Subaru recalls 200,000 05-09 Outback sedans and wagons for brake line corrosion

[brus brother]

http://www.nbcnews.com/business/subaru-recalls-200-000-cars-braking-issue-1C9176258

200,000 cars in the rust belt being recalled for brake line inspection/repair/rust protection. Affects 200,000 05-09 Legacy Outback sedans and wagons.

 

[mikec03]

Thisis exactly what hppened to my 99 nissan villager.  Without warning, the brakes were severely dimished.  But I own a 95, 97 and 02 subaru, and so what about their brake lines?  They don't look too good.  Shouldn't the brake lines be ss?

[CNY_Dave]

You'd think the brake lines would be stainless. And the coolant pipoes. And the power steering pipes. And the trans cooler pipes.

 

All of 'em are ticking time-bombs on a NY car.

[WoodsWagon]

Stainless is a pain to work with and it's harder to get leak free connections at the flare fittings. Copper-nickle brake tubing doesn't corrode like steel and it's easy to use, it just costs more for the tubing. Volvo's been using it for decades, as have some other euro manufacturers.

Steel brake lines will all eventually rust out in salt country. All it takes is one rock chip in the tubes paint coat and it starts rusting through. But they're cheap and they last for the warranty period so manufacturers keep using it.

[fishy]

I gotta try to get my 05 Outback in for this one I guess...

In the last three years I've blown out the rear brakeline on two different (and perfectly legally safety inspected) cars due to rust. Talk about good pucker moments!