Check your hard brake lines!

[SteveTheFolkie]

Hey fellow Jeepers -

Had a real "pucker" moment this past Saturday - nailed the brakes to avoid a Honda Fit and the pedal went to the freakin' floor - I missed the fit and got her stopped with the e-brake - limped it back to where I was staying (why does this stuff always happen when you're away from home and your tools?) popped the hood and the hard brake line had blown out (the convenient one that goes from the MC to the right front) - seems that it was pretty well rusted out at a 90 degree bend.

Not having tools I had to get it repaired at a shop (Lord I hate paying others to do what I can do!) - Yesterday I took a look at the other hard lines (with a critical eye) - rear lines looked fine but the one going to the LF was rusted AND bulged a bit - so off to the parts store for a 20" length of brake line - removed the old one (whoever decided to make that line leave the rear of the distribution block should be doomed to forever replace those lines!) - bent up a new one - slapped it in and bled the brakes -

I'm serious though - check those  hard lines - my XJ (1998) has less than 60K on it (had 42K on it when I got it in December) - but low miles doesn't always mean strong brake lines.  This could have been bad (especially for the guy in the Honda) - no warning - no brakes - no fun!

Steve

[Rick_Bear]

Been there, done that.
But I was struggling in the middle of a steep, sloppy, hillclimb.

Glad to hear you made it through OK.