Rusted out Rear Brake Lines
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 94
Likes: 19
From: DC
2001 E55 AMG, 2009 C63 AMG
Rusted out Rear Brake Lines
Got an error message for low brake fluid. Checked everything initially, couldn't find a leak around calipers or MC. Thought maybe it was leaking into the brake booster. Topped it off and monitored it on way home.
Did some searching and found a few threads of folks who had mysterious brake fluid loss due to corroded rear brake lines.
Touched the plastic protective tray that runs down driver side of car that covers the rear brake lines. About 4oz of brake fluid leaked down. Oh Sh%t. Remove tray and wheel liner and uncover this mess. Thankfully that last drive home wasn't catastrophic. This is a US, Mid-Atlantic car that doesn't see winter roads and has virtually no rust. Subframe is mint with no corrosion issues.
Fully capable of doing this fix but figured I'd save some time and pay a shop to do it. Multiple shops quoted $800-$2000 to cut in new lines. (which me providing the parts). GTFO.
So for $40 in materials. $70 for flaring tool which does double and bubble flares. And 2 hours of my time. Check your lines folks.
Did some searching and found a few threads of folks who had mysterious brake fluid loss due to corroded rear brake lines.
Touched the plastic protective tray that runs down driver side of car that covers the rear brake lines. About 4oz of brake fluid leaked down. Oh Sh%t. Remove tray and wheel liner and uncover this mess. Thankfully that last drive home wasn't catastrophic. This is a US, Mid-Atlantic car that doesn't see winter roads and has virtually no rust. Subframe is mint with no corrosion issues.
Fully capable of doing this fix but figured I'd save some time and pay a shop to do it. Multiple shops quoted $800-$2000 to cut in new lines. (which me providing the parts). GTFO.
So for $40 in materials. $70 for flaring tool which does double and bubble flares. And 2 hours of my time. Check your lines folks.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 415
Likes: 109
From: Whitehouse Station, NJ
2012 C63 P31 Sedan
Thanks for posting this. This is great info. Can I ask what parts/tools you used? A shop I had worked with in the past told me about this potential issue, and that the OEM lines are discontinued, so you'd have to go this route for the repair when the time comes.
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 94
Likes: 19
From: DC
2001 E55 AMG, 2009 C63 AMG
Brake Line -
Couplings -
*I reused the metric brake fitting on the end of each line. I think they are M10 x 1.0 but be sure to verify if you want new ones.
Flare Tool - https://www.harborfreight.com/deluxe...kit-58147.html
*this does double and bubble.
Brake line form tool - https://www.harborfreight.com/tube-b...ers-95782.html
*also used a large socket to help form.
Those videos are good references for what needs to be done.
Flare Tool - https://www.harborfreight.com/deluxe...kit-58147.html
*this does double and bubble.
Brake line form tool - https://www.harborfreight.com/tube-b...ers-95782.html
*also used a large socket to help form.
Those videos are good references for what needs to be done.
