This past weekend I spent over three hours sanding and polishing my brake lines. I've done this more than 4 times in the past year. I went out last night and noticed that they were once again covered in a thin layer of RUST! WTH am I doing wrong? I start off each time by sanding from 400, 220, 80 and then follow up with red Wenol finishing w/ the blue wenol. The rust generally comes back within a day or three at the most. I am almost spending more time cleaning the brake lines than any other part on the car.
What do you guys do to keep them looking good for more than a day or two? Does anyone know what material was used for the stock lines in 93? At this point I could have swapped out the factory lines for SS and have saved time but I seem to be the only one that has this problem w/ the factory lines.
Any ideas? TIA

 

lines usually come coated so once you sand them they rust very fast i would just prob use a good looking paint for them and prob por15 them first they will never rust then and you get whatever color you want

 

You have to paint them with a clear coat or something. It doesn't take bare steel anytime at all to rust.

 

I noticed that Eastwood has a brush on clear coat that I am thinking about trying. The last experience I had w/ clear coat was about 10yrs ago and it SUCKED. I just don't want to prep it, paint it and then have it flake off or yellow. I also don't want to have to polish the rust off every few days, that gets old REAL QUICK.
Thanks for the input.

 

Just 2 pennies for you. Get some Naval Jelly and rubber gloves to protect your hands. This stuff will get that light rust off real quick and you will not need to use sandpaper. Also, this stuff will penetrate and help resist rust from forming.

I had a problem with the handrails in my restaurant rusting. Used this stuff and like it said, I never did see rust appear back on the handrails again.

 

I actually used pink Naval jelly the first time. I generally use that before I paint something. That stuff is strong and very useful around the house and garage but the rust came right back within a week. It also took me forever w/ the Naval since I didn't want to get any on the paint. The lines run down to within like 3/4" of paint so I was being extra careful and SLOW.
I thought that I would try that "Goop" stuff but come to find out it's well over $100. At this point I'm either going to take the lines off paint them w/ caliper paint, bend up some new ones or polish them up have them clear powder coated. I just don't look forward to removing the lines and having to do all of the bleeding work involved. After I redo the polishing process for the 100th time I may be motivated enough to remove them.
Thank for the suggestions.