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AlanMcR
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, CA, Los Altos
Vehicle(s): G300DT E300DT 230SL
Posts: 3500
| Maintenance Tip - change those flex brake lines
While chasing a squealing/grabbing brake I stumbled upon a potential problem. The flex lines to both front calipers were cracked all the way through to the internal braid. The braid was fraying too. Yikes! This after 140K miles and 11 years. The only excessive risk factor for my truck is that I drive lots of washboard.
The replacement lines from the factory seem to be better quality. They have a thick rubber boot over both ends. That ought to cut down on local flexing.
 (CrackedBrakeLine.jpg)
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 CrackedBrakeLine.jpg (53KB - 1 downloads)
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ufotwuk
Date registered: Dec 1899
Location:
Vehicle(s):
| Re: Maintenance Tip - change those flex brake lines
Thanks for the tip, Alan!
Could have gotten ugly...
phil |
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roughneck
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: UK, Germany & USA
Vehicle(s): 270 cdi.300 GD 300 GE.lwb 300 GE.swb. Disco 2
Posts: 4398
| RE: Maintenance Tip - change those flex brake lines
That was the only fault on the little 280 I recently resurected. But how can MB justify the price, 4 flexys for a 280 GE £100-00. 2 For a LR £10-00 ea 
Edited by roughneck 4/8/2007 6:45 AM
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hipine
Date registered: Jul 2006
Location: US, CO, Bailey
Vehicle(s): 460 1980 280GE w. 617A
| RE: Maintenance Tip - change those flex brake lines
Switched mine to a set of Goodridge stainless & teflon ones some years back. They still look like new. I think I gave like $90 US for the set of 5. -Dave G. |
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dai
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Oregon USA
Vehicle(s): 300GD 300TD BMW R100RS Landini 80F
Posts: 2110
| Re: Maintenance Tip - change those flex brake lines
Dave, I installed those on PK's TD a while back, they are great. Do you have any idea where you got them for the G?
-Dai |
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hipine
Date registered: Jul 2006
Location: US, CO, Bailey
Vehicle(s): 460 1980 280GE w. 617A
| Re: Maintenance Tip - change those flex brake lines
Somebody in the UK GWOA sent me a set. I don't remember who, it was a while ago. -Dave G. |
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Maxwell Smart
Date registered: Dec 1899
Location:
Vehicle(s):
| Re: Maintenance Tip - change those flex brake lines
I had that happen on my old 300GD at exactly the same mileage. Had custom ones built as they were about a quarter of the cost of the MB ones.
hipine - 4/9/2007 3:52 PM
Somebody in the UK GWOA sent me a set. I don't remember who, it was a while ago. -Dave G.
I think David Watkins was selling braided stainless steel ones at one point - may still be. |
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DesertStar
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: San Diego, CA USA
Vehicle(s): 85-280GE/95-G320/08-G500
Posts: 2156
| RE: Maintenance Tip - change those flex brake lines
I see them on Ebay.uk for 38.95 pounds for the W463.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290056166992&f...
Mike |
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hipine
Date registered: Jul 2006
Location: US, CO, Bailey
Vehicle(s): 460 1980 280GE w. 617A
| RE: Maintenance Tip - change those flex brake lines
463s will be a three-line set, which I think fits late 460s too. I have the earlier style 460 brakes with 2 flex lines per caliper in the front, so a five-line set of flex hoses. They came in a "Goodridge" blister pack, so at one time at least, they sold them for the early 460s too. But it's true....Any number of places can make them for you on a custom basis, and to whatever length you like (if you're running longer shocks). I think I've even sent people some of my old scrounged-up lines to use as patterns. -Dave G. |
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