Brake Line Blowout!!!!!!!

[64V19816]

Hit the brakes really hard yesterday to avoid hitting two squirrels who decided to play Chicken with me. I stopped, they were just fine. Today, stopping to make the turn into my street, the line blew and I lost all brakes. Yes those Stude Discs are great but it’s a one line system. Thankfully, it was a block from home, The morning Project was then replacing both lines to the rear drums. They rust where they touch the axels. $20 repair but a Lifesaver. Moral of the Story, This is. a 1966 Studebaker, As New as they get. If you have original rear lines, they need replacing.

[rockne10]

Can't be emphasized enough!
Even if they were already replaced thirty years ago, doing it again is the cheapest insurance money can buy. And the hoses even more so.

[NCDave51]

Fully agree - tires and brakes are the first things I inspect and replace on any project/idled car.

Thanks for sharing.

[StudeNewby]

...and if not done so already, replace the single-circuit master cylinder with a dual. Safety first, safety always!

Glad everything turned out ok

[rkapteyn]

It is always a good idea to push the brake pedal as hard as you can before you start out.
It is better for a brake line to burst when you are in the driveway than in a panic stop on the highway.

[Metman]

Good advice in this thread. Can't be too careful with brake lines/ hoses, especially with a single line system!

I changed all the brake lines to stainless on our GT Hawk a couple years back. Also did the fuel line at the time. All have been fine since, and hoping they (should!) hold up.

[Robert Crandall]

I have had more scares than I want. All of my single master cylinder cars are now changed to dual. This change makes no difference in the driving or braking character of the car. As an extension to the suggestion in post #5, when I find myself on a road with no traffic behind me, I make a high speed panic stop, just short of locking any wheels, just to check for weak links.