I was pulling into the ally behind my house yesterday after work, and the brake pedal fell to the floor...turns out both rear brake lines failed. I took my 4Runner to the local garage...turns out it's a major job to replace the lines because of the way they're routed and it'll cost about $1200 to fix...can anyone explain how the lines are routed and why it's such a "big job"?

 

well, the rear lines probably rusted through at some point allowing the fluid to escape, leaving you without brakes. do you know if they removed the old lines and reinstalled all new in the same locations? that would explain the high cost. on my old 86, we just cut the old lines, left them where they were and installed new lines. we routed them along the frame to the rear drums, secured them along the way and the rest is history as they say.

lee

 

This just happened to me about a month ago, sent me through a red light. I just spliced in some new sections to get rid of the rusted parts. It was not a very fun job, kind of tight working conditions under there. Can't imagine it could cost $1200 though. Might be worth a couple hundred but I wouldn't pay much more than that if it was me. Good luck.

 

I believe it is only one line to the back to the load adjuster, I rubber line from the steel line to the load adjuster, then it splits into 2 steel lines running down the axle to the drums. The inly hard one to replace would be the main line from the front to the back, other than that it would be pretty easy. I would ask them which line it was that broke. $1200 seems high to me.

 

I think the line to the rear is above the gas tank, but even then dropping the tank, and replacing the line is only about 2 hours work.

For $1200 I hope they're supplying the lube

 

no its 1200 because they know its going to be a PITA job and dont want to do it. But hey for the right price.....

 

Flyans - find another shop if you can't do this yourself. I know it's tough to delay if you need your daily driver - but 1200 is absurd. ONe piece of steel brake line, 2 double flares and 2 new flare nuts. Done in an hour - 2 (perhaps 3) if they have to drop the tank.

Arsrmk - Did you really mean to say your brake lines rusted through in various spots, so you just cut out the *bad* parts and spliced in some new sections? So how long do you think the remaining old sections are going to last? For all the time and trouble it takes to double flare line and install fittings for splicing, it would have been really easy to replace the entire line from end to end.

 

/\/\ I smell compression fittings

 

The only rusty are was right above the rear shock mount where dirt has been gathering over the years. I wanted to replace the entire line but couldn't find enough brake line at the time and needed to get it back on the road quick. I checked the rest of the lines and they looked fine so I just cut out the bad parts. No I didn't use compression fittings(although it's scary some people recommended I use them ), bought a brake line union and double flared the ends and spliced in the new sections. Not very fun doing all that flaring and splicing up above the frame rails. Will probably replace the the lines when I get a chance but for now they work good and I have no leaks.

 

Got my brake lines taken care of, mechanic rerouted some new ones and left the old ones in place...total bill was $250 cdn. I would love to be able to work on my own truck, but I don't have a garage or the resources at the moment...
Thanks for the responses to my post.