plugged brake line

[turner-2000tj]

I recently bought an MJ that has sat for who knows how long.  I believe the RF brake line is plugged up.  Ive tried blowing air through it with no success.  Anyone have any ideas?

[HOrnbrod]

The hard line? Did you disco it on both ends then try to blow compressed air through it? Then yeah, it's clogged. Usually they clog at the bleed screw from sitting.

[jimoshel]

Speedometer cables work great for feeding into tubes, pipes to clear them out. Put one end into a variable speed drill. Start the other end into the pipe. Work slow so the cable doessn't start whipping.

[turner-2000tj]

yes, the hard line and yes, disconnected both ends and tried blowing air through.  I like the speedo cable idea, Ill try that tomorrow.

[HOrnbrod]

Speedo cable works well for clearing larger dia. tubing, but I think you're SOL for this application. Speedo cable dia. ~.130" dia. speedo cable. MJ 3/16" brake line ID ~.118".

 

Might be better off trying to push a small stiff solid wire through it.

[turner-2000tj]

^^^ Gotcha, didnt think about that...  Of course it had to be the passenger side!  Lots of turns and angles in the line...

[Eagle]

Consider that the line was probably closed while it was sitting. In that case, what could be clogging it? RUST. Just buy a 25-foot coil of 3/16" brake line, some flare fittings, and a double flare tool at Auto Zone and make up all new lines. Heck, I bought a used 2001 XJ with only 83,000 miles on the clock and the entire hard line across the engine compartment to the right front wheel was completely rusted out.

[Incommando]

I personally would not clean that line and trust it, either. To each their own. I bent all new lines for mine and it really wasn't to bad in effort and cost Just duplicate the original