Rubber part replacement interval?
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,179
From: Northern California
Rubber part replacement interval?
Gang,
What are your intervals for rubber part replacements?
1) Brake lines
2) Fuel lines
3) Coolant & heater core hoses
4) A-arm, trailing arm and sway bar bushings
5) Motor mounts and transmission mount
6) Vacuum lines
7) Power steering hoses
8) Rubber-ish - accessory belts
9) Window roof rail rubber, fuzzies and molding sweeper seals
I’m seeking conventional wisdom here for regular, but not quite daily driven cars. Mileage would be one way, visual inspection another (but rubber can look good but fail without warning), time would be a third way to know when to replace.
For me, when I do a brake overhaul, I usually get the lines replaced - but I think it’s at least 10 years since I’ve replaced any brake lines.
For fuel, when I replace the fuel filter, I redo the lines, so every 2-3 years or so.
For coolant maybe 3-5 years, or when I flush & replace the fluids. A-arm and sway bar bushings I replace when I get the tell-tale groan, or when see cracks in the rubber.
Motor mounts, when one breaks, I do both.
Vacuum lines get replaced if I can detect a leak.
PS hoses get replaced if I can detect a leak, but usually they last 10 years or more. I put install dates on my hoses, just to track, but usually if they’re 6 years or older, I’ll get around to replacing them.
For window seals & trim rubber, I go every 3-5 years just to keep things really tight.
What do you all do?
Chris
What are your intervals for rubber part replacements?
1) Brake lines
2) Fuel lines
3) Coolant & heater core hoses
4) A-arm, trailing arm and sway bar bushings
5) Motor mounts and transmission mount
6) Vacuum lines
7) Power steering hoses
8) Rubber-ish - accessory belts
9) Window roof rail rubber, fuzzies and molding sweeper seals
I’m seeking conventional wisdom here for regular, but not quite daily driven cars. Mileage would be one way, visual inspection another (but rubber can look good but fail without warning), time would be a third way to know when to replace.
For me, when I do a brake overhaul, I usually get the lines replaced - but I think it’s at least 10 years since I’ve replaced any brake lines.
For fuel, when I replace the fuel filter, I redo the lines, so every 2-3 years or so.
For coolant maybe 3-5 years, or when I flush & replace the fluids. A-arm and sway bar bushings I replace when I get the tell-tale groan, or when see cracks in the rubber.
Motor mounts, when one breaks, I do both.
Vacuum lines get replaced if I can detect a leak.
PS hoses get replaced if I can detect a leak, but usually they last 10 years or more. I put install dates on my hoses, just to track, but usually if they’re 6 years or older, I’ll get around to replacing them.
For window seals & trim rubber, I go every 3-5 years just to keep things really tight.
What do you all do?
Chris
Moderator
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 18,133
From: Edmond, OK
I think the above parts probably last the longest(10+ years). I wouldn't replace the motor/transmission mounts unless they fail. If you buy high quality, domestic suspension components they'll probably last as long as any of us will.
Administrator
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 42,385
From: Poteau, Ok
Gang,
What are your intervals for rubber part replacements?
1) Brake lines
Upon failure or 20 years
2) Fuel lines
If they looked cracked or 20 years
3) Coolant & heater core hoses
When they leak or 20 years
4) A-arm, trailing arm and sway bar bushings
When they fail or look cracked
5) Motor mounts and transmission mount
When they break
6) Vacuum lines
When they crack or leak
7) Power steering hoses
When they leak
8) Rubber-ish - accessory belts
15 years or when they break
9) Window roof rail rubber, fuzzies and molding sweeper seals
When they start to degrade
Chris
What are your intervals for rubber part replacements?
1) Brake lines
Upon failure or 20 years
2) Fuel lines
If they looked cracked or 20 years
3) Coolant & heater core hoses
When they leak or 20 years
4) A-arm, trailing arm and sway bar bushings
When they fail or look cracked
5) Motor mounts and transmission mount
When they break
6) Vacuum lines
When they crack or leak
7) Power steering hoses
When they leak
8) Rubber-ish - accessory belts
15 years or when they break
9) Window roof rail rubber, fuzzies and molding sweeper seals
When they start to degrade
Chris
Old(s) Fart
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 50,539
From: Northern VA
I'll typically replace based on visual inspection or MIGHTASWELL if I have things apart (like new hoses if the water pump or radiator or fuel pump gets replaced). Coolant hoses usually start to bulge near a clamp when they get old, which is my indication that it's time. I'm usually one to replace proactively to avoid breakdowns.
