RR Brake Hose Blown

[SHOdded]

on my 95 ATX.

Luckily, happened while I was parking the car on the street. Brake pedal had been getting difficult to operate over the last few months, but noone could find anything wrong with it. Then today, it got real mushy real fast. Then I noticed the Ghostbusters style splatter trail

Not luckily, brake fluid is everywhere. Never had a brake hose go bad on me before, so new experience

Should all brake hoses be replaced at the same time? Ok to use The Advance Auto Wearever hoses, or should I get Russell SS hoses, or ... I guess they are almost 20 years old now!

TIA for your input & insight.

 

[kevinspann]

I'd put on new rubber hoses all the way around, personally. When I changed my fronts, I got them from Napa...they were very cheap, about $9 each. I don't think it matters much what brand you get though.

You might want to check the hard lines under the driver's side rear door for rust, as well - they go up 90 degrees in an area where I assume road salt/water can get in and sit, and rust them out.

 

[SHOdded]

Thanks, Kevin! Yeah, I was thinking about the hard lines too. I will check them out and try to take/post pics of what I find.

 

[SHOdded]

I took some pics (best I could do without jacking up the car), hopefully that will shed some light on what's going on:

http://www.shospeed.com/gallery/gallery/album.php?album_id=113

Driver's side looks ok 2 me. Passenger side is weird tho. There is a beehive/balloon looking thingy on the hard line, and I think it is the hard line that is ruptured.

Need to look at it on a lift, I think. Thoughts? Thanks.

 

[kevinspann]

Looks like the hard line has a hole in it to me. One of the rear hoses has been replaced at least once. Also you're missing one of the adjustable control arms. I personally would get rust free hard lines from a junkyard car...I usually have no issues finding them down here in Richmond.

Edit: I see why one of the adjustable arms wasn't used...the brake bias valve.

 

[zak]

Hot soapy water is the best thing to remove leaking brake fluid (mineral oil) but don't get any inside the line that is broken open. It removes paint pretty easily.

 

[pjtoledo]

nice mud wasp nest.

 

[SHOdded]

Looks like the hard line has a hole in it to me. One of the rear hoses has been replaced at least once. Also you're missing one of the adjustable control arms. I personally would get rust free hard lines from a junkyard car...I usually have no issues finding them down here in Richmond.

Edit: I see why one of the adjustable arms wasn't used...the brake bias valve.

Looking back at the service history, you are correct, the rear left caliper and hose were replaced at the same time. Also, the mechanic was hesitant to go with bias plugs for the proportioning valve, hence the "missing" adjustable arm. Are the hard lines specific to the SHO, or will any Taurus/Sable sedan of the same vintage suffice?

What are the chances I need to replace everything out to the distribution block or even master cylinder (http://www.shoforum.com/showthread.php?t=99487)?

If I had to go new, part number F8DZ-2C287-AA (with minor mods) was mentioned as possibly being usable on all Gen I - Gen IIIs? (http://www.shoforum.com/showthread.php?t=93524) Or just better to go with SHOnut's offering of full brake line set?

Hot soapy water is the best thing to remove leaking brake fluid (mineral oil) but don't get any inside the line that is broken open. It removes paint pretty easily.

Thanks, will keep that in mind!

nice mud wasp nest.

Is that what it is? Never seen those things on metallic objects. I guess the Taurus IS environmentally friendly!

 

[kevinspann]

SHOnut's kit would be the only new option. The lines should be the same SHO to regular Taurus, as long as it has ABS and 4 wheel discs. Rear drum cars may also be the same, but I'm not 100% sure.

Some of your other hard lines looked a little crusty, you would definitely want to look at all of the lines, including that ABS bundle at the front...might as well do it all at once.

I have a nice pair of the front to rear lines in the garage

 

[SHOdded]

Yeah, I would love to get all that done at one time and out of the way, 1 line goes, next line who knows when. Is it a lot of work to replace just the front to rear lines you mention? If not, I can do that as an intermediate step to having everything replaced. Better yet, if you can get a whole set for me, I'd be happy to pay for parts. Does that sound good to you?

 

[TimboSHO]

Or just get bulk line and a flaring kit and make your own! It's not that hard and will save you lots!

 

[SHOdded]

Or just get bulk line and a flaring kit and make your own! It's not that hard and will save you lots!

Not something I can do, but I will look for someone willing to do so. Thanks for the idea!