Question: Mangled my front brake lines.

[Alloydude]

Was in the process of replacing the flexible front brakelines on my 74 and as luck would have it I have destroyed the hard lines. (had a feeling this would happen) Just wondering if most here just buy the prefab lines or has anybody tried bending their own lines such as the ones that can be purchased cheaply at the local auto parts stores?<o></o>

 

[bill81vette]

there is a tool you can purchase to bend brake lines.
instead of kinking them it kind of rolls them around to bend them
Precision Tubing Benders

 

[DaytonaBob]

I just picked up a complete set of stainless steel lines from Ecklers for my 80. I had too many of the nuts that were getting rounded, so figured it was time. Depending on the effort, I'll see how many I actually put in.

 

[Hib Halverson]

Was in the process of replacing the flexible front brakelines on my 74 and as luck would have it I have destroyed the hard lines. (had a feeling this would happen) Just wondering if most here just buy the prefab lines or has anybody tried bending their own lines such as the ones that can be purchased cheaply at the local auto parts stores?<o></o>

Unless you're going to bend a lot of tube, you're better buying prebent pipes specifically for a Corvette.

The cost of the tube bending tools added to the cost of the tube and the time required to do the work will exceed the cost of the prebent parts.

 

[DaytonaBob]

Ok, it took a couple of hours to remove and replace 2 of the brake lines so far. I did the left front from the caliper to the block and the right front across the frame to the block. It was a little bit of a challenge getting the new ones back in with those coils around the lines, they tend to get hung up on everything, but eventually I got the two buttoned down.
I'm sure there are some that have fabricated their own from straight tubes, but unless you really know what you're doing and just love a challenge. Of course, someone that knows what they're doing would probably spend the extra $80 and save a whole lot of time... and if you're going in as a newbie... don't even try making them yourself. I'm with Hib... buy pre-bent.

 

[Tom Bryant]

I think you did the right thing by using pre-fabbed lines. I would do the same if this was a one time deal. Most of the Corvette sets seem to be pretty accurate according to reviews and accounts from members like you. I did get a set for a '69 stepside I'm doing that didn't fit well at all. I ended up re-bending some and making other pieces from scratch before I was done with it. That was just on the front kit which was supposed to be for the '71/'72 disc conversion to the '69/'70 C10. May have been some wrong tubes in there as some weren't even close. I've been custom bending and single and double flaring for years so when I do the rear it will be all from scratch.

Tom

 

[DaytonaBob]

Ok, one rookie mistake to pass along and a general observation fo those installing their own brake lines. Got the front crossover in and was getting ready to connect it into the flexible hose on the right side, but the steel line was coming up an inch or 2 short. A quick inspection revealed that I had weaved the hose on the wrong side of the transmission coolant lines coming from the radiator. I had 2 choices... disconnecting connections and retainers on the steel line and wrestling it back thru the correct path or cutting two 5/16 rubber transmission coolant hoses. I have a new task... replacing the two hoses this weekend.
The toughest part of the steel line install had nothing to do with calipers or running the lines, there's one retaining clip which attaches to the frame just above the block where the lines all meet up. This clip is one of the 8 clips that hold the steellines tight to the frame at various locations. This one also bolts down a support clip for a part of the wiring harness, so juggling the bolt with a couple of fingers while holding the clips over the bolt hole with the other 3 turned out to be a challenge. I guess I could have just left it off, it's not like the steel ines are going anyplace... it did give me plenty of time to look at 20 years of dripping oil and accumpulated dirt and wonder about what to do for an engine upgrade...

 

[Alloydude]

Well, ended bending and double flaring my own 3/16 brake lines. Luckily steel line was cheep because took me a couple tries to get it right. I’ll admit doesn’t looks as good as stock but pretty decent. Just wanted to pass on to anybody attempting to do their own brake lines that most generic off the shelf tube benders do a lousy job on 3/16 and thru trial and error found this awesome tool (Ridgid 36117 Level Tubing Bender) Makes perfect 180 degree 5/8 radius bends with no kinking or flattening of the line. Honestly as much as I spent on the 2 tube benders and buying new line to redo my first bending tragedy I could have bought pre-fabed lines but in all a learning experience and I have this cool tool I'll probably never use again lol https://www.plumbersstock.com/produ...7JUTmIACa2WZfqbjbrPB3mKDWC2Tw9c2-kaAg9B8P8HAQ <!--[if gte vml 1]><v:shapetype id="_x0000_t75" coordsize="21600,21600" o:spt="75" oreferrelative="t" path="m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe" filled="f" stroked="f"> <v:stroke joinstyle="miter"/> <v:formulas> <v:f eqn="if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0"/> <v:f eqn="sum @0 1 0"/> <v:f eqn="sum 0 0 @1"/> <v:f eqn="prod @2 1 2"/> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelWidth"/> <v:f eqn="prod @3 21600 pixelHeight"/> <v:f eqn="sum @0 0 1"/> <v:f eqn="prod @6 1 2"/> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelWidth"/> <v:f eqn="sum @8 21600 0"/> <v:f eqn="prod @7 21600 pixelHeight"/> <v:f eqn="sum @10 21600 0"/> </v:formulas> <vh o:extrusionok="f" gradientshapeok="t" o:connecttype="rect"/> <o:lock v:ext="edit" aspectratio="t"/></v:shapetype><v:shape id="Picture_x0020_1" o:spid="_x0000_i1025" type="#_x0000_t75" alt="http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif" style='width:17.25pt;height:13.5pt;visibilityisible;mso-wrap-style:square'> <v:imagedata src="file:///C:\Users\ALLOYD~1\AppData\Local\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.gif" o:title="thumbsup"/></v:shape><![endif]--><!--[if !vml]-->

 

[DaytonaBob]

I'm down to just getting the line that runs from the front to rear replaced, but am hung up on removing one last retaining bolts.
How was it removing and re-installing the brake line retaining blots on your Vette? It you end up putting the all back in?

 

[Alloydude]

I haven’t gotten around to any of the lines from the master cylinder on back but in my case I did manage to use all the original retaining clips and bolts on the front half. Some where a little stubborn but an impact gun (if there was access) did wonders. The original lines had a spring like coil wrapped around most of the tube which unfortunately I couldn’t re-use so I used some rubber vacuum hose between the brake line and retaining clip to prevent anymetal to metal contact. Kurt<o></o>