Torn between replacing a rusty brake line or patching it on a 2004 Silverado in Phoenix

Out on a job last Tuesday, my buddy's truck lost pressure when we hit a pothole near 7th Ave. The line had rusted through right at the rear axle, so we were stuck in the sun with a puddle of DOT 3 under us. He wanted to patch it with a compression fitting and get moving, but I've seen those fail on crusty metal before. I argued for replacing the whole line, which meant an extra hour and a trip to the parts store, but he kept saying it was fine for now. What do you all do when a customer or coworker pushes for the quick fix over the proper job? Has anyone had a compression fitting hold up long term on a frame rail?

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abbyd3611h ago

He's lucky it didn't blow out completely and leave you both walking back to the shop... sure, a compression fitting might hold for a week, but on a frame rail in Phoenix heat with all that dust and salt from winter roads? That's like putting a band-aid on a popped tire and calling it a day. I've seen those fittings split open at the worst possible time, usually right when you're hauling a trailer up a hill. Just tell him the extra hour is cheaper than the tow truck and the drama of bleeding the whole system again in the sun... trust me, I've been that guy.