I think my brake lines are shot

[wuzzzer]

I started driving the SHO about a week ago after storing it for several months over the summer. The brakes initially seemed ok. Each day the pedal has been getting softer and softer until on Saturday it would grab for the first inch of pedal pressure and then it had a few inches of nothing and then it finally would grab more with the pedal pushed almost all of the way down.

I remember reading a while back that its good to use the car's emergency brake now and then if you start getting a soft pedal feel. On Saturday after starting the car I pushed the e-brake down and left it there for a few seconds. I popped it back out and then on the way home the e-brake light flickered on and then back off. I pulled over and pushed the e-brake in and popped it out again. A little while later the light came back on and has been on ever since.
Today on the way to work there was absolutely no grab to the brakes until I pretty much had the pedal pressed to the floor. On the way home tonight it seemed to get worse.

When I pulled into my garage I could see that something had been leaking near the front driver's side wheel. Looking at my driveway I could see something had leaked in a few places there also.
I will be calling a mechanic tomorrow to see if I can get my car in and I will not be driving it at all other than to the mechanic who is only about 2 miles from my house.

Is there anything specific I should tell them to look at? Could it be anything other than the brake lines?
I probably need new front brakes also so I guess I'll have them do that as well.

Thanks all!

 

[hawkeye18]

Sounds like you pretty much diagnosed it. Either a flexible hose let go or your caliper sprung a leak. A leak at the flex-hose/hard line union is possible as well.

Drive very carefully. Keep your foot on that e-brake!

 

[wuzzzer]

Any idea if this is an expensive repair? I know it depends on exactly what's wrong but I hope it doesn't cost a fortune to fix.

 

[hawkeye18]

if it's all the way at the wheel, then I wouldn't say it should be too expensive. There's nothing about the brake system (other than the piston diameter of the MC) that's any different than a normal Taurus.

If it's the hardline that broke, then yeah... it could get kind of expensive, but the LF corner is the closest to the MC; there is only like a foot or so of line.

I wouldn't think it should be more than a couple hundred bucks. But... Being no mechanic, I can't tell you for sure.

 

[wuzzzer]

Thanks. I called the mechanic I usually use and they said they'll take a look at it today and let me know.

 

[luigisho]

The hard lines generally rot out over time in areas where salt is used in the winter. I had 2 rear hard lines rot out on me within 7 months of each other. I was cheap the first time and only had them replace one. Cost me more to do the same thing twice for the other line. They recommended replacing both the first time since it didn't look too good. If you get the same recommendation, get the other one done.

 

[wuzzzer]

Good to know. The shop didn't have time to look at it today so maybe tomorrow they'll let me know what's up. I'm just glad it didn't turn out with me rear-ending someone or flying off the road!

 

[luigisho]

Yeah. Mine was kinda scary when the pedal went all the way to the floor. Be careful. It might take some extra time to do since the hard lines to the caliper (at least from the back prop valve) have more than 1 size fitting and they are an odd size. Had to leave my car overnight at an indie shop so they could get the right stuff.

 

[SHOZ123]

I just took the lines out of my '96. Above the gas tank going to the RR and under the drivers seat where the plastic guard is were all rotted away. This is something every one should be thinking about.

 

[medgraphsho]

I can add to this... My drivers side brake line was just replaced at Midas, front to back, for a respectable $230 out the door.... I will post pics of the brake line as this is a very common problem on all Taurus's.... Check them now before the snow/winter comes and your out of luck 1 day

 

[luigisho]

Agreed. These are a problem on this car with age. Paul's photos are kinda scary.

 

[gimpysho]

Hard lines source

I replaced my rusted hard lines RR with stainless from ssbrakes.com.
Not cheap but came with correct fittings and no more rust worries.
Gimpy

 

[SHOZ123]

I bought a 25' roll of the plastic coated line for under $15 on eBay.

 

[ThatShoGuy]

I bought a 25' roll of the plastic coated line for under $15 on eBay.

yea why is only parts of the stock system coated???

i noticed anywhere under the plastic crap it was like new... why not do the whole system....

 

[wuzzzer]

Well my brake lines were replaced. $220 total. Funny thing is a while back I had checked into having my brake fluid flushed and filled and a place I asked about it said they'd charge $100-120 for it. I guess I did the the fluid flush on my own.

 

[SHOZ123]

What all was replace? There are boo coupes of brake lines on the G3.

 

[JaySHOguy]

Yikes! I've never seen brake lines look that bad on a car less than 15 years old. That is pretty scary.


Wuzzzer, glad to hear the problem was a cheap fix
for you.

 

[Ict_Lx]

I bought a 25' roll of the plastic coated line for under $15 on eBay.

What size are the stock hard lines? I just blew out my left rear line...

 

[gimpysho]

Hard line replacement

You can get a mandral bent replacement (from junction to caliper for aprox $50 steel $60 SS) from sssbrakes.com.
They have the CAD for all the hard lines.
Gimpy

 

[Ict_Lx]

You can get a mandral bent replacement (from junction to caliper for aprox $50 steel $60 SS) from sssbrakes.com.
They have the CAD for all the hard lines.
Gimpy

I went to the site but didn't see brake lines listed. Maybe I was just looking in the wrong spot. Is that price above per line or for a set? Thanks!