Leaking brake line needs to be replaced

By Doug McAllister

Q. I have a 2001 Ford pickup truck I am getting ready to sell and I noticed the brake line going to the rear is wet with fluid. Is there a way to splice in a piece or is there a cheaper way to repair it other than to replace the entire line?

A. Unfortunately you will need to replace the line.

Anytime you are dealing with the hydraulic side of the brake system, you don't want to cut any corners. If you have a brake line blow out while braking, it could be catastrophic.

The proper repair would be to replace any and all rusted brake lines and then flush out the system with new brake fluid. This type of repair can run between $500 and $1,000 depending on how much of the system will need to be replaced.

On some vehicles, multiple brake lines and the fuel lines are bundled together and the minute you touch one of the lines, the others can be compromised and begin to leak. We have a big problem with this on the older cars as they have been exposed to so many winter seasons with all the road salt, which just eats away at the exposed metal lines.

The lines we have been using as replacement have a high content of nickel and they do not corrode like the steel ones do.

If you sell this vehicle "as is," make sure you disclose this problem to the buyer; you wouldn't want them to be injured in an accident. Good luck and I hope this was helpful.

• Douglas Automotive is at 417 W. Main St., Barrington; 123 Virginia Road, Crystal Lake; and 416 Northwest Hwy., Fox River Grove. For information, visit douglasautomotive.com. Send questions to underthehood@dailyherald.com.