Hello everyone,
I am looking for suggestions on my current build, a 66 mustang with a V8. I installed an mp power brakes conversion kit to a dual master cylinder and power brakes, but I am having lots of problems getting the original brake lines to fit. I am really bad at bending the brake lines to line up correctly. I have a OEM tubing bender but its a pretty tight space and I cant get the right curvature. Is there an easier way to do this or is my inexperience getting the better of me?
When swapping from drum brakes to discs the end of the steel line where it attaches to the chassis must often be relocated towards the front of the car so you need a longer steel tube. The tubing is easily flared and bent using an inexpensive double flaring tool and tubing bender from Harbor Freight.
If you're not comfortable flaring and bending the tubing you can buy an inverted flare connector and a short piece of pre-flared brake line at the auto parts store.
Hmm, which parts of the brake lines are you struggling with? The original lines as they go to the calipers, or the lines between the master cylinder and the distribution block?
I converted my '66 to discs many years ago and used the original lines for the connection from the distribution block to the calipers. The original line is retained in its bracket on the frame rail and is connected to a longer soft flex hose, which is then connected to the caliper. So that should be fairly simple IIRC.
If you're concerned about the lines going from the MC to the distribution block, well, you'll need at least one new line anyways, right? I found that buying a short pre-formed length and using adapters on the larger end as needed was the best way to go, because I am terrible at flaring lines.
If you want a smaller radius bend in a line than your tubing bending tool can provide, wrap it around a socket of your choosing. The smallest radius bend I would recommend is the diameter of a 9/16" socket - wrap it around anything smaller and it'll start to kink. I put the sockets in my bench vise to keep them steady and then wrap the line around them there.
Brake lines are a giant PITA but you'll get the curvature right eventually! Usually I buy a spare line (since they're only a couple bucks anyways) so that I can use it as a "trash" line trying to figure out how to make the right shape, and then I bend the second line into the right shape no problemo.
This is why CSRP has chosen to include easy to use under hood brake line packages with all brake conversion kits. Key pieces are flexible braided SS, so install is simple.
Gents, thanks for the responses. Definitely some good info. I need to look into these flexible lines, that sounds like a huge time saver.
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