Brake line blew on I-35 near Waco, lucky I had vice grips

Was coming back from picking up a used transmission in Round Rock. 65 mph, semis everywhere. Pedal goes straight to the floor. Pulled onto the shoulder, fluid dripping from the rear passenger side. Old rubber line finally gave out. Had a pair of vice grips and some hose clamps in my toolbox. Clamped the line off, drove 40 miles on front brakes only at 45 mph. Got off at every exit to check the clamp. Made it home. That could have been way worse. Anyone else carry emergency brake line plugs or just me?

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1 Comment

hayden_rodriguez6d ago

Vice grips on a rubber brake line is a gamble I would NOT take, man. That fluid is under serious pressure and if that clamp slips even a little you got nothing left, especially with semis around. The front brakes alone can stop you okay in the dry, but what if it rains or a tire blows out at 45? I carry extra line and a flare kit instead, plus a couple of pre-made short lines with fittings already on them. Takes ten minutes to swap a section on the shoulder versus trusting a pair of pliers to hold your life together. Also those vice grips can crush the line so bad that even after you get home, that section is done, so you're replacing more than just the original break. Glad you made it, but I would fix that properly before you drive it again.