The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Steel Brake Line Kits

I am ready to run my brake lines (51/3600) and haven't seen a vendor that sells a precut/preformed set of lines for the AD. I figure I will have to form my own but if anyone here knows where I can get a ready made set, it will let me be killing rats on another part of the truck.

check www.inlinetube.com

Mike

I got my SS ones from classic tube. They have the patterns for AD Trucks.

I'm cheap....a roll of 3/16" brake line, a double flare set, a hand bender (optional), and some fittings and you're in business. Less than $50.00 and you can make/modify all the lines on your truck.

Double flares are simple to make...follow the directions to the letter and you will quickly become a pro. While you're under there...it's a good time to change out those 50 year old rubber lines as well.

If you've upgraded to a new dual master you'll need to make some significant changes over stock lines anyways. I've yet to see anything but a premium S/S set, that you could use without modification. Hope this helps!

I got mine from Classic Parts also, they have stainless or steel and they fit perfect.

i always update the brakes with disc so i never use prefab lines like fla54chevy3100 i buy the 3/16 inch line. the last one i did i only had to double flare two lines on one side only.

Question John; is there a problem with preformed lines used on disc brakes? I will be updating my 51 to disc front/mustangII and disc rear/10 bolt GM.
BTW I will be using steel lines. Thanks

make your own
it's fairly easy and has great satisfaction.
a local brake shop can help.
http://www.classictrucks.com/tech/0501cl_brake_line_basics/
http://volksweb.relitech.com/brakeln.htm

Just did our transmission cooling lines this week. It's not hard to make your own!!

I got mine off a 78 3/4 Chevy.Made a bender to rebend where I needed to.
Floyd

I bought a coil of 1/4" steel line and some tools from JCW and made my own for my 50 3600. There is a knack to making the double flares. I ruined only one piece that I could not use. So I did have to buy one short pre-made line. I am satisfied with my job.

Ok I'm moving toward bending my own, however I wonder if I do, is there a tech help article I can lean on when the going gets tough?

I can say that the cheaper flaring kits are absolutely useless for this task. There was a post a while back showing the real flaring tools and they look quite a bit different than the cheap ones. It takes a lot of holding pressure on the line and a lot of force to do the job.

I am convinced you should never buy cheap tools. I have ordered brake tools from Eastwood. The price is high and my experience is low. We'll see what that combination produces. I probably will need to stock up on extra line and fittings.

Good luck with those rats.

John

Noticed in the new LMC catalog they offer brake lines of various lengths with fittings of various sizes installed for a good price. You would just have to bend to fit.

Denny - We'll, since the wife is out of the house flag down the Snap-On truck....

We had a similar discussion about rolling (err, making) your own at Tubing 101

Caroline - Thanks for the great links.

There are some things other people do that I can't seem to get the knack of no matter how hard I try. However, double flaring steel tubing with a cheap $25 double flaring tool from Sears just hasn't been a problem for me. My thoughts are, try the cheap tool first to see if it works for you and then if it doesn't, go ahead and spend the money to buy the expensive one. You may save yourself a lot of money, or you may spend an extra $20. Just be aware that sometimes, for some people, the cheap flaring tools seem to work.

Dave

Denny,
I would say that your flare kit is definitely not the bottom of the line like mine. The grip area as marked by the clamp is much longer on your lines and that is why my kit cannot hold the line from being pushed through.

Carquest has lines in standard lengths with a bending spring on the outside. They are quite useful for the larger radiuses where just eyeballing it is more convenient.

I recently bought a fedhill flare tool and their copper/nickle brake line. Their line will not corrode like SS but you can bend it with your fingers. It is rated higher in burst strength than steel line. Their flare tool is incredible. In a matter of seconds you have a perfect flare every time. Their line is approximately $60 for 25 feet and the flare tool with two die set sizes is about $400. I know thats not cheap but you could always share with a friend or two. Their product is so stinking easy to use I thought i would share.... If the shop was on fire i might save the flare tool first - kyle

http://fedhillusa.com/

Denny I was real close to spending the money on Easman's tool until I read your post above. I'm waiting on your assesment of the Snap-On tool.

Hey Guys keep in mind that stainless is not to be double flared. A different fitting and a single 45* flare for stainless. A double flare for the softer line. Just an FYI.

One of the power block shows and a few other places. Stainless is too brittle and a double flare compromises its integrity. The people who sell the brake line should give you this info without asking IMO. But I am sure they will have it if you ask. Good luck Denny and let me know what you find I will be doing bake lines my self soon. Post it in the tool crib I'll be there.

i think he may have hit the nail iv never had a problem doing double flares on steel i could see ss would be harder

$500.00 line benders? I think I would have to brake like Fred Flintstone.

Hey Denny I am pretty sure that I have seen in more than one tech article that the reason for not double flaring stainless is that yes it work hardens and even a good looking flare is likely to crack in time with use.
I worked in aviation hydraulics for a number of years both military and civilian and all those AN flared fittings on stainless are single flare and some of the systems ran as high as 6000 psi. I don’t know a lot about the fittings used in automotive brake systems but the tech articles that I seen where dealing with automotive brakes. I just don’t remember where I seen them. I will post this as a question for Stacey David on his web sit. I am sure that it came up on one of his old shows. I don’t know how long it will take him to respond he doesn’t seem to be around much.

Hey Denny I found some info. The new March issue Classic Trucks in Ron Covells column Professor Hammer's Metalworking Tips. It's Like I thought stainless uses a single flare and you are right it is 37*s and uses a two piece fitting. This is on page 88 and he directs us to www.godmanhiperformance.com for the proper flaring tool and fittings. The mag just fell opened to the page this afternoon like it was meant to be.
This may help in converting.
http://godmanhiperformance.com/prod...lare%20to%20Male%20Inverted%20Flare.html

Sorry- that was like my 2nd post and i didn't know you couldn't talk about tools. I'm going to go post on fedhill stuff in tools. I know it's expensive....but it works , it's easy...and you do it once!...