O/T Rusted brake cables

37chief · Feb 6, 2012

I am in the process of getting my Dad's 64 F100 back on the road after setting for almost 20 years. All the wheel cylinders were froze, along with the fittings, a little heat took care of that. I kitted two, and had to buy two. I replaced the lining at the same time. Now the other problem the parking brake calbes are froze. I was able to remove the wheel cables, and free them with a little work, the same with the handle cable. Nasty job. All I need to do now is bleed the system. I was thinking you guys with the salt on the roads must have a real problem with brake stuff rusting. Stan

Michael Soldan · Feb 6, 2012

I use anti sieze on all moving parts of the brake system,I grease the brake cables and squirt lots of penetrating oil on them near the handle so it will seep down through the cable. The best way to care for them is to use them! Brake lines get a coat of spray grease on them,surprisinh how much longer they last. I have a friend that owns a school bus company,every six years they totally replace every brake line and fitting.
In you case,getting penetrating oil down the cable at every opening is a must,but with them being that old replacement might need be!

Mike M · Feb 6, 2012

School buses for many years now have all air brakes and should have plastic lines ? Maybe these plastic lines need replaced every so years too ? don't know the law on them ? State of Ohio does go over the school buses here pretty good for saftey check every year.These are "normal" size buses. Maybe the "short bus" still have hyd. brakes ?

Kestrel in CT · Feb 6, 2012

A nasty but important job .

I just replaced all the brake lines on my 1998 Dodge Dakota due to heavy rust and scale. The truck has only 48,000 mi. but the salt they throw down is brutal here in New England.

There were no leaks yet but I didn"t want to wait and be surprised.

I don"t know why they can"t use higher grade steel for totally exposed brake lines and components.

glennster · Feb 6, 2012

worst thing we see now are the spare tire winch units on pickups and suv's. they rust up solid in a couple years and either you cant get the spare down, or the cable snaps driving down the road.

hoof print · Feb 6, 2012

that's going to depend on the state. As of this year, AR schools cannot purchase new hydraulic brake busses but we can run the old ones as long as they are serviceable.

Mark-Mi · Feb 6, 2012

Our school district has about 25 buses some new and every bus has hydraulic brakes.
Bus mechanic of over 30 years feels they are less troublesome in the long run and the drivers don't need a air brake endorsement on their license.
I drove school bus for 8 years.

36 Coupe · Feb 7, 2012

It would cost too much.Wife had a 98 Merc that had plastic coated lines.Local mechanic has tubing that is soft and rust proof.My old chevy truck taught me to wrap line with plastic tape and put grease on bleeder screws and all fittings.That will stop rust.If a line goes thru a metal or plastic clip it will rust at that point.Put some plastic tape on that spot.Is very easy to wrap a straight length of tubing with tape before you install it.I had a short line blow on my Ford truck 4 years ago.I taped it and greased the fittings ,looked it over when I took the box off for new spring hangers.Line was in good condition, zero rust.On Ford trucks the brake cables rub on the shocks and rust.I put new cables on my Ford cost 28 bucks for both.The old cables may break at the rust areas even after they been freed up.

showcrop · Feb 7, 2012

(quoted from post at 16:00:42 02/06/12) worst thing we see now are the spare tire winch units on pickups and suv's. they rust up solid in a couple years and either you cant get the spare down, or the cable snaps driving down the road.

Funny you bring that up. Yesterday I lowered the spare in my '04 Explorer to make sure that it would come down if I needed it. I lubed the winch and pressure washed the spare then applied WD 40 to it after it dried.

O/T Rusted brake cables

37chief

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Michael Soldan

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Mike M

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Kestrel in CT

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glennster

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hoof print

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Mark-Mi

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36 Coupe

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showcrop

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