2004 Suburban Plastic Fuel Line Replacement

[redneckgames]

Anybody replaced these lines recently?  We were very fortunate this past weekend.  We were on a 2 hour trip, but made it home.  Near the end I noticed we had used more fuel then normal.  Then as we turned around in the driveway we could smell fuel and see a leak on the driveway.  Turns out it is the return line spraying right at the metal to plastic quick connect.

 

I have the filler hoses off, I have the emission box on the front loosened up, and I have the front strap off.  Durn rear strap's nut is spinning.  Hopefully I can get something on the backside of it.  Ordered the Dorman replacement lines.  Hopefully they will last the next 5 years.

 

Going to attempt this evening to get the rear strap off and lower the tank enough to get to the lines.  Any tips or tricks?

 

 

[redneckgames]

Finished it up yesterday.  For anyone that has to do this in the future, here are a couple things I ran into. 

 

• Use a ratchet strap on both ends of the tank as a cradle.  They help you to prevent the tank from dropping too far all at once.  That really helped me since I was doing this on the ground by myself.
• Unhook the filler neck hoses from the tank side.  The hoses break loose from the plastic tank easier then the steel tubing. 
• Put some tape or something over the filler neck on the gas tank.  If you have 1/2 tank of gas like I did, you will lose some out of it. 
• Drop the rear of the tank first and disconnect the lines from the sending unit.  Disconnect the sending unit wiring too.  Then slide the tank back and drop the front.  Then unhook the front of the lines.  Install in reverse order
• Take all of the old plastic clips and 0-rings off of the steel lines
• If the rear tank strap bolt doesn't act like it wants to loosen, the nut may have broke loose.  It just has a clip on it to keep it from spinning which is easy to rust off.  A short 15 mm wrench can be used without removing the tire.  Go in from the wheel well.
• If I were to do this again, I would remove the driveshaft.  That will give you more room to get 2 hands on top of the tank and let you see what you are doing.

All in all it probably took me a total of 3 hours to do it all.  That's working on the ground and being by myself.  Not terrible, but not easy either.  If GM had put the front connection points about 6 inches forward, it would have been an easier job. 

 

Dorman replacement lines are ok.  Went on easy.  Made in China of course.  Hard to find stuff that aint though.