Flushing brake lines
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Joined: May 2005
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From: Conroe Texas
Flushing brake lines
So I've got this 65 coming home on Sunday that has been parked for a while.
It has been sitting on jack stands for several years with the master cylinder and brake calipers off the car. The car had Silicon brake fluid when we took it apart, and that is what I plan on putting back in it.
Any experiences/recommendations on how to flush the brake lines before I bolt on the new brake calipers? The car comes with new spiral hard lines and rubber hoses but I won't be able to replace all of the brake lines, hence I thought it worth flushing the system before installing the new parts.
Jeff
It has been sitting on jack stands for several years with the master cylinder and brake calipers off the car. The car had Silicon brake fluid when we took it apart, and that is what I plan on putting back in it.
Any experiences/recommendations on how to flush the brake lines before I bolt on the new brake calipers? The car comes with new spiral hard lines and rubber hoses but I won't be able to replace all of the brake lines, hence I thought it worth flushing the system before installing the new parts.
Jeff
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Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Beverly Hills (Pine Ridge) Florida
Originally Posted by 62Jeff
So I've got this 65 coming home on Sunday that has been parked for a while.
It has been sitting on jack stands for several years with the master cylinder and brake calipers off the car. The car had Silicon brake fluid when we took it apart, and that is what I plan on putting back in it.
Any experiences/recommendations on how to flush the brake lines before I bolt on the new brake calipers? The car comes with new spiral hard lines and rubber hoses but I won't be able to replace all of the brake lines, hence I thought it worth flushing the system before installing the new parts.
Jeff
It has been sitting on jack stands for several years with the master cylinder and brake calipers off the car. The car had Silicon brake fluid when we took it apart, and that is what I plan on putting back in it.
Any experiences/recommendations on how to flush the brake lines before I bolt on the new brake calipers? The car comes with new spiral hard lines and rubber hoses but I won't be able to replace all of the brake lines, hence I thought it worth flushing the system before installing the new parts.
Jeff
Since it has been sitting a long time with the lines open and I assume mostly empty, it is very possible that they are rusted inside. Depends on the local humidity/time/temp./etc. to see how bad they are.
My recommendation is to replace the lines if you think rust has occured inside these lines. You can insert a pipe cleaner into the ends of the lines, to see what kind of crap and rust comes out, and it might convince you one way or the other.
As for flushing, I would use more brake fluid (silicone in your case, since that is what you plan on using). I have heard of people using alcohol, BUT you must get all of the solvent out before sealing up the system. Blow it out with compressed air, and then let is dry internally (maybe several days), then flush with brake fluid to be sure.
Plasticman
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Joined: May 2005
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From: Conroe Texas
Originally Posted by Plasticman
Jeff,
Since it has been sitting a long time with the lines open and I assume mostly empty...
Since it has been sitting a long time with the lines open and I assume mostly empty...
As it is, I believe the car comes with all new lines except for the long front-to-rear line, and the long left front to right front line.
I'll stock up on fluid and as you suggest flush the system. Perhaps use a vacuum tool I use for bleeding brakes, to pull clean fluid through these lines.
Team Owner
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Washington Michigan
Originally Posted by 62Jeff
I'll stock up on fluid and as you suggest flush the system. Perhaps use a vacuum tool I use for bleeding brakes, to pull clean fluid through these lines.
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Originally Posted by scotty67
Denatured alcohol works good for this type of cleaning and is cheap and won't harm seals etc.
I think the best bet would be to blow the lines out with air as much as possible, then flush at least a quart of silicone fluid through as I don't know what silicone fluid is soluable in.
If you don't use a solvent that is silicone fluid soluble, then you won't get all the old silicone out and some of the solvent may stay behind, too.
Duke
