| Brake line failure | |
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LARRY70GS Aficionado
Name : Larry Age : 68 Location : Oakland Gardens, NY Joined : 2007-01-23 Post Count : 2193 Merit : 150
| Subject: Brake line failure Sat Sep 05, 2020 9:13 am | |
| Was driving on the highway last night when traffic stopped suddenly. Hit the brakes and the pedal sank a lot. Got the car stopped but it was scary. Didn't feel any pop, just a sinking pedal. Then the brake light came on with the constant dinging. Haven't investigated yet because it was dark, but I am reasonably sure it is a metal line as the brake hose is intact. There is fluid all over the right front undercarriage. Pretty sure the leak is behind the plastic splash shield. Going to use nickel copper brake line for the repair once I see where the leak is exactly. My question is, what size are the brake lines, 3/16"? What kind of flares? I have a really good Mastercool hydraulic flaring tool that makes all kinds of flares, so that is no problem. Double flare or bubble flare? How about the fittings, are they SAE or Metric? _________________ 98 Riviera SC3800 All stock except gutted air box. 1970 Buick GS455 Stage1, TSP built 470BBB, 602HP/589TQ Best MPH, 116.06 MPH, Best ET, 11.54 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHCda-t_Jls https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfT2tEO4XcU
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albertj Master
Name : Location : Finger Lakes of New York State Joined : 2007-05-31 Post Count : 8688 Merit : 181
| Subject: Re: Brake line failure Sat Sep 05, 2020 1:23 pm | |
| - LARRY70GS wrote:
- Was driving on the highway last night when traffic stopped suddenly. Hit the brakes and the pedal sank a lot. Got the car stopped but it was scary. Didn't feel any pop, just a sinking pedal. Then the brake light came on with the constant dinging. Haven't investigated yet because it was dark, but I am reasonably sure it is a metal line as the brake hose is intact. There is fluid all over the right front undercarriage. Pretty sure the leak is behind the plastic splash shield. Going to use nickel copper brake line for the repair once I see where the leak is exactly. My question is, what size are the brake lines, 3/16"? What kind of flares? I have a really good Mastercool hydraulic flaring tool that makes all kinds of flares, so that is no problem. Double flare or bubble flare? How about the fittings, are they SAE or Metric?
Bubble flares. Fittings are listed in the FSM, check yours, IIRC they are metric. I replaced all my brake lines with that olive drab poly coated steel a few years (about a decade) ago, they have been fine since. I did not have the privilege of popping a line - the original lines had a lot of surface rust so I scheduled replacement for when I had $ and convenience. When I finally got around to it, one line had started weeping. Phew. Job's not bad with a handheld tubing bender and stock lengths HOWEVER there is one run that's too long for the lines CarQuest stocks, so I needed one union. The local mechanic I griped to about that told me STFU and just make sure the union is straight and tight. He was right of course. One other thing - be CERTAIN to duplicate the stock routing in the fender wells (it makes this funny set of up and down turns) or else the tire will likely rub the brake line in turns. Also be sure to use the stone guard coils over the lines like they are from the factory. Not because they are "pretty" rather because no kidding they are needed although when you're under the car doing the job it does not look like it. | |
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LARRY70GS Aficionado
Name : Larry Age : 68 Location : Oakland Gardens, NY Joined : 2007-01-23 Post Count : 2193 Merit : 150
| Subject: Re: Brake line failure Sat Sep 05, 2020 8:05 pm | |
| Thanks Albert. Ordered everything from Amazon. Stone guard, 25 ft. roll of line with bubble flare metric fittings.
Was looking in the FSM for fitting sizes, but coming up empty. Got a page number Albert? _________________ 98 Riviera SC3800 All stock except gutted air box. 1970 Buick GS455 Stage1, TSP built 470BBB, 602HP/589TQ Best MPH, 116.06 MPH, Best ET, 11.54 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHCda-t_Jls https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfT2tEO4XcU
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albertj Master
Name : Location : Finger Lakes of New York State Joined : 2007-05-31 Post Count : 8688 Merit : 181
| Subject: Re: Brake line failure Sat Sep 05, 2020 11:00 pm | |
| I got some parts fiche info...