CH3NO2 LEARN IT BURN IT
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 5,591
From: Land of Taxes
I agree with all of this.
Think safety to protect yourself and others and avoid roadside breakdowns by replacing common sense consumable maintenance items.
One thing I can add is keeping track of things serviced seems to be a challenge as I age. Things I thought I just did not so long ago were in fact done much longer than my recollection suggests.
I've learned to write dates on everything and I have a spreadsheet for the 442 & Vette tracking such things as the last brake bleed, coolant flush, trans service, brake/fuel lines et al.
Time is flying so fast now my mind says hell it's only been a few years since I did that, when in fact it was a decade++
I put new tires/rims on both vehicles in 2016...coming up on 8 frigging years already!!! SLOW DOWN!
Think safety to protect yourself and others and avoid roadside breakdowns by replacing common sense consumable maintenance items.
One thing I can add is keeping track of things serviced seems to be a challenge as I age. Things I thought I just did not so long ago were in fact done much longer than my recollection suggests.
I've learned to write dates on everything and I have a spreadsheet for the 442 & Vette tracking such things as the last brake bleed, coolant flush, trans service, brake/fuel lines et al.
Time is flying so fast now my mind says hell it's only been a few years since I did that, when in fact it was a decade++
I put new tires/rims on both vehicles in 2016...coming up on 8 frigging years already!!! SLOW DOWN!
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 12,655
From: Evansville, IN
I keep logs on my vehicles of maintenance. I'll do rubber stuff when I do other things. My 72 Chevy should get new brake hoses, it's been 20 years. I should also figure out why the pedal is so horribly stiff, and it's not something straightforward, I did all that already.
Registered User
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 6,061
From: central Indiana
If I have to remove a hose or belt to maintain something else, more times than not I’ll replace it. The only exception to my rule is is the part in question is already a low mileage part.
I’d rather replace a questionable part at my convenience in the comfort of my garage, as opposed to the side of a highway.
I’d rather replace a questionable part at my convenience in the comfort of my garage, as opposed to the side of a highway.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,179
From: Northern California
Gents,
Thanks for your intervals.
To those who’ve not posted, please jump in, I’m looking for a range of approaches/opinions.
I’m with the majority here. If I’m in a repair and see something adjacent that could put me on the side of the road, most of the time, if it’s been 5 years or so, or maybe 10, I’ll preemptively replace it. That’s part of why I crudely & obviously put install dates on my parts. I don’t want to think a part has been on 3 years when it’s really been 7 or 10. The older I get, the more important install-dated parts get.
The nice part for me is suspension bushings usually make a noise when they’re done. It’s nice they audibly tell you when they crack. The ones that worry me are heater core hoses, radiator hoses & brake hoses which will bring a car to the roadside without much warning.
Participants from here, if you have any replacement logic or warning signs to share, please share freely. You may foment debate, but at least we can share our views & experiences.
Cheers
Chris
Thanks for your intervals.
To those who’ve not posted, please jump in, I’m looking for a range of approaches/opinions.
I’m with the majority here. If I’m in a repair and see something adjacent that could put me on the side of the road, most of the time, if it’s been 5 years or so, or maybe 10, I’ll preemptively replace it. That’s part of why I crudely & obviously put install dates on my parts. I don’t want to think a part has been on 3 years when it’s really been 7 or 10. The older I get, the more important install-dated parts get.
The nice part for me is suspension bushings usually make a noise when they’re done. It’s nice they audibly tell you when they crack. The ones that worry me are heater core hoses, radiator hoses & brake hoses which will bring a car to the roadside without much warning.
Participants from here, if you have any replacement logic or warning signs to share, please share freely. You may foment debate, but at least we can share our views & experiences.
Cheers
Chris
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