Brake pipes/hoses - big job to replace?

[PeteE30Tourer]

Car failed MoT on the following due to corrosion.

OSR brake pipe
NSF brake pipe

OSR brake hose
NSR brake hose

Are these easy to replace as a DIY job?

Any tricks or tools that i need?

[Gwynleym10]

to do the rear metal brake lines you need to take out the fuel tank...and the rear suspension.

If your fine doing that then its pretty easy!

Need a pipe flaring tool and the relevent fixings.

Fronts are as easy as pie as are all the flexible

[Simon]

As Gwynley said, the rear lines are a pain to get to as they pass over the rear suspension, the rear flexi's, are they the caliper flexi's or the ones that pass over the rear subframe? If the ones that go to the caliper, then they shouldn't give too much hassle. Get a proper brake pipe spanner, with the small cutout.

[Guest]

funny enough ive just put mine throo its test today, failed on

front to rear brake pipe corroded
offside rear brake pipe corroded
and handbrake cable
few other little bits n bobs,
ive thought sod it and im getting the garage to fix it

[A1BMW325iSport]

if you can get the car up in the air on a four post then the brake lines are fairly easy to do

[fuzzy]

you can buy a kit from demon tweeks on 01978 664466 of all the copper pipes needed for a specific car already cut to the right lengths with the right connections already fitted so its just a matter of fitting them together , im sure its about Ԛ£90, which is handy if you dont have the pipe flaring tools, good luck.

[PeteE30Tourer]

Many thanks for all the responses. You've answered my question, which was to help me decide if it's a job i should tackle or not. In my younger years with fewer other activities taking up my time, i would have had a go, but it all sounds like too much hassle for me now.

I'll fork out for the garage to do it. They quoted me 4 hours labour to do all four pipes/hoses. Sound reasonable?

[fuzzy]

hi mate, id say four hours sounds reasonable considering theyre almost definately all rusted up at the joints and might be a nightmare to dismantle

[Brianmoooore]

Many thanks for all the responses. You've answered my question, which was to help me decide if it's a job i should tackle or not. In my younger years with fewer other activities taking up my time, i would have had a go, but it all sounds like too much hassle for me now.

I'll fork out for the garage to do it. They quoted me 4 hours labour to do all four pipes/hoses. Sound reasonable?

I'd say that garage doesn't quite know what they've let themselves in for. Rear suspension diesn't have to be touched, but it's close to impossible without removing the fuel tank.

[Brianmoooore]

you can buy a kit from demon tweeks on 01978 664466 of all the copper pipes needed for a specific car already cut to the right lengths with the right connections already fitted so its just a matter of fitting them together , im sure its about Ԛ£90, which is handy if you dont have the pipe flaring tools, good luck.

Ԛ£7 coil of cunnifer pipe is enough for 1 1/2 cars, and fittings are about 10p each. Ԛ£90!!!! nice workif you can get it.

[Gwynleym10]

I'd say that garage doesn't quite know what they've let themselves in for. Rear suspension diesn't have to be touched, but it's close to impossible without removing the fuel tank.

i'm being thick, but can you remove the tank without removing the suspension?

[A1BMW325iSport]

it can be done with tank and rear suspension all in situ, but its just a lot more difficult there isn`t much room with the tank in the way, but it can be done

[Brianmoooore]

I'd say that garage doesn't quite know what they've let themselves in for. Rear suspension diesn't have to be touched, but it's close to impossible without removing the fuel tank.

i'm being thick, but can you remove the tank without removing the suspension?

Without removing suspension, yes.
Without removing or dropping rear of exhaust and propshaft, no.

[PeteE30Tourer]

Cheers - now i'm even more confident that i'm doing the right thing by letting the garage do it.

Funnily enough though, they mentioned having to drop the rear axle to get these pipes in, not the suspension/fuel tank.

[Brianmoooore]

It can be done by dropping the rear beam as well, but this usually involves sledgehammers, extremely large crowbars and a gas torch, and usually results in the destruction of the carrier bushes, so it's not really a positive option.