On the road in NC/SC with brake line failure - LOOKING FOR ASSISTANCE!

[Storm-Chaser]

LOOKING FOR ASSISTANCE - on the road in NC/SC with brake line failure!

I left New England Saturday :wave: with an SHO that I recently bought. After dealing with a number of issues the last two days on the road, one of the two rear brake lines leading to the rear proportioner block failed last night. The car is an MTX, so right now I have down-shifting and the e-brake for stopping when I need to pull-off the interstate for gas.

While interstate travel requires little braking, I am going to have to go through Atlanta and Birmingham today/tonight and know how the traffic is in both cities. Once I'm through there, I'm bascially home free.

But personally, I would prefer to get this repaired if possible. Not being at home and having just picked-up the SHO, I don't have my tools, much less the proper brake line tools for cutting/flaring lines. Given the size of the Atlanta area, I thought someone here might have rear brake lines from a SHO they've parted, that I could pick-up.

And IF ANYONE KNOWS ANY GOOD ROAD TRICKS (ie. *safe* patches) to get home on, please post below. I will be traveling I-85 through North and South Carolina today, then I-20 from Atlanta to Tuscaloosa, late tonight to avoid traffic. There are a number of places where I can stop and check back for replies. Any assistance (or good contacts) would be greatly appreciated.

 

[1stSHO]

I would not go threw Atlanta with no brakes, you have to be crazy!! Hope you make it home.

 

[NJSHO]

Stop at a shop and have them fix it?
If its the line from the rubber line to the block you might be able to find one at a yard, if its from the block to the front of the car, you are not going to find one easily. You could, as a temporary fix, get a length of brake line and splice it into the bad sections using compression fittings. This should only be used as a temp solution. Ive been told that compression fittings might not stand up to the pressure in the line for long.

 

[93rev2sev]

Tools and supplies to fix this should be less than $30 (preflared tubing and a bender). There's gotta be a place you can stop to pick the stuff up...and if you do it in their parking lot, they might loan the tools to you....and yull be at a parts store...mucho convenient.

I know using the screw jack that comes with the car sucks. If you have a credit card, buy a jack, use cardboard under and above(to keep that un-used look) then return it. Heck jackstands too...be safe and good luck.

 

[nc89sho]

if you come near me (winston-Salem) or NCtaurusSHO (elizibeth city) either one of us would be willing to help you out.

 

[Black '93]

If it is a small hole in a metal line, clean it off very good, then duct tape it, then cut a piece of hose lengthwise to achieve the correct diameter, and zip tie it really tight over the duct taped spot. Or use tiny hose clamps... I've done it before and it worked for 50 miles 'till I got home...

 

[Storm-Chaser]

I would not go threw Atlanta with no brakes, you have to be crazy!! Hope you make it home.

Despite the better efforts of several idiots in the Atlanta area , as well as the Georgia State Highway Department once I got west of Atlanta , my SHO and I made it home safely yesterday evening, in one piece.

I think I ****** a few of Atlanta's wealthiest off when I wouldn't run 85mph+ on I-285, even after being severely tailgated. Heck, one even took the time to pull the silver spoon out of their mouth to flip me off! That's fine, the enjoyment I got when one clown nearly lost-it after I disengaged the clutch and 'tacked it' to 4500rpm, made it worth the harrassment....

P.S. The exhaust system failed during the drive back, so I was essentially running the equivalent of open headers :laugh_ti:

It's just a shame it was a overbored 460 big block with open headers - that would have been even more fun!

 

[CerberuS]

Sucks on what happened , glad you got home. Think its time for some repairin'.

 

[Storm-Chaser]

if you come near me (winston-Salem) or NCtaurusSHO (elizibeth city) either one of us would be willing to help you out.

Thanks for the offer guys. By yesterday afternoon I was already in Birmingham ____