Brake hardline length
- Thread starter JohnnyC
- Start date
Michael Mayben
IHPA Tech Moderator - Retired & No Longer Online
Are you contemplating replacing all hard brake plumbing with new stuff john? If so, you will need two different sizes of brake-type hydraulic tubing.
The front circuit for the disc setup uses 3/16" hydraulic tubing, the rear drums use 1/4" tubing (each with appropriate flare-type tube fittings).
Since your rig has a combination/proportioning valve, each plumbing run is split into two separate runs. One run (fairly short) goes from the master cylinder to the c/p valve. The second runs fills between the c/p valve outlets and the point where the lines terminate in some sort of "tee" or "l" fitting to allow interface with the fles hoses that go to each brake set.
If I'm running all new plumbing from scratch, I prefer to work from a 25' coil of brake tubing and a handful of the appropriate fittings, then cut and double-flare the ends as needed. That involves having a good double flaring tool (actually I now use a harbor freight tool that works great if ya get the tubing holder/clamp tight!). Ya also need to practice making double flares on both sizes of tubing before attempting the real deal!
For most folks, it's far more practical to simply buy some pre-terminated brake tubing in the appropriate lengths. The stuff is dirt cheeep considering it has to conform to all kinds of government-mandated regs! If the tubing run is a bit too long, then simply make a few "shortening" bends (using a tubing bender always!!!). Also, with some planning, you might be able to actually improve upon the oem plumbing runs!
Pre-terminated brake tubing (do not use "metric" tubing no matter what the seller says about "adapters"!!!!!) comes in lengths as short as 6" and goes up in length incrementally.
And many times, I use a pre-terminated section of tubing and end up cutting it into pieces at some point so that it provides two plumbing runs, but ya still need extra fittings and the ability to double-flare!
And don't forget we have at ihon pre-cut brake plumbing kits (for Scout II) that will be close to plug-and-play, though ya sometimes have to be a bit creative in installing and will end up bending the lines somewhat to make 'em go into place. The oem plumbing was installed onna bare chassis (no body/engine) which made the original plumbing runs convenient for the assembly line, not for service/replacement 30+ years later!
Is that enuff tap dance for ya??? In other words, nobody knows exactly what the engineered lengths of the various plumbing runs are unless they've been anal enuff to measure 'em out!