acceptable brake line repair?

The average RO for brake line repair (towed in, no brakes) is around $700. Changing brake lines sucks, no doubt, but overall a couple hours fixes the lines and then another couple hours of gravy work to replace calipers or wheel cylinders when the bleeders are rusted off makes up for it.

The lines aren't hard to replace, but getting covered in rust and brake fluid is inevitable and we all prefer to not get all oily during the day. There's really no way to stay clean, and I find brake fluid just plain nasty.

The average RO for brake line repair (towed in, no brakes) is around $700. Changing brake lines sucks, no doubt, but overall a couple hours fixes the lines and then another couple hours of gravy work to replace calipers or wheel cylinders when the bleeders are rusted off makes up for it.

 

The lines aren't hard to replace, but getting covered in rust and brake fluid is inevitable and we all prefer to not get all oily during the day. There's really no way to stay clean, and I find brake fluid just plain nasty.

Is that to replace all lines? I do a ton of brake line replacements and that would be my average cost to replace all lines on a vehicle. Chevy pickups I do all the time, cost is $750 to replace all lines with new fittings, more if we replace hoses and or other parts. NICOPP is the shit! Haven't used steel in years and never will, not even on a junker. And if you don't have a hydraulic flaring tool get one.

Ni-cop for president!

Is that to replace all lines? I do a ton of brake line replacements and that would be my average cost to replace all lines on a vehicle. Chevy pickups I do all the time, cost is $750 to replace all lines with new fittings, more if we replace hoses and or other parts. NICOPP is the shit! Haven't used steel in years and never will, not even on a junker. And if you don't have a hydraulic flaring tool get one.

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The Mastercool tool has been worth every penny.

I've got the hyd. Tool, but its faster to just stock and use the pre made lines. Cost wise its a wash.

Ni-copp tubing & Mastercool hydraulic tool = $600.00 to $900.00 per job or more & it keeps my guys busy all day, Yea for both of us!

I luv the rust belt! NY winters are the best.

Dave

I'm in western NY state. Cars don't last 10 years between the potholes, rust, deer, and +100 to -30 temps. Figure in 150 mile round trip to the mall and average 50 mile commute and its a great place to be a mechanic. Not a good place to be a car or human but business is good.

Wow I have never seen a jerry rig of that nature on such an important system of the vehicle. Not even in my area where we don't even have inspections. Out here you see a lot of the compression fittings used as a repair method. Simply because it is quick, easy, and cheap. Which is still very wrong. Nobody wants to invest in flaring tools and such. These jobs are not as common out here as it is up in the NE area.

Wow I have never seen a jerry rig of that nature on such an important system of the vehicle. Not even in my area where we don't even have inspections. Out here you see a lot of the compression fittings used as a repair method. Simply because it is quick, easy, and cheap. Which is still very wrong. Nobody wants to invest in flaring tools and such. These jobs are not as common out here as it is up in the NE area.

I hadn't either till I came across this.. Here it is illegal to use compression fittings.. It is funny I use a manual flaring tool and yes it is a pain to loosen the clamp once you crunch down on the line. Almost every "tech" that has come through the shop I have had to show how to use a flare tool. I guess people just really don't care or know the laws, one or the other

I hadn't either till I came across this.. Here it is illegal to use compression fittings.. It is funny I use a manual flaring tool and yes it is a pain to loosen the clamp once you crunch down on the line. Almost every "tech" that has come through the shop I have had to show how to use a flare tool. I guess people just really don't care or know the laws, one or the other

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I have the mastercool. Worth every penny. We hated brake line repairs till we got it. Now we just dislike them.

We had a customer bring in his Chevy truck today with a mushy brake pedal. After showing him the photos of some of his brake components along with the general level of decay of several of his brake lines (and fuel lines), he indicated that he very much enjoyed the vehicle, and he wanted to keep it on the road for many more years to come.

On that note and in layman's terms, I explained to him that I would be happy to offer him service to the degree that he was comfortable, especially since this is a vehicle he is likely to continue to invest money into. I told him I wasn't in the habit of pressuring our customers to authorize any serivce they didn't feel comfortable with, even in cases like his where I could quite legitimately suggest much more work than just what we saw as "failed" this very moment.

He appreciated my candor, and asked me what I would do if this was my personal vehicle, and I wanted to "restore performance" and "keep the vehicle safe on the road" for a long time to come.

I hesitated as I thought about all of you...then I put together an estimate for some work.

Realizing this is a vehicle the man truly loved, with over 200,000 miles on it, and seeing both hydraulic and friction parts decaying from time and the elements, I asked him if it would be alright if I put together an estimate for the entire replacement of his brake system, with the exception of his ABS Control Module (EBCM), and then we could discuss it, and together whittle it down to the nature and size of investment he would like to make. He was delighted with the approach.

The estimate included replacement of all the calipers, brackets, pads, rotors, hardware, hoses, the master cylinder, more than a dozen brake line fittings, and an estimated 60' of line (NiCop, of course). Additionally, we had to take measures not to allow air into the control module, and added time for a brake fluid exchange & bleeding. On top of all that, I let him know that our company offered an extended warranty on many of the parts, which upgraded any parts that had a performance line available to us, by at least doubling the time/mileage periods. As a part of describing the service to him, I indicated that we would not normally remove the existing lines, but that in most cases, the new lines would be run parallel to the existing ones.

For those of you not in the cold, wintery north, pulling old lines out to replace them is like poking a bear, and I explained that although it wouldn't affect performance, safety, or warranties, I mention it as a cosmetic concern only. He asked me to add the replacement of the fuel lines to his estimate as well, as he said that the photos I showed him gave a truly graphic representation of how badly the elements & road salt had affected everything underneath the truck, and he didn't see the point of taking any chances or asking us to "be creative" in how the lines were run, as it wouldn't change the relative state of decay of the fuel lines if we did so. So - to his estimate, I added an estimated 40' of fuel line, a dozen more fittings, some "quick connects" to nylon line adapters, and a new in-line fuel filter for good measure.

His service estimate for the above was over $2800. I asked him where he wanted to begin, and invited him to examine the various components in question, if he needed clarification on their health as assessed by a visual examination only. He abruptly said, "Tony, there's no need for that. I told my wife that if I could restore factory performance to my brakes for no more than $3000, that I'd just do it. I really love this truck, and you guys have always proven to be professional, honest, and truly caring in the ways you offer to help. Just do it all, and tell me when to pick it up."

So the parts were ordered and the service has been schedued to begin tomorrow. Prepared to offer any level of service my customer demanded, I invested a lot of time putting together that estimate. The fact that he authorized it all was a pleasant surprise, of course.

The real point I'm trying to make, though, is that I logged his service in our system as brake work and fuel system repairs, accordingly. There were no "maintenance" items on the estimate. If fact, I chided him by saying, you know, for a few extra dollars, we can do a cooling system flush to prepare you for winter, if you like.

"How much?", he asked. I told him it would be about $89, and what it would entail/include.

"Nah, I'll pass.", he said.

I guess I'm not good at selling maintenance services yet.

I have an expedition now that I have to replace all the lines on it.. I need to figure an estimate for him.. I usually only see one line at a time except on the older gm's with the abs unit down low in the left front or the expeditions. I usually send them out since it is so time consuming. This happens to be one of my good customers so I agreed to do it . I just need to figure out what would be fare to them as well as myself. Usually doing one line I charge and hour and a half plus parts, but as this post has grown I think I am pretty low on brake line repairs.