rear brake line setup on 00 GT

**FordMan77** · 05-19-2016

Ok, I'll admit that I have no idea how the rear brake lines are setup on these cars. Never had a reason to look, until today. I had something let go in the rear and lost all my brakes and damn near took the new Malibu that pulled out in front of me with it. So, once I trailer it home tomorrow I'll know more.

Are all the lines individually run straight from the ABS unit to each caliper or is there a junction back there somewhere for the 2 rears?

**Sven the Sexman** · 05-19-2016

Individual lines.

**Scottydoggs** · 05-19-2016

each rear has its own line, if you look in the rear d/s wheel well you'll see one line to the d/s rear, then the other one goes and clips into the rear sub frame where theres a dumb coil of line on each side. in the frame is where mine blew out.

i cut the line in the open of the d/s wheel well, then ran a new line from it to the other side laying th enew line behind the gas tank.

drivers side, left side is the left rear brake hard line to rear hose.

compression fitting is the new line. cut in the open area to work on it.

new line bent around the back of the gas tank.

pass rear, i cut the old line a few inches from the block for the hose.

judging by how far back i had to go to find these pics, its a 3 year old repair now. compression fittings are holding just fine still.

**FordMan77** · 05-19-2016

Thanks for the info/pics Scotty and Sven. I was going to ask about compression fittings since I know most people poopoo that idea on brake lines. Depending on what broke was considering trying to run a new line. I'm kinda hoping that its just a rubber hose to one side or the other, lol.. But after 16 years and 369K miles I'm not betting on it.

I'll be trailering it home tomorrow night so I should be able to slide under it and look and see whats what.

**Scottydoggs** · 05-19-2016

good chance your master will drain over night and leave a nice puddle under the car where the line is blown out. its pretty common for the line to blow where its in the sub frame, theres no patching that line, why i did what i did.

ive used them fittings for years on end, never had one fail me to date. i dont see the big deal really. hell i got 5 of em on my fuel rail.

i have found it best to sand the line clean then cut it, or the Ferrell part wont slide on the line.

if your master is dry when you pick the car up, you'll need to bleed the master then bleed the brakes.

**FordMan77** · 05-19-2016

You beat me to my next question, lol... The master was pretty much dry by the time I was able to park it and I had a trail of fluid from the back for about 15' already. I'll yank the master and bench bleed it like a new one, then bleed the brakes at all 4 corners. Good time to flush the system and get new fluid back in it I guess.

My question is do I need to have the ABS bled or will it be ok?

**FordMan77** · 05-21-2016

Well, go it home and took a peek. The section of line that I can see in the center of the rear subframe is completely rusted and wet, so it looks like I'll be cutting the line where is comes in at the drivers side and running it like you said back over to the pass. side rear wheel. What fun. I gave thought to dropping the rear subframe until I saw how much stuff I'd have to take off to get to it. F that noise, lol..

What size line do I need for this and any recommended brand of compression fittings?

**Scottydoggs** · 05-21-2016

iirc its 5/16 get a 4 or 5 foot length of nicopp line, it bends by hand like butter. whole job took me like 30 minutes, its not that bad.

most auto parts stores have the compression fittings, or a hardware store should also have em. they are all the same pretty much. brand should not matter.