Hi. I have a 99 Honda Civic. I was at the mechanic today and they told me the brake lines which are underneath the car and go to the back wheels were leaking brake fluid and they need to be replaced. Do I need to replace the cylinders in the back wheels and the calipers in the front wheels if I am replacing just the brake lines underneath the car?

 

No.

Did you verify the mechanic's diagnosis?

 

Yes the mechanic showed me the brake fluid leak in the middle section of the brake lines that go to the back wheels.
Is it necessary to replace the fuel lines at the same time your replace the brake lines that go to the back wheels underneath the car in the middle section?

 

Only if you suspect that they may soon fail. For example, are the roads salted in the winter where you live?

 

Yes the roads are salted in the winter.
The mechanic told me it will cost $450-$1000 to replace the brake lines. Is this a normal price range to replace the brake lines?

 

Get cost quotes from other local local shops for comparison. Alternatively, replace the lines yourself to save on labor costs.

 

this seems really high. like advised, get quotes elsewhere -KG

 

Is it okay to replace the brake fluid with generic brand brake fluid or is it necessary to put Honda brake fluid? The mechanic told me the brake fluid needs to be replaced when they replace the brake lines.

 

Yes - DOT 3.

Correct

 

To replace the brake fluid they need to bleed the air out of the brake lines which the mechanic told me requires to unscrew the bleed screws on the cylinders in the back and the calipers in the front. If they cannot unscrew the bleed screw, would they have to replace the cylinders in the back wheels and the calipers in the front wheels?

 

I would think that a "stuck" bleeder bolt can generally be removed with a bolt remover socket and then replaced. If not, the mechanic may instead choose to replace the cylinder or caliper. Discuss these options before proceeding.

 

I think I'd find a different mechanic. Replacing wheel cylinders and calipers based on bleed screws is a last resort. A competent mechanic should be able to get them out and just replace the bleed screws.

it isn't uncommon for them to rust in place and the hex strip when removing but even if they need to use vice grips they can replace the bleeders for a few bucks vs hundreds for calipers and wheel cylinders.

 

The fuel lines along the brake lines which go to the back wheels are not currently leaking and they look in good condition. Is it a good idea to have the new brake lines going to the back wheels installed along the outside of the plastic cover without removing the plastic cover in order not to disturb the fuel lines?

 

That plastic cover is there to protect your brake lines so no that would not be smart.

 

The mechanic told me that once he removes the plastic cover from the old brake lines, he will not put it back on because it just keeps salt and moisture on the brake lines which causes them to rust. Is it necessary to place the plastic cover back on after installing the new brake lines?

 

U don't "have" to its just added security if something smacks up under ur car. It could puncture a fuel line. The mechanic will do whatever u tell him to. Its ur car not his.

 

Once the plastic cover is removed from the fuel lines and brake lines, can you put the same cover back on or do you need to buy a new plastic cover to put over the fuel lines and brake lines?

 

Its a snap on cover. Doesn't need to be replaced or anything.

 

 

Nice diagrams. The plastic cover is to the left of label B

 

For the rear wheel cylinders it's cheaper to simply replace them than it is to deal with the rusted bleeders if they don't come out easily. Aftermarket wheel cylinders are dirt cheap, like $10 - $15 each. It just isn't worth paying $50+/h to have someone remove a rusted bleeder. Calipers are little different story, the bleeders don't seize in them nearly as often and they're worth significantly more.

No it's not necessary to reinstall the cover, it can hold the salt and cause the lines to rust out quicker.