More brake line issues

[pservecc]

I have been dealing with the service manager/shop foreman. When I went back the first time for the LR line, he openly admitted that the line was poorly done and should not have left the shop that way. They fixed it for nothing more than the inconvenience of having to bring the truck in again. I have not contacted them about the problems with the RF line shown in this thread yet as I have been working on replacing the RF Hub Assy due to a bad bearing.

I was told (by this dealer) that Ford does not have pre-bent factory lines available and that they would need to be formed on site. Upon complaining about the couplers during my first return visit, I was told that they were fine and "to code".

At this point, I certainly won't go back there for any further work, which is why I'm doing the hub myself, and I'm still in shock over the sheer incompetence of the job as a whole. I think that I'd like nothing more than to get a full refund and never see these guys again...

 

[pservecc]

Invoices here: http://home.comcast.net/~pserve/public/inv.JPG

Halfway there...

 

[Turdle]

Invoices here: http://home.comcast.net/~pserve/public/inv.JPG

Nice touch!!

 

[marragtop]

Please ignore....

 

[Dan Whitaker]

I was told (by this dealer) that Ford does not have pre-bent factory lines available and that they would need to be formed on site. Upon complaining about the couplers during my first return visit, I was told that they were fine and "to code".

I find this hard to believe. As shody of a job as they did I would be willing to bet that they are lying through their teeth about this.

 

[marragtop]

good point... I edited out the info from my email.. Can you do the same on your post?

 

[pservecc]

Looks like I need one of these halfshaft seals... The metal ring is coming out of it. I can't seem to pinpoint what it is on the auto store web sites, so I'll have to go try to find one tomorrow. Advance, Autozone, NAPA, and the next closest dealer are all in the next town over. Hopefully, I'll be able to find one in stock.

BTW, thanks for all the opinions and advice.

 

[Dan Whitaker]

I'll post the National Seal part # when I get home tonight. I'll tell you right now that Autozone does not even list that seal in there computer system.

If the other places can not find the seal ask them to get their book out.
That is what the parts store I went to (O'reilly's) had to do to find it.

The only thing I can figure out that it is use for is to keep water & maybe dust out between the CV joint & hub assy.

The National seal I mentioned ended up being to thick & actualy rubbed on the metal ring that is in the steering nuckle and left a bunch of fine metal shavings between the CV & hub so I took it off & never looked back.

 

[JDraper]

Dang!!! That's one of the shoddiest jobs I've seen in a while.

Ya know, you can buy your own tubing bender (decent quality, not a spring bender) for about $48 from McMaster-Carr, and you can get straight tubing with the proper flared ends on it from your local auto parts store pretty cheap. I re-plumbed the right front and complete rear end of my '94 because the lines were rusty, and I don't think it cost me more than about $75 including lines and the bender.

 

[pservecc]

@Dan - I think you're right. It looks like that seal does next to nothing and should be fine even the way it is. Maybe I'll just clean it up and let it be.

@JDraper - I believe that I can borrow a kit including a cutter, bender, and flaring tool from one of the auto stores for free, but I felt the job may be too much for me. So, after getting a quote for $300-350 from the dealer for ALL the lines, I went with it. I figured that could rise a bit, but at least I would get a decent job. Little did I know...

 

[IZwack]

I believe that I can borrow a kit including a cutter, bender, and flaring tool from one of the auto stores for free

I know you said you're not going to do it but for anyone else out there following this thread, I would advise not to loan the flare tool for doing the brake lines because loaner tools are often abused and a good inverted flare is very important.

 

[JDraper]

You can buy the lines already flared and with nuts on them in various lengths from any good auto store. Some will even make them to custom length for you for a decent price (Our local NAPA store does). I bought off the shelf lines pre-terminated, bent them and installed 'em. Mine came from Advance Auto, and they sell them in 6" increments.

 

[pservecc]

Bad news... I replaced the hub assembly and went back to the dealer for the RF line to be fixed. It was in for that this morning. I expected that the line would be replaced since it had been rubbing for awhile, but all they did was bend it out of the way. The steering is back to normal now, and I need to put it up and check the condition of the line. If it has been damaged, I'll need to figure out what to do next.