The flare nuts are mostly M10x1x17.3 Except, for some reason, a couple at the ABS servo are M12x1x17.6 and the bulk tube is GM 12547207, 25ft rolls. They don't show P/Ns for pre-bent tubing, just list the bulk tubing for all the hard lines including even the short ones. The stock tubing is bulk steel 3/16". | |
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LARRY70GS Aficionado
Name : Larry Age : 68 Location : Oakland Gardens, NY Joined : 2007-01-23 Post Count : 2193 Merit : 150
| Subject: Re: Brake line failure Sun Sep 06, 2020 11:10 am | |
| Thanks Albert. I ordered a roll of the new Nickel Copper brake line with an assortment of metric ISO fittings. I also ordered some ISO unions in case I need them. Never used this new line, but everything I read says it is good stuff. Much easier to bend. Just need to be careful flaring it as it is somewhat softer. I have a Mastercool hydraulic flaring tool that is worth it's weight in gold it works so well. Bubble flares are a one step process, basically the first step in a double flare. I'll practice making several flares before working on the car. _________________ 98 Riviera SC3800 All stock except gutted air box. 1970 Buick GS455 Stage1, TSP built 470BBB, 602HP/589TQ Best MPH, 116.06 MPH, Best ET, 11.54 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHCda-t_Jls https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfT2tEO4XcU
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albertj Master
Name : Location : Finger Lakes of New York State Joined : 2007-05-31 Post Count : 8688 Merit : 181
| Subject: Re: Brake line failure Sun Sep 06, 2020 11:42 pm | |
| - LARRY70GS wrote:
- Thanks Albert. I ordered a roll of the new Nickel Copper brake line with an assortment of metric ISO fittings. I also ordered some ISO unions in case I need them. Never used this new line, but everything I read says it is good stuff. Much easier to bend. Just need to be careful flaring it as it is somewhat softer. I have a Mastercool hydraulic flaring tool that is worth it's weight in gold it works so well. Bubble flares are a one step process, basically the first step in a double flare. I'll practice making several flares before working on the car.
Been there, done that, you'll be 100% fine. | |
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carguy8888 Junkie
Name : Brian Cohen Joined : 2019-01-07 Post Count : 808 Merit : 8
| Subject: Re: Brake line failure Fri Jan 22, 2021 10:06 pm | |
| I just came across this thread, scary stuff. My car had an ugly bottom when I bought it which I subsequently had cleaned up, but I suspect the brake lines are probably really ugly. Is it worth spending extra money for stainless? I'm sure I'm not going to have this car another 20 years. https://classictube.com/product/buick-riviera-brake-line-kit-199719981999-2/ https://www.inlinetube.com/products/bvb9605 | |
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LARRY70GS Aficionado
Name : Larry Age : 68 Location : Oakland Gardens, NY Joined : 2007-01-23 Post Count : 2193 Merit : 150
| Subject: Re: Brake line failure Sat Jan 23, 2021 12:29 pm | |
| Inspect all your brake lines, especially the rear. You can replace just the badly rusted portions using junctions and the copper/nickle line. That is what I did. You need a good flaring tool. My lines were only rusted in certain areas, the rest looked good. I recently had to replace a line in the front, from the ABS module to just in front of the R/S front wheel. I would look at the entire length of all the brake lines. Rusty lines are common, and they will fail at some point, pretty suddenly. _________________ 98 Riviera SC3800 All stock except gutted air box. 1970 Buick GS455 Stage1, TSP built 470BBB, 602HP/589TQ Best MPH, 116.06 MPH, Best ET, 11.54 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHCda-t_Jls https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sfT2tEO4XcU
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carguy8888 Junkie
Name : Brian Cohen Joined : 2019-01-07 Post Count : 808 Merit : 8
| Subject: Re: Brake line failure Sat Jan 23, 2021 12:56 pm | |
| Awesome advice as usual Larry. I am about to bring my car in to finally have axles and the Gabriel struts installed so I will have my mechanic check all the lines. I would do it but I like living LOL. | |
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dbriviera Member
Name : Dave Derhak Location : VANCOUVER ISLAND Joined : 2014-07-08 Post Count : 89 Merit : 9
| Subject: Re: Brake line failure Tue Jan 26, 2021 7:13 am | |
| Under the rad, across the rad lower support, the lines for the RF and both rear run across there, then down the RH frame rail. The AC lines condensation drips on them constantly across the front of the engine RH front . Stupid and thoughtless design. The nickel copper lines are a greatest choice. I never understood why GM and other manufacturers don't use stainless or nickel copper to begin with. Pennies more for a high end car . But I digress... My OEM rotted/blew out while parked on a parking lot under the rad. I have the engine out for rebuild now so its the perfect time for this, if that's possible. So I ordered a set in Stainless Steel. I have done cutting flaring and bending allot on my cars in the past, but for this car I wanted to do it premium and easier ( premade). These lines are $250 USD which isn't as cheap as a roll of line and fittings, but what's my time worth? These InLine Tube lines are complete from the master cylinder to the wheels, all stainless . I also bought new proportion valves and all new hoses .
Stainless Steel Lines: inline Tube https://www.inlinetube.com/products/sbvb9605
The hoses and prop valves I got from Rock Auto.
Nice thing is Rock Auto stuff for these cars is very inexpensive and sometimes they are doing closeouts.
