Repair shops report increase in brake-line replacements

Comments about: Repair shops report increase in brake-line replacements

Auto-repair shops report being busier than ever with replacing corroded brake lines.

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nognoggin of Augusta, ME

Aug 17, 2008 9:14 PM

I had brakes fail years ago. I just use the mechanical brake and drive accordingly until I can get it fixed. Not exactly rocket science. Late model cars have separate front and rear systems so you never loose them all. The is no need to replace a line with spots on it. I'd like to pressure test the ones they remove and check if they fail sooner than brand new lines. And fire the morons who insisted they be replaced.

BluCollarGuy of Augusta, ME

Aug 17, 2008 6:05 PM

Franco, First off the rules about holes in the body of the vehicle are written by the state, not the shop you take it to. Ninety percent of the complaints customers have about failed state inspections are because of the customer not knowing the law. Of course there are still those garages that will pass unsafe vehicles with a wink and a smile. That only makes the mechanics who are following the law look more like jerks.

The state has tightened restrictions on brake lines in the past few years, due to a couple of fatal accidents that occurred when brake lines failed on recently inspected vehicles. As a former repair shop manager, I have always thought the state inspection in Maine was way too severe and that many of the rules were ridiculous. However, brake lines are one thing I suggest everyone take very seriously.

Bole of Augusta, ME

Aug 17, 2008 11:15 AM

People can't wipe their butts without state approval in this dumb state.

Jerry Garcia of Gardiner, ME

Aug 17, 2008 9:38 AM

Brake lines were looking rough, mechanic ALMOST let them go by, said maybe it it were a few years ago but not today....said they could be far more corroded than appeared, wouldn't take a chance.
I made an appointment to have them done one week later. 3 days later I was picking up my boat from storage and had TWO brake lines explode right in the parking lot as I pulled the boat out and applied gentle pressure to the brakes!! Had that happened a mile later who knows what would have happened.
Either way, don't be a big baby, change your damn lines... could be saving your OWN life!

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