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Frame and brake lines are rusted out - big repair ahead - HELP!


BrianD
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I saw some fluid on my driveway recently - different vehicles are in & outta here a lot so I kept looking for the source until I found it under my 98 Pathy.

I thot the leak was on the passenger side front wheel area under a steel shield - I removed it and it wasn't there - then removed a plastic shield above that and finally found it.

I also found a HUGE rust prolm too.

So I got my MIG with argon ready to go - I gotta get some 4" flat bar - wud someone pls let me know the type of metal and thickness I shud use.

I gotta remove the 3 hard gas lines and 2 hard brake lines to fix it properly - anyone ever do this B4?

I know the lines are under a bunch of heat shields so it'll be a pain in the A**.

Any tips or suggestions will be really appreciated.

It runs GREAT! Had the timing belt and water pump dun 2 years ago. Everything werx perfectly except the A/C and rear wiper so I don't want it towed to the wreckers. I cudn't got thru last winter without it. It plowed thru 4 - 5' drifts no problem...which is comforting in the middle of no where at 3 am.

1st pic is passenger side

- 2nd pic - driver side ( it's also rusted thru the floor pan under foot) FIRE! while welding (I wud assume)

Any suggestions about making new brake lines wud also be gud ( they don't make 'em anymore) - I got the flaring tool kit here but haven't dun brake lines in years. I'm worried about starting it on fire while heating the brake lines to get'em loose too. Suggestions? HELP! Shud I heat the under coating and scrape it off? It's on there good and it's HARD!

 

 

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Holy dang! You got some rust!

 

While I haven't done any sheet metal work before. I have had to replace hard lines before and everything you'll need can be bought at a local hardware store. Just find the same diameter tubing and a decent bender (maybe some heat on the bigger ones like fuel, so they don't kink) and just start with where the rust isn't and go from there, using the factory line.

 

Or you can go to a junkyard and get a whole line, probably be able to score some sheet metal too, so you don't spend a ton of time making the new pieces, you can just cut what you need.

 

Did you ever have your car inspected for the strut housing recall? If not, take it to your dealer. They will either replace what's broken, or buy it off your hands.

 

-Kyle

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YA THEY FIXED THE RECALL STUFF A FEW YEARS AGO - THANX FOR THE ADVICE ON THE BENDING - HEAT! A GOOD IDEA.!

GOT THE TUBING BENDERS HERE - GOING FOR SUPPLIES TOMORROW - HOPEFULLY GONNA BE WELDING SATURDAY.

GONNA GET 3/16" - 1/4" THICK FLAT BAR 4" WIDE - CHOP IT INTO USEABLE PCS AND GET PATCHING.

ANYBODY REPLACE THAT A ARM BUSHING? IT LUX ROUGH.

CHEERS!

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  • 4 weeks later...

OKAY SOUNDS GOOD, BUT WHY ARE WE YELLING??? LOL jk

 

Keep us posted on how it goes.

 

-Kyle

 

CUDN't be bothered changing it back to small case - I have some stuff I'm gonna post - no time right now - Check out my rocker panel post from yesterday. Cheers Kyle.

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