Hey guys, I have a 54 3100 1/2 ton pick up and have decided to put new brake lines all the way around it. The ones I have now are some lines I bought at autozone and just arent completely comfortable with them. Only want to do this one time. Anyone suggests a place to get some good long lasting lines? I plan on replacing all of them Thanks Kris
I raid the NAPA brake line kiosk and get at least 2 of most lengths. Buy a few unions and a "t". plan out your route and find the line that fits the closest and start bending. I have a brake line parts list for 1/2 tons in one of my how to articles. You can do this ithout flaring any lines. I have bought a nifty brake flaring setup for $200 that fits in your vice and buts a perfect flare every time.
http://www.eastwood.com/professional-brake-tubing-flaring-tool.html On sale now for $199 in the catalog. I bought mine at a show from Inline Tube for the same. Awesome tool!. No more screwing and unscrewing, breaking the tab off the 3/16" die.......
I see the Eastwood tool is a knock-off of the Fedhill one from England. Ours did nice flares till we did a dozen or so stainless runs and then the clamping blocks wouldn't grip the tubing anymore. I hope Eastwood has cured this problem. We buy tubing in 50' rolls and use no fittings except where the factory did which is very hard to do if working with stainless so we now use Cunifer tubing almost exclusively. It's easier to bend or fit into place than regular steel tubing, won't corrode, and can be polished for appearence. Must be pretty reliable since the safety nuts at Volvo use it.
My son and I did the lines on the '51. Wow talk about a learning experience. We finally agreed that before we'd bend or flare anything, we would put blue painter's tape on the ends. But .... we couldn't put the tape on until AFTER the line ends. Don't ask how many times .... The tape kind of held the line connectors back ....
Brake Pipes This isn't a difficult job , it's only difficult when you don't like the wiggly home made looking pipes I always seem to come out with . If you're rich or really picky , go to InLine Tube dot whatever , they sell everything pre bent and with the correct fittings . They sell all those uber cool engine tubes the high dollar resto guys use too . fuel vacuum , dual action pump etc. Apparently the new thing in brake pipes is some copper / nickle alloy ? I've been seeing it more and more , specialty copper alloy brake piping , NOT regular soft copper tubing from your local hardware store !! (unless you want to die) . I use big sockets and bollards , round fence posts etc. to make smoother bends , it takes practice and patience but YOU can do this @ home ! .
Thanks for all the input. Especially from vwnate. I put those lines from autozone on last yr, but they just don't give me the warm and fuzzy. Think Im going to spend the extra money and get a good set of lines, do it once and be done with it.
What's the problem with brake lines from FLAPS? Or is it just from AutoZone? I got mine from Advance Auto, and they seem to be good stuff??
Brake Pipes Nothing in general ; Some stores carry cheapo brands that kink easier . In the 1970's there was a brand called " Cant Kink " that were amazing ~ we'd tie them in a knot , no kinks . It turns out that the modern copper alloy brake pipes are the shiznit ~ in the 1960's & 1970's folks would use regular copper tubing for brake lines and they'd split and cause accidents .
These copper/nickel/ferrum lines are called kunifer here in good ol?germany and they are really nice to work with. When i have done my trucks lines i borrowed the aforementioned tool and made all the bends and flarings with ease and on the first attempt. Once installed, you can still use your hands and fingers, to correct some bends to follow your frame or else better, if not satisfied... Only thing you notice, once bent, the material stiffens at that very point and tends to be a little bit harder to correct. I hope this helps some for making that decision. P.S. They can also get polished, if desired...
lines Locally, AZone was very limited, had them hidden, and seem lighter. NAPA had them out front so you could touch and feel and had all kinds of sizes. Now, granted I was in there more recently and the supply/sizes seem to shrink, lots. I think from 3 hangers to 1 or 2. Each hanger have about 100? rod
