I am redoing all of my brake lines on my truck ... because it made me do it (rusted through). Things were going well but I've run into a "fitting" issue. The line from the front right wheel that goes into the hydraulic control unit is a 3/16" line. The OD threads going into the controller are 5/16" but the flared-nipple inside the controller is sized for the 3/16" line. The old 3/16" line had the correct 3/16" flare to fit up well to the nipple but had the 5/16" threads to fit into the port. I bought a 3/16" to 5/16" adapter but as I was putting it together I realized that the adapter had a flare for a 5/16" connection and that it would not seat to the 3/16" nipple in the controller. Can anyone tell me what fitting I should look for and where I can get it?

My truck is a 99 f150 w/ 4-wheel disc, 3 channel abs


Thanks,
Mike

 

BTW, I've tried to reuse the old fitting but it is either all one piece (line and fitting) or is so rusty that I absolutely cannot get it apart.

Mike

 

Never mind - no need to reply. I took one of the old ones into NAPA and they had exactly what I was looking for. Other brand stores did not, which is why I posted.

Later,
Mike

 

Thanks for the note. I need to do the same in the near future. If I may summarize your note, I would need a special fitting.

It sits between 3/16" OD flared (double flared?) tubing and 5/16" threaded port of the controller (pipe or straight thread?). Since the flared end of the tubing has a B-nut, the special fitting has a straight thread for the B-nut, I suppose.

Am I correct?
Thanks.

 

Parker,
This link Differences in Brake Line Fittings | eHow.com has a good illustration of what my problem is. My problem isn't a metric / standard fitting issue but rather a small / large fitting (thread) for 3/16" line. I'm not sure what a B-nut is so I cannot comment on that. I've had to reuse a couple of my fittings as Napa didn't have enough to go all new. I've had to drill one out and I was successful in lightly pounding the line out of another. I still am not sure what I'm going to do (if anything) about the 2 lines that go from the booster to the hydraulic control unit ... they have steel tube on the ends with flex line in the middle. This is because the booster is mounted to the body and the HCU is mounted to the frame. The flex allows for body flex & twist. I cannot find replacement line like this anywhere. I'm thinking about putting a good size loop in these lines to allow for the flex but I'd like to get some input or feedback. These lines are also quite rusty so I'd really like to change them now, while the system is empty of fluid.

Any feedback is welcome !!!

Mike

 

Mike

Just Google "stainless steel brake lines", lot's of choices.

Dave

 

i been having trouble finding SS brake lines for a 4x4

 

Woo Hoooooo. Brake lines are done. All lines and hoses are NEW. I fixed my parking brake since I had everything torn apart. Good feeling!!!

Mike