Brake Failure

[rz]

I had the fun experience of loosing my brakes on my 2009 Georgetown RV last weekend. The brake line ruptured about mid coach due to rust, and now I am in the process of trying to find a shop that can repair the line. Does anyone have a shop near Baltimore County (East side) that they can recommend. I called the local Ford dealer that worked on it last time and they are no longer working on RV's (Al Packer).

[10forty2]

For my piece of mind, I went ahead and replaced the calipers and brake lines with OEM parts about 3 years ago. All in, I think it was about $450 for parts and labor.

[ferndaleflyer]

I used to live in Glen Burnie and had this failure on 2 class C that we used in the winter every weekend for skiing. One summer went for a real ride when the brake line ruptured and I was towing a boat. Other one failed at an exit in WV. Both times It was rust and both times lucky enough to find someone to fix it.....

[rz]

roam1 wrote:
9 years old and rusted brake line? Do you live in a "harsh" environment or maybe previous flood?

No, but the RV was used in the winter in the north east and mid Atlantic. We were caught in a couple of snow storms as well. So we had to rinse salt and brine from the undercarriage a couple of times.

[roam1]

9 years old and rusted brake line? Do you live in a "harsh" environment or maybe previous flood?

[rz]

Thanks for the recommendations, it’s been a number of years since I double flared brake lines but I think I am going to break out the flaring tool out and repair or replace the line. I couldn’t believe how many shops didn’t want to touch an RV.

[theoldwizard1]

time2roll wrote:
Repair? I recommend full replacement with stainless brake lines.

While stainless might be the best, it is also the most expensive and most DIFFICULT to bend and flare !

There is a new brake line material call NiCopp. It is an alloy of steel, nickel and copper. Very corrosion resistant (almost as good as stainless), and VERY easy to bend and flare. Anyone not using NiCopp is just going to make their life miserable.

[wa8yxm]

time2roll wrote:
Repair? I recommend full replacement with stainless brake lines.

Ditto.. and again any NAPA or other major auto parts store can do it for you. Not a high-tech job. Though puttin it in may be a bit of fun depending on if they can break it into lengths for you or not

[Chum_lee]

rz wrote:
I had the fun experience of loosing my brakes on my 2009 Georgetown RV last weekend. The brake line ruptured about mid coach due to rust, and now I am in the process of trying to find a shop that can repair the line. Does anyone have a shop near Baltimore County (East side) that they can recommend. I called the local Ford dealer that worked on it last time and they are no longer working on RV's (Al Packer).

Agreed with using the double flare tool. Do not mix brake line materials. Having a brake line rust through at 9 years of age is troubling. A thorough inspection of ALL THE LINES and a fluid change is in order.

Chum lee

[mike_brez]

Must be a ford thing. My ford pickup did the same and I needed to remove the bed to replace.
Went to auto zone and they let you use the double flaring tool for free.
Two couplings and a piece of brake line and all is good.

[tropical36]

rz wrote:
I had the fun experience of loosing my brakes on my 2009 Georgetown RV last weekend. The brake line ruptured about mid coach due to rust, and now I am in the process of trying to find a shop that can repair the line. Does anyone have a shop near Baltimore County (East side) that they can recommend. I called the local Ford dealer that worked on it last time and they are no longer working on RV's (Al Packer).

Besides the above, if it's in a section that's not too long, you may be able to remove it and then just get a greater length of line, already made up and for bending to suit.
I pretty much replaced them all like that, on a little hot rod, I once restored and if you can find SS, then so much the better.

[time2roll]

Repair? I recommend full replacement with stainless brake lines.

[rgatijnet1]

The brake line, fittings, and the flaring tool are available at most large auto parts stores. Just make sure that you get the DOUBLE flaring tool, NOT the single flaring tool used by plumbers. Even Harbor Freight would have the double flaring tool.
This is a job that should be able to be done by any basic garage with a Mechanic with the attitude that he wants to help you. It is not rocket science but he will have to know how to bleed your brake system after the repair.

[allbrandauto]

any repair shop can make up a line for you. don't need a lift. just have to have the space to put it on the lot

[donn0128]

Start calling truck shops