The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Is there a difference between front brake lines on a 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton t

Just ordered new brake lines for my 3/4 ton Chevy long bed. (3600). I received brake lines for a 51-54 1/2 ton. I called the parts house and the guy I talked to assured me that they are the exact same hose. Only problem is that the new hose won't fasten to the distribution block in the frame. Is he right or are they different hoses?

Helps if I let you now that I have a 1959 3600.

Thanks for your assistance on this. I really want to get this thing on the road over the weekend..

Classic shows different P/N for 1/2 ton and 3/4 ton so there might be some difference. There is also a different P/N for the flex hoses. Might be a diameter difference as well as a routing difference.

Thanks Steve,

The parts house I ordered from is about 80 miles away, I may have to take the drive on Friday with the old hose in hand. Normally I wouldn't be so willing to spend time driving, but this truck has been down for almost two years, and I'm two brake lines away from having it on the road again.

Yes, the lines are different from 1/2 ton short from what is used on 1/2 ton long and 3/4 ton on the '55-'59 trucks. The 1/2 ton short uses 3/16 line for all the lines. The 1/2 ton long and 3/4 ton uses 1/4 line for everything except the line across the rear axle. The routing is the same for the most part, with the main difference being where the lines connect to the hoses for the front brakes.

Good to know Bill,
I talked to the parts house that I ordered from again. They assured me that there is no difference in the lines. So, now I'm looking for a new location to purchase them. Any idea where I can order the 1/4" lines. The old ones work, but look pretty bad. I'd really like to replace them as part of the job. I know that once the truck is on the road I'm not going to want to replace them.

I made mine up myself, using the originals as a pattern. Line isn't too costly at the local parts store, unless you get into the copper-nickel line.

Don't know what your paying for the brake lines but it's not a hard job to use lines from the local parts store. which are not expensive, and bend/fit as you go as Bill suggested. It'll only take a little longer and may even be quicker since you don't have to order and wait. You can do it.

Thanks all,
I've already replaced a couple of the sections of the solid line, You're right, not that hard to make them up myself. the flex lines are the issue here. I'm trying to replace the flex lines from the distribution block to the front wheel cylinders.
Thought about keeping the 3/16 lines I received and just purchasing an adaptor to fit the distribution block, but worried about leakage. I need the wide flange on the hose to seat against the copper washer at the block.

Hy VCRick, the Raybestos part number for the front brake hoses on a 1959 3600 is BH24458, they have 7/16" threaded ends, one male one female different pitches, hope that helps.