jgaylord

My rear brakes are frozen since I bought it from PO. I've done the fronts already and wanted to take the backs off (calipers) and take my time sandblasting, powder coating, etc. This may be dumb but since they provide no stopping power, and don't even appear to move, can I just plug the brake line and take my time refinishing? I know some could do this easily in a day but I have a newborn so all time estimates are out the window. I hate to leave her idle for a week while I tinker. Any thoughts? Would I just plug the line with a tapered plug and clamp it down?

sweanders

What would your insurance company and the police say in case of an accident?

Red1

I wouldn't do that. Just because they weren't working correctly doesn't mean you should drive the car like that.

Think of it this way - if you get in a wreck with somebody, and they discover you removed the rear brakes (regardless of reason), you'll get sued for all you've got. Not worth it.



(edit) Damn, Anders is faster, but at least we had the same thought.

Dave951M

It can be done, but if you get into an accident...........

tifosiman

With a sig like this:

"Jeff G., Troy, NY
1986 Porsche 944NA, Red
Porsche 911 (coming soon)
2001 Audi A4 2.8 Quattro, Black
2002 Dodge Dakota Quad Cab 4WD, Silver "

Why not just drive one of the other cars while you fix the other car properly? Sorry if I am over-simplifying things again, I tend to do that.....................

BruceWard

How would you plug the brake line? There is a lot of pressure in there. Sounds like an accident waiting to happen to me.

pete944

Very bad idea

Rock

Not even the accident prone Rock would attempt something like that

GOBOGIE

That says it all...

Chris_924s

no.

Little Porsche Boy

Let me think here.

Uhhhhhh, No.

Dave951M

Could this be a Darwinian learning experience in the offing?? Stay tuned and keep those lawyers at the ready !!

Jay W

I dont suggest it either but it does remind me of a story. A guy at a shop I used to work at was testing for a bad caliper in a car with four wheel disk brakes and was using a brake hose clamp (kind of like a pair of vise-grips but without the notchy teeth) on one brake hose at a time. He found a bad caliper in the back and replaced the rear brakes and calipers. The car left and about 6 months later the car came in for a state inspection which I did. I looked at the brakes and one rear rotor was rusty and had not been used. I looked at the hose and saw the brake hose clamp still connected to it! I called over the mechanic who did the work and showed him what he had forgotten. Man was he embarrassed! Luckily the car was a slow 4 cylinder and no accidents happened or our shop would have been sued bigtime!

Russian Rocket

even if it was me i wouldn't do it.... it's pretty hard to "plug" brake lines due to the pressure in them and squishing the with something might damage them resulting in another costly part to be intalled. And either it's me not understanding... but why do you have to leave your car idling for the whole week?? IMO take your time to do the job and don't drive around with plugged brake lines cause Murphys law is a very nice law
Vlad.

jgaylord

Thank you all for the quick and overwhelmingly "NO!!" responses. I was worried about the pressure thing but not the insurance so much but you all have a point. Especially since I still need to get it to the appraiser to get a realistic coverage amount. Thanks again, consider it closed. Up on stands she goes.