Brake line trail fix

[Kreepy Krawler]

While wheeling John Bull in Big Bear yesterday, I managed to crush my soft brake line mount that mounts to the side of the frame rail.
So I am sharing a trail fix for the brakes some locals showed me.

First, I removed the broken soft line from the hard line. Then, I moved the hardline into the engine bay for easier access. I cut off the flared end with a pair of tin snips. Then, using a vise grip, I flattened (crushed) about 2" of hard line. I then folded the flattened brake line over on top of itself and kinked it. I then clamped the vise grips down on the kink and secured the vise grips in place with zip ties.

This got me out of John Bull, and allowed me to limp back to camp some 30 min away. I had brake pressure, and I was still able to lock the wheels up at will, but it did pull to one side significantly. Nothing a little help from the E brake couldn't fix!

[Desert Dog]

Nice fix . Its pretty amazing what Jeepers do to get off the trail!

I usually just fold and crimp the soft line with vice grips, then zip tie or duct tape the vice grips to the frame. It might leak a tiny bit, but always gets you off the trail (and you don't have to destroy the hard-line). But I have been on the trail where nobody had vice grips before, and we just folded the hardline over at the frame rail and hammered against the line with a rock to flatten it; that sucker didn't leak a drop!!!!!!

I have also seen an Infectious member put small BBs or Ball-bearings in the brake line fitting to the master cylinder, but that was pretty time consuming, wasted a lot of fluid, and required a full bleed.

I saw a guy with a Buggy in JV plug a line at a junction by putting a small finish nail in the line and putting the fitting back together. It didn't leak at all.

Anymore, I just carry spare brake lines

[Kreepy Krawler]

I am sill pretty new to the tail fixes but Jeepers never cease to amaze me with their ingenuity!
Unfortunately I tore the soft line right at the upper fitting (where it mounts to the hard line) so kinking it was out of the question. But that finishing nail idea is great, a new tool for the glove box!

Desert Dog, did you relocate your brake line brackets on the side of your frame rail? Upon further review it looks like my tire might have hit the bracket at full lock. I am thinking I will tuck the bracket closer to the shock tower, or on the inside of the frame rail. Any thoughts?