Update: I chose to replace a customer's entire brake line instead of patching it

The line had a small leak near the rear axle on a 2012 F-150, and the owner wanted a cheaper fix. I insisted on the full replacement (costing about $220 in parts and labor, which he wasn't happy about) because I've seen too many patches fail under pressure. Has anyone else had a customer push back hard on a repair you knew was the only safe option?

3 comments

3 Comments

tessa9222mo ago

Ever seen a patch hold on a truck line?

dixon.nathan2mo ago

Yeah, saw one last summer on an old logging rig... it was just a piece of inner tube and a big hose clamp over a split in the fuel line. Held for a week until the new part came in. Kind of amazing what a quick fix can do.

kai_stone992d ago

@dixon.nathan is right about those inner tube patches being surprisingly tough. In my experience, a lot of guys who run old trucks keep a roll of that thick rubber patch material and some stainless zip ties in the glove box. Takes a dry split or a pinhole leak and stretches it into something thatll get you down the highway for a while. If you really want it to stick, rough up the area around the damage with some sandpaper first so the patch bites in better. Just dont expect it to hold forever under heavy brake line pressure though, that stuff needs a proper crimp or flare eventually.