Ok I have a question for a mechanic

I can't see your car, but...I wouldn't recommend either.

Was it hard to get to with wrenches? Sometimes those fittings can be hard to get along with. It drives me nuts when it seems its lined up right, right where it needs to be, and won't start screwing on.

Those couplings are supposed to be (soft) metal to (soft) metal. That is to say, I've ran into the same situation and discovered that teflon tape does not fix the leak because it doesn't seal the spot that needs to be closed up.

Store bought brake lines? All new parts?

Unlike bolts, the threads on brass fittings are (usually) wider at the bottom so they can feel tight when they are in fact not forcing a seal between the flare on the brake lines and the end of the male fitting. The threads get tight but leaves the brake line not so tight, leaking under pressure.

I would take it apart again, inspect it and try it again. If it still leaks, and you think the flair is bad, they sell a flaring tools for cheap. If theres enough length in the brake line, you can cut a faulty flare off and put a new flare on it.

If its the splitter type thing you were talking about, get a new one.

It might be tricky to find out why its not sealing, but either way, brake fluid is caustic and that would be a nasty leak to sneak up on you if rigging it with teflon tape only lasted for a little while. Having a brake line leak is a great way to get rid of the paint so you can replace it with rust.

Lock tite definetly wont work.

9OH5 wrote: "I can't see your car, but...I wouldn't recommend either.Was it hard to get to with wrenches? Sometimes those fittings can be hard to get along with. It drives me nuts when it seems its lined up right, right where it needs to be, and won't start screwing on.Those couplings are supposed to be (soft) metal to (soft) metal. That is to say, I've ran into the same situation and discovered that teflon tape does not fix the leak because it doesn't seal the spot that needs to be closed up.Store bought brake lines? All new parts?Unlike bolts, the threads on brass fittings are (usually) wider at the bottom so they can feel tight when they are in fact not forcing a seal between the flare on the brake lines and the end of the male fitting. The threads get tight but leaves the brake line not so tight, leaking under pressure.I would take it apart again, inspect it and try it again. If it still leaks, and you think the flair is bad, they sell a flaring tools for cheap. If theres enough length in the brake line, you can cut a faulty flare off and put a new flare on it.If its the splitter type thing you were talking about, get a new one.It might be tricky to find out why its not sealing, but either way, brake fluid is caustic and that would be a nasty leak to sneak up on you if rigging it with teflon tape only lasted for a little while. Having a brake line leak is a great way to get rid of the paint so you can replace it with rust. Lock tite definetly wont work."



Hello and by far thanks for the info. It's an '88 chevy van with metal brake lines & coupling. What happened was thae old brake line rusted through so i had to replace it with new lines & fittings. I don't know if there was a bur on the ends or what but they will not seal together tightly. It ticks me off to to end. But thanks again for the info because it sounds like i'll have my hands full for a few days with it.
If it wasn't for everything i have done to it already i might be looking for another one. You see when i bought it, it only had 500 miles on it & i paid $1,000.00 for it. But i put in an over sized radiator, new fuel pump, new fuel filter, new tranny, all new hoses, as well as a new serpentine belt and new tires.
I re-did the inside as well. Took out the back 2 captains seats & the back table and put in a full size bed, small fridge with microwave on top of it. Bolted the smaller birds cage down behind the drivers seat, and the cats even come with me. HDTV has it's own place as well as i can take my dish unit with me. I have an 8,500 watt generator on the tounge of my trailor as well as an AC in the back window. You could say it's a trip driving down the road. The bird calls the cats by name and even does a wounded dog barking. Anytime a semi-truck goes by she says " Big truck, Big Truck". The bird is a yellow naped amazon & can live to be over 100 yrs old. I don't have to worry about staying awake, she keeps me awake for sure. I tell ya one thing for sure, these pets have more miles on them then alot of people do, lol. You could say it is home away from home. This gal is fully loaded on the road. Thanks again for the info. Take care & ride safe, Lou Anne

leatherlou wrote: " Hello and by far thanks for the info. ..."

Ha, too cool! Paints a fun picture in ones head.

I once new a girl that had a Grey Amazon, it was brutal! It was only civil to one person in the house. If anybody else came close to its cage it would FREAK OUT! I heard those birds are like that.

I've had some parakeets and have known others with larger birds, one had a red tailed hawk, but nobody had a bird that was meaner than that grey. weird.

You need a flare kit, if it's a double flare which it should not be, but you never know thats a different kit. Also a line cutter you need a clean cut to get a solid flare. Be careful on a van that old if you add more line than was there you may have to adjust the pushrod in the power booster, just try to stay the same.Good luck to ya.

talisilak75 wrote: "You need a flare kit, if it's a double flare which it should not be, but you never know thats a different kit. Also a line cutter you need a clean cut to get a solid flare. Be careful on a van that old if you add more line than was there you may have to adjust the pushrod in the power booster, just try to stay the same.Good luck to ya."

Thanks for the help talisilak75, But just to jet you know the ends were flaired from the factory & i have now replaced & bent new line twice. It is leading me to think that there might be something like an old piece of dirt or fluid gummed up in the older piece of line, going towards the wheel. After the same problem twice with 2 new lines. I tell ya what right now my back is killing me. It feels like i have been sewing for a whole week, like i was at sturgis or bike week. I'm about tempted to call my uncle who works on big rigs & see where he's at on his bike. He's a semi-retired semi-truck wrench with roadway. He goes where they tell him he's needed so he jumps on his bike & scoots to the next place. Looks like i'll be riding the bike alot, lol. I love my bike just don't get enough time to ride. Kinda like i do most of the year. If he's close enough south to me i know he wouldn't mind riding down & taking a look at it. Shoot i cook for an army as it is, still can't get out of that habit. It's hard as anything trying to cut back on cooking. I'm so use to everyone who was working with me coming home and eating with me & i did all the cooking for about 60 plus people after i got off of work. Now i freeze alot of stuff. But thanks again Talisilak75 for all your help.

90H5, All i can tell you about the redtailed halk is watch out! Some state have made it legal to own one noe most have not.The gray amazon is alot like the yellow naped amazon. It's true they will bond with a Male or Female and will only go to that sex for most of there lives. Take care around the bird because they can brake your finger. Now i sure don't want a Macaw, they are down right mean. They will brake your finger clean off. I have a friend that has one & i don't like even being around it. They take a broom stick & put it in the birds cage just to get there food & water dishes out. Now you know that is a mean bird. Take care & ride safe, Lou Anne

Just to let you all know & to pass on some info as well in case this ever happens to you. My uncle the semi-mechanic said to put some finger nail polish where i have the small leak from the cupling to the brake line. He says it will seal it right up. And it did !! Just to pass it on in case anyone has the same problem again. Take care & ride safe, Lou Anne