brake hose

[Kurt44]

99LT, I have a leaking rear brake hose from the top of the pump or master cylinder to who knows where. How do I access the other end of this hose? It looks like it runs under the battery but with my poor old eyes it's hard to tell. Also, any suggestions for a good replacement hose? I won't buy from my local dealer but that's a different story.



Kurt

[seahabit]

The rear brake hose runs to the ABS hydro unit, even with the battery, but on the far side of the battery. You'll have to remove the battery to gain decent access. Beware, the hydro unit is very expensive. A $40 Clymer will give you solid step by step procedure.

[gisman]

In the past three months I have had two brake leaks at the rear master cylinder. I purchased a rebuilt from Chicago and two months later it is leaking. i believe it has to do with the stress on the plastic fitting whose hose leads to the brake reservoir. Maybe during install because it is very tight in this area. Anyone got any tricks when putting it back together. I am thinking of complete take down of all lines, tupperware and installing the master on the kick plate, install kick plate and then connect lines to the ABS and the reservior. Any tips would be appreciated.

[Steve_R]

I've watched two BMW certified mechanics do the master cylinder replacement, and they have always had the hoses removed only at the master cylinder and the master cylinder attached to the kick plate. And as I won't use a rebuilt master cylinder, but that's just me. And my 2 cents worth.

[VRodPete]

I have an '01 pre-integrated ABS so I think my brake lines are similar to yours. I had the rear brake line fail on me on my trip up to Alaska this summer... conveniently about 1000 miles from the nearest BMW dealer. Fortunately you don't have to stop a lot on the Alaska highway, and I was able to fashion a temporary clamp around the cut that would work a day at a time until I could get into Anchorage.

The Anchorage dealer had ordered the line, but it took a bit of time with him on the phone to ensure that we had the right line, as there were three part numbers valid, and he had to determine which one was the right one based on the VIN.

My brake line ran directly from a junction under the rear reservoir down to the caliper. However it sounds like your leaking line may be the one from the junction back into the ABS unit? That one would take quite a bit more surgery to get to, as a previous poster indicated that you have to remove the battery and at least one piece of tupperware to get to it.

[billd]

99LT, I have a leaking rear brake hose from the top of the pump or master cylinder to who knows where. How do I access the other end of this hose? It looks like it runs under the battery but with my poor old eyes it's hard to tell. Also, any suggestions for a good replacement hose? I won't buy from my local dealer but that's a different story.



Kurt

Kurt, Actually many of the riders on this site will absolutely recommend Spiegler Stainless Steel line sets to replace the stock reinforced rubber lines! This applies to all LT's but even more to older ones, as more than 1 leaking or failed brake line has occurred. I have 2 sets waiting for my buddy's and my LT's to be installed as soon as we stop riding for a day! They are custom built for 98-01 and 02- . You can google them and find lines at more than 1 site, I know mine came direct from spieglerusa.com and they ship fast and the prices seem the same everywhere.

[katnapinn]

Kurt, Actually many of the riders on this site will absolutely recommend Spiegler Stainless Steel line sets to replace the stock reinforced rubber lines! This applies to all LT's but even more to older ones, as more than 1 leaking or failed brake line has occurred. I have 2 sets waiting for my buddy's and my LT's to be installed as soon as we stop riding for a day! They are custom built for 98-01 and 02- . You can google them and find lines at more than 1 site, I know mine came direct from spieglerusa.com and they ship fast and the prices seem the same everywhere.
Plus 1 !!!!!
I have Spiegler on my LT & have put them on 3 other friends LT's. If you have one line fail it's only time till another or even all other lines fail. To replace ALL lines from the dealer is over $400.00 in parts alone. Spiegler is under $250.00 & have a lifetime warrenty. Also it will greatly inprove overall breaking as the lines WILL NOT expand like the rubber one do under pressure.

[Wolfgang]

Plus 1 !!!!!
I have Spiegler on my LT & have put them on 3 other friends LT's. If you have one line fail it's only time till another or even all other lines fail. To replace ALL lines from the dealer is over $400.00 in parts alone. Spiegler is under $250.00 & have a lifetime warrenty. Also it will greatly inprove overall breaking as the lines WILL NOT expand like the rubber one do under pressure.

+1 Steve replaced mine. What a difference...

[wyliedave]

Kurt,

I swapped my brake lines out a couple of weeks ago because of a leak. On these older LTs it's not if the brakes will fail but when so I suggest everyone be proactive on this one. I had my lines made at a local joint called Able Truck Parts in Plano Texas. Took my old ones in and he looked at them, asked me what they came off of and then said $175.00 out the door for all new stainless lines and ends. They even gave me all new banjo washers and everything fit perfectly. He was pretty busy so it took him 4 hours to get them put together. :)

I took that rear line off with out removing the battery box. I had a short open end wrench that I slid in at an angle to hold the back side of the fitting. It was tight but it worked and I didn't strip anything.

Dave