Ryan04Silverado

I have a pin size hole in the lower AC hard line(the one that runs just above the sway bar) and it wont let the AC lines stay full of freon, I was wondering what avenues I have to fix this with out spending the 60 bucks for the part in addition to the almost 2 hours of labor it will take to replace it.

The fix I was thinking of is to cut the line where it goes over the sway bar(About 2-3 inches) and replace that portion with a rubber hose/line and just use hose clamps to seal it up. Will that work? I know that the AC is under high pressure so I was wondering what the possibilities are of this working. If anyone else has any other ideas, please share them. I replaced the stock sway bar with the 1LE unit and it rubbed the hard aluminum line to the point where there is now the small hole. Thats all the background I have on it.

Anyway, thanks in advance, and it is getting hot down here and I need some AC.

Kevyn

iTrader: (2)

Don't try the rubber hose. The pressure is way too high for that.
I haven't used the stuff in a while but there is a heat activated epoxy stick that I used to use on aluminum. It's made by Laco.

The other option would be that new aluminum brazing rod that's out now, the name eludes me right now. It would be 50 bucks for that stuff anyway.

I would just buy a new line and be done with it.

rbob93

I'm not sure about the new freon our cars use, but the old R12 is flammable!

Bob

Kevyn

iTrader: (2)

It's not flammable but you don't want to breath the heated vapor.

Ryan04Silverado

Damn, no easy, cheap way out huh? OK, thanks for the info as well.

Kevyn

iTrader: (2)

Here's the laco heat activated epoxy. It's an easy & cheap.
Preparation is the key. It has to be clean. It is also helpful to put the system in a slight vacuum.

When I used it, most of the time this stuff worked. A few times it didn't. Look for this stuff at refrigeration supply places.

http://laco.com/cat/Epoxys.html

Tom@SpeedInc

iTrader: (5)

HFC 134a is not flammable one of the main reasons its used as a mobile refigerant, if exposed to an open flame HFC 134a will turn to Phozgene Gas which is deadly if inhaled, This is why halide leak detectors never really took off for R12.

Assuming its a rubber hose its probley a low pressure line and to be honest thir is no way to rig it up to make the AC functional for any length of time. Stop leak will probley work but I wouldnt' advise it, many side affects that will cost you big $$$ later this summer or next year if you use it.

I would just do what your technician recommended.

PS CFC 12 (R12) is Freon
HFC 134a (R134a) is Suva

technical

Actually, it's the R12 that turns into Phosgene ( mustard ) gas when burned.

Ryan04Silverado

Yeah, I just ordered the part and will go from there. Always got to look for the cheap way out if there is one. But since there is not this time, Ill do it the right way.

Again, thanks for all the inputs, I appreciate it.