Corolla rear brake line

[Putapon]

Hi all ,have a problem with the Mrs brakes on a 55plate 1.6 hatchback , complained they were a little spongy and upon inspection found the brake fluid level really low ,after investigating further I found it had been leaking fluid from a small rust hole near where it fits onto the flexy pipe at the rear axle .My Question is whether or not the brake line has a joint halfway along or does it have to be changed in one long line from the rear all the way to the front abs unit? If it's the later going to be one long job. If anyone knows would be really grateful.

[oldcodger]

Hi,

Had exactly the same problem with mine, its a bit of a wet and dirt trap plus the coating might have been damaged when the flexibles were replaced a few years ago.

Its all one continuous run right up to the little block that sits right under the chassis below the rear of the engine.

Many folk say that  where the black sleeving is fitted over the pipe on the main run under the chassis can cause lots of hidden corrosion, so replace the whole run, but we cut aways some of the sleeving and the pipe was perfect, though you need to check yours !

Certainly worth getting a garage to do the job for you as they have all the kit and fittings to hand.

However we ended up doing it ourselves and position the graft /coupler is  about  600mm down away from the flexible connector as just too many bends before that to be happy it was a good  straight connection that we could use extra supports on as well

If you do want to tackle it yourself you should find it useds DIN flares, we got one of these tools, plus Kunifer pipe and other tools as in the pics, but the big red benders of little use,  the blue pliers and careful hand pressure.

Pic shows the original DIN flares.

 

 

[Stivino]

There is no joint halfway along the pipe. Here are some pictures showing how I did it on an Avensis.

     

 

[Putapon]

Thanks old codger and Stivino for your helpful replies .will jack it up tomorrow and have a look at what's underneath and check out the rest of the pipe to make Sure it's ok. If it is will just renew the rear part as suggested with a new joint . I'm used to making up and fitting new brake lines as I've restored a few cars and Lorries over the years ,but I have a Sykes Pickavant flare tool but it has to go into a vice to be used.Know someone  who has a hand flare so will try and borrow that and get some pipe and fittings to get the job done and get on with more important stuff.

[Putapon]

While I'm at it I might as well check the N/S pipe as well,just in case.

[Stivino]

I have the big Sykes Pickavant flaring tool and, I also have a small handheld flaring tool.

I used to small one for that job but if I didn't have that, I would have used the big tool.

It's a bit fiddly but it is possible to hold the big tool using the a big Stilson or a big shifter to hold the tool by the big square on the bottom, the part that is supposed to go in the vice.  Needs must.

 

[Putapon]

Just about to go and have a shufty at what's required . All the dies for my flare tool are for SAE so will look to see if I can get some and how much room I've got and where I've got to join it.

[Stivino]

If you are going to make a joint in the pipe, off the top of my head, I think the union you want is BPU25 (Brake Pipe Union 25).

If you use that, you only need to flare the pipe once (single flare)

Also, you must use an end with a shoulder (like the ones in my picture)