The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Brake lines?

Need some help!
I was told that the brake lines on my 40 were 5/16 dia. So I ordered 5/16 dia kit from Eastwood Co. What I got seems a bit larger than what I took off the truck. What is the size of the tubing? Should it have been the 1/4 dia kit?
Will the fittings work that came with the kit. They seem large too. I will check them later tonight. Thanks for the help.
Regards, Kevin

Kevin: Check with (In line Tube.com) they have kits but I think you are right 1/4". Maws is ordering me their $125.00 kit for Christmas, feel very comfortable making my own. Local Auto Zone will let me rent their flare tools.

popcorn The Truth is Out There (Good Luck)

I'm all for buying local but Napa isn't what Napa use to be. At least here in CA. they aren't much better than a Pep Boys. The cost of a set of lines from Jim Carter would have been $140. Where this cost me $30. I thought.. what a deal!
So did I get the wrong size?
Thanks, Kevin

Kevin,

Metal Man has the right idea on this one. You can buy most of the lines in the right length from your friendly local auto parts store (FLAPS). I went the Jim Carters route. The job was easy and turned out nice, but I don't think the lines were any better than the ones I had done. What got me was the lines from J.C.s came in a box...I unpacked em and found that the long line to the back was folded in half...you had to unbend it and install it. It worked...and this no dis to J.C's or their stuff...but I wish I had just been a little more patient....but as I recall, it was colder than crap outside...I did not have a double flare tool...it was 2:00 AM...

If you have Car Quest in Cal, they have all the brake shoes, cylinders and a bunch of other stuff for your 40...they just might not know it. If you check some of the other posts on the Big Bolts, others are like me...buy new cylinders rather than rebuild.

Another FYI....If you buy the plastic coated E-brake cables, just be aware, they will not fit like the originals...they will work, but take a little messin with.

If you have not been told this yet, replace or rebuild everything on your brake system. All your hard work will be toast when the pedal goes to the floor and you wipe out the caboose on a BMW or Mercedes.....or worse..a family in a mini-van....or your garage wall....you get the idea....

Just because the brake shoes look good, does not mean they are...mine were like new....part number still readable and all, but after sitting for years, the shoes soaked up grease and caused the brakes to stick. It was a pain to have to back up 5 inches at every intersection....I just swapped out my shoes and should have done that right a way.....

Adjustment on Huck brakes is important....if you don't have the shop manual, pick one up. It will help you out.

Sorry if I sound like I am preaching....I just finished the first year on my 46...I spent a lot of time on brakes...they finally work and made my truck a lot more relaxing to drive...just trying to share with someone else what helped me out.

Enjoy your 40...and never be shy about asking a question....lots of pretty smart folks around here....