Had a brake line blow out on me in the middle of downtown Austin last Thursday

I was heading back from picking up parts and hit a pothole that must have been hiding for years. The pedal went straight to the floor and I about had a heart attack right there on Congress Avenue. Managed to pump the brakes and get it pulled into a parking lot without hitting anyone. Turned out the line was rusted through right where it clips to the frame rail. $28 in parts and about 2 hours of swearing in the heat later she was back on the road. Anyone else ever have a line fail right where you least expect it?

3 comments

3 Comments

john65018d ago

Hit those rust spots with a wire brush next time you're under there (saves you the panic later). I've had two go on me over the years and it's always the part you can't see without crawling under and looking. Worth spraying some fluid film on the exposed lines too, it helps keep the Texas humidity from eating them from the outside in.

the_lucas18d ago

Man @john650, you really found the hidden rust spot... how'd you even see that thing without a mirror?

wadem8918d ago

Man that's rough. I've been there too with brake lines on my old F-150, spent a whole weekend cussing at a rusted fitting that was totally hidden behind the frame rail. The wire brush trick john650 mentioned is solid though, I learned that the hard way after one snapped on me during a trip. Fluid film is a lifesaver if you can hit it before the rust really sets in.