Never put power steering or any other foreign fluid in your brake system. Valuable expensive lesson learned.

[kmboren]

So I ran the Rubicon trail or a part of it in July. On the way in I tore a rear break line. Ok. Pinch it off and fill the reservoir up. Look and don't have have brake fluid so I top it off with power steering fluid. BAD IDEA. DON'T EVER DO THIS. I recently am getting my jeep ready for Hanging tree trail and I repair the brake line and go to bleed the brakes and I cannot for the life of me get any fluid to the rear brakes. I drop it off at a shop to see if they can have better luck and I start doing research on what power steering fluid does to brake systems. Supposedly it swells all rubber portions of the brake system and will start to disintegrate all the rubber in the system. The solution is to basically replace the entire brake system. From master cylinder to the lines and the calipers.

So do not use anything in your brake system other than brake fluid.

 

[moab_cj5]

So I ran the Rubicon trail or a part of it in July. On the way in I tore a rear break line. Ok. Pinch it off and fill the reservoir up. Look and don't have have brake fluid so I top it off with power steering fluid. BAD IDEA. DON'T EVER DO THIS. I recently am getting my jeep ready for Hanging tree trail and I repair the brake line and go to bleed the brakes and I cannot for the life of me get any fluid to the rear brakes. I drop it off at a shop to see if they can have better luck and I start doing research on what power steering fluid does to brake systems. Supposedly it swells all rubber portions of the brake system and will start to disintegrate all the rubber in the system. The solution is to basically replace the entire brake system. From master cylinder to the lines and the calipers.

So do not use anything in your brake system other than brake fluid.

Bummer!

 

[Spork]

Back in high school auto class they said if you're in a bind use water, any oil will basically destroy your brake system and you'll end up replacing everything.

 

[kmboren]

Back in high school auto class they said if you're in a bind use water, any oil will basically destroy your brake system and you'll end up replacing everything.

Wish I knew this. I would have used water instead.

 

[kmboren]

Does anyone know if I can rebuild my calipers or should I just get new ones?

 

[UNSTUCK]

Water will boil in your calipers, turning to steam = no brakes.

 

[Spork]

Water will boil in your calipers, turning to steam = no brakes.

Still better than oil in the system, water is only to get home and drain as soon as possible. You won't have to replace everything if used.

 

[Spork]

Does anyone know if I can rebuild my calipers or should I just get new ones?

I'd get new, from what I've seen the oil causes the rubber to swell.

 

[4x4_Welder]

New everything except hard lines, and those need to be flushed well. Master, hoses, calipers, ABS valve.

 

[kmboren]

New everything except hard lines, and those need to be flushed well. Master, hoses, calipers, ABS valve.

What about my stainless brake lines to the calipers? I don't think they have rubber in them? Of course with them cleaned really well.

 

[DAA]

The stainless lines have a Teflon lining. Don't know if the Teflon is affected by the oil though.

- DAA

 

[4x4_Welder]

If it's Teflon, a good alcohol flush should be ok, but keep an eye on them for a while. Any funny brake wear, any seeping through the stainless, and they should get replaced.

 

[Caleb]

Stainless lines can be teflon, kevlar, or rubber. Depends on the line. I'd lookup what you have on it (if you were the one that bought them and remember). Otherwise, you could try not replacing, do a good flush, if that seems fine, then you're probably ok.

 

[pkrfctr]

man that sucks!!!!

 

[Bart]

Whoa, sorry to hear it. Best luck on the repairs.

 

[smfulle]

Bummer!
This quote came to mind:
"All these things will give the experience and be for thy good."

 

[ID Bronco]

Back in 2004-5 I had a very similar issue on Hells Revenge, Yes, brakes are pretty important there, I was going to do the same thing and a guy in our group warned me about this very thing......thankfully! Low gearing was a blessing that day but my brake system was alright. Sorry it happened to you.

 

[kmboren]

Back in 2004-5 I had a very similar issue on Hells Revenge, Yes, brakes are pretty important there, I was going to do the same thing and a guy in our group warned me about this very thing......thankfully! Low gearing was a blessing that day but my brake system was alright. Sorry it happened to you.

Yea. I had no idea. Now I know and hopefully this thread saves one person from doing it themselves.

 

[YROC FAB.]

Water will boil in your calipers, turning to steam = no brakes.

Brake fluid is designed to absorb water so you lines dont rust on the inside. Its not good to buy brake fluid in large containers and or leave the lids off them unless your using it as it will absorb water from the air thats why you skin feels like its falling off when you get it on your hands.

 

[kmboren]

So finished up replacing everything yesterday. Used Durango master cylinder, Summit racing adjustable proportion valve, new front calipers with new pads. New rear calipers with my old pads which where new in the last year. Flushed all the brake lines with brake cleaner until clear and then blew them all out with my air hose then bled the system I need to go test it and adjust it the valve appropriately. In the process I completely removed the ABS system which wasn't being used anyways.