brake lines / fuel line replacement ?

[great_white_north]

Hi Corolla Friends,

My 98 corolla has 210000 km (about 125000 miles) and runs well.
It's seen 12 winters now.

Recently I had my garage perform an inspection on it, and they
recommended replacing fuel lines/ brake lines and front lower control arm.
They estimated $1800 fuel line/brake lines, $850 control arm, and $500 in other repairs.
(I let the car go and only made oil changes for several years).

I suspect they just wanted my business, and that the work
isn't really necessary. How long should brake lines / fuel lines
last?

Any thoughts.
Thanks in advance.
GREAT_WHITE_NORTH

[titleist]

they last approx 10 years in canada. you will need to do fuel lines at same time as brake lines. i haven't seen control arms go on a corolla of that year. if you are planning on keeping the vehicle, you are going to have to do them in the near future. you will be able to find a price cheaper than that. brake and fuel lines installed should be $1000 to $1500 done properly.

[Buurin]

It is also possible to buy bulk tubing at Canadian Tire and the like, and bend them as required. You could save some cash there.

[Bitter]

wow that seems high unless they are using dealer pre-bent lines. oh and i guess that is in canadian dollars too.

[randini667]

Originally Posted by Buurin

It is also possible to buy bulk tubing at Canadian Tire and the like, and bend them as required. You could save some cash there.

Just talking brakes... you need a double flare tool $20.00, pipe cutter $10, basic bulk tubing $40, dot 3 brake fluid $10, connectors $10 just to get started.

I do my own work, so naturally I think $1800 is absurd. Since fuel and brakes are "sensitive" components, they must boost the price. I live in Michigan and I have original brakes/fuel lines on my 91 olds with 337,000km.

Did you do a visual inspection on the lines? How do they look?

-Randy

[great_white_north]

Just to follow up on this....

I phoned my dealership/garage for clarification and they said:
- minor rusting on brake lines,
- problem with bushing on control arm,
- water pump leaking,
- timing chain tensioner leaking oil.

I still didn't believe them so I took my car to Canadian Tire(in Toronto) for a visual inspection(excluding tensioner). Canadian Tire said everything looks ok. Although they recommended undercoating (which I had done).

I'm suspicious my dealership wasn't entirely honest or was exaggerating the situation so I will let these items slide for now. (I've wondered about them in the past over other issues).

As a result of reading other threads, I did go out and check my oil level, and it was down two quarts (after about 4000km since last oil change - city driving with stick).

Perhaps my tensioner is leaking? I will keep my eye on it!

GREAT_WHITE_NORTH (soon as the snow starts).

[hungt1999]

I replaced my 2 brakes lines along with the 3 fuel lines on my 1996 Corolla last month. My brake lines were so corroded that one of them burst when I applied the brakes harder than usual.

I bought the fuel lines from the dealer. They cost about $90 each

As for the brake lines, they did not have any pre-bent ones so I bought the generic lines and bent them myself and used a double flaring tool to make my own fittings.

The parts are not that expensive, it is the labor that kills the bill. It took me 3 complete evenings (approx 15 hours). Therefore, don't be surprise that the dealer quotes something like $1000 for that job. Some local garage might be able to do it for cheaper but I think it is honest to say such a job requires at least 6-8 hours for a professional.

As for the water pump leaking, you can check that yourself by looking if there is any sign of coolant near the water pump area.

[ship_reck]

anyone know the diameter of both the brake and fuel lines?

[acton mike]

I had bthe brake lines rusting out at 10 years

I bought tubing by the foot and with by double flaring tool and a bender, I repalced the lines.

The trick, I believe, is getting ther car as high as safely possible off the ground.

Saftey glasses are a good idea as there will be all amnners of crud falling off the bottom of the car

Wear ear plugs too; not because of the noise but ecaues some of the crus that falls off the bottom will wind up in you ear(s) and that can oddly enough posem a ral hazard