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th3fr4nchi5e Addict
Name : Dave Age : 31 Location : Cheektowaga, NY (Buffalo) Joined : 2010-10-31 Post Count : 572 Merit : 30
| Subject: Re: Brake line failure Sat Jan 30, 2021 4:10 pm | |
| Classic Tube is literally 5 minutes from my house. They did the SS lines for my 95 over 10 years ago. They werent yet available so my dad had sent my original lines to them as a template. Never had an issue. I feel like $300 is a steal but if you are paying to have them installed as well obviously it goes up from there. I will vouch for the quality of the lines from Classic Tube though. | |
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dbriviera Member
Name : Dave Derhak Location : VANCOUVER ISLAND Joined : 2014-07-08 Post Count : 89 Merit : 9
| Subject: Re: Brake line failure Sat Jan 30, 2021 4:50 pm | |
| Thats all good to hear. They just shipped out 2 days ago. I will do them myself. I am going to take the ABS pump out and scrape/ wire wheel all the corrosion off the bottom cover plate and paint it with good rust paint to get some more life out of it. | |
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buck3647 Amateur
Name : david pressler Location : Florida Joined : 2018-07-14 Post Count : 39 Merit : -4
| Subject: Re: Brake line failure Sun Jan 31, 2021 6:25 pm | |
| Get rid of the steel brake and fuel lines replace with stainless steel I have 4 Rivs and 3 of them brakes failed while driving rusted from inside out. Have 5 Rivieras for sale know anyone. https://i.servimg.com/u/f60/19/94/24/58/green_10.jpg | |
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albertj Master
Name : Location : Finger Lakes of New York State Joined : 2007-05-31 Post Count : 8688 Merit : 181
| Subject: Re: Brake line failure Mon Feb 01, 2021 1:25 am | |
| - buck3647 wrote:
- Get rid of the steel brake and fuel lines replace with stainless steel I have 4 Rivs and 3 of them brakes failed while driving rusted from inside out. Have 5 Rivieras for sale know anyone.
https://i.servimg.com/u/f60/19/94/24/58/green_10.jpg I'd appreciate you telling me where did you get the stainless fuel lines? | |
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buck3647 Amateur
Name : david pressler Location : Florida Joined : 2018-07-14 Post Count : 39 Merit : -4
| Subject: Re: Brake line failure Mon Feb 01, 2021 10:44 am | |
| I see somebody already alerted you to Classic tubes bought from them also had my mechanic get material and make them at the shop. A must do !!! | |
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albertj Master
Name : Location : Finger Lakes of New York State Joined : 2007-05-31 Post Count : 8688 Merit : 181
| Subject: Re: Brake line failure Mon Feb 01, 2021 2:06 pm | |
| - buck3647 wrote:
- I see somebody already alerted you to Classic tubes bought from them also had my mechanic get material and make them at the shop. A must do !!!
They are not in the Classic tube catalog, although that may not matter much. I'll get around to contacting them. For those who want a line set that bolts/splices in, see this: https://www.linestogo.com/buick-riviera-fuel-line-1998-3-8l-k-fl251-b2a-set/ or this: Part Number: 25704013, Supersession(s): 25649390, from a GM dealer or .GMPartsDirect.com - it's just the fuel feed pipe, $80 or more plus shipping. | |
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dbriviera Member
Name : Dave Derhak Location : VANCOUVER ISLAND Joined : 2014-07-08 Post Count : 89 Merit : 9
| Subject: Inline tube fail Sun Feb 21, 2021 12:06 am | |
| The stainless lines I bought from inline tube are a a huge disappointment. To begin with the lines that go from the master cylinder to the ABS pump are wrong working from the ABS pump all of the terminations for the brake lines are in the wrong direction. On a 98 Riviera the terminations are on the right hand side or passenger side of the ABS block that sits on the driver side of the car. Well the lines that they give you are meant to terminate at the front of the block which is obviously not possible. Not only that they're all too long and they actually go right past the ABS pump. From the underside of the cars proportioning valves back the where the line stops and has a female fitting on it that's to connect to a male fitting to run to the left rear caliper, the male fitting and the female fitting are of a different size and thread and they don't mate together. So that's a problem. Being as it's Saturday I can't get ahold of anybody at in line to Ben I've had these for exactly 30 days so whether or not I'm going to get my money back I have no idea.... I am considering just cutting the lines replacing the fittings and just fabricating the lines to go from the ABS pump and join up for the rest of the lines as they run underneath the rad support use nickel copper alloy lines. ....big pain in the ass especially after paying $130 have them shipped here and $250 for lines. I do not recommend this product. After all this messing around I would have been better off just to fabricate my own lines with nickel copper. | |
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