnutt]

I'm 36, so my "old" photos would not be that old, but it would be neat to have a thread of "My First Ford" or "My First Car".... I always think of my Dad and his various projects through the years.... a yellow 50's something Chevy P-Up, a Ford Ranchero, my first car - an '82 S10 Low rider, a Pea Green Ford Granada!!!, that thing was a TANK disguised as a CAR

Something about checking out the old pics with the faded colors and grainy details...

Icanfixall's thread about what your sig name meant had pics that RiotWarrior posted of his first Ford? First Truck? But it was real cool hearing the story behind it. I think it's interesting seeing what we thought was cool to drive when we were kids, ya know?

 

[franklin2]

What year was your trip/these pics taken?

Why would they design a system where if you lose one you lose them all? Well, hold on I know why... money. But no fail safe? No back up? The simple addition of another master to control the rears only would have worked, right? I do not know how current brake systems have solved that so feel free to educate me.

Older vehicles didn't have dual chambered master cylinders with separate front and rear braking systems. They also didn't have air bags, seat belts, side marker lights, back-up lights, turnsignals, and the very early ones didn't even have a starter, you had to get out and crank the engine over by hand. That's just the way it was back then

 

[OLDBULL8]

I know this post ended about four days ago.
But I woke up last nite thinking about the brake line flaring. It was not mentioned how the line was flared. It should be a DOUBLE flare or a BUBBLE flare. A SINGLE flare, can over time cause a leak. If it was a single flare, try to tighten it a little in about a week or so, not too hard as to strip the fitting nut, you'll know, might just turn a skrunch. My bad for not asking before.

 

[Zaggnutt]

Actually, that's my bad for not being clear... Flares are double. New wheel cylinder, new flare nut, new flare has worked flawless so far. Only problems are a little bit of brake fluid seepage through the nut on the brake hose junction and if I put full pressure on the brake pedal it will sloooowly creep to the floor. I have solid stopping power and no drips, but if I push hard it creeps.... I've bled the brakes twice but still does it. Any thoughts? I've seen the same problem in other forums with Fords and other makes and models but I have not found a reason or a solution.

 

[79jasper]

Post #1 paragraph #2 mentions getting a double flare kit, but it's good you thought about it and came back to it.

Did you adjust your rear brakes yet?

Sent from my USCC-C6721 using Tapatalk

 

[Zaggnutt]

Post #1 paragraph #2 mentions getting a double flare kit, but it's good you thought about it and came back to it.

Did you adjust your rear brakes yet?

Sent from my USCC-C6721 using Tapatalk

I bled them twice. Once as it sat, the second time from passenger rear corner (furthest point from Master) with the truck sitting facing uphill. Truck stops solid, but if I keep constant pressure on them they will slowly sink to the floor. I have noticed the slightest seepage coming out of the inside of the flare nut on the hose side (side opposite I had the problem originally). Does not drip, can't find anything other than a little bit of wetness.

Should I assume this slight seepage is causing my brake pedal issue through air intrusion?
Does it matter whether the truck is running or not when I bleed the brakes?