Am I smoking crack, can you combine soft brake lines to extend them for SOA (1 Viewer)

[ducktapeguy]

Unless someone can find something documented from an authority on brakes that says it is unsafe I will continue to run them.

If it works, that's great. Nobody is saying it won't work, I actually think it'll work fine, and you probably won't have any problem with it for as long as you own the car. I don't know if you'll find an authority who will say it's unsafe, but I doubt anybody would actually recommend connecting two lines together instead of using a single hose. Theoretically, you can connect 10 hoses from the MC and eliminate the hardline entirely. Can it be done? Yes. Would I do it? No. It's an extreme case I know, but a lot of things "work", it's just where would you personally draw the line between safe and unsafe. Since brakes are THE single most important part of your vehicle, i tend to be very conservative in this department.

The question in this particular case is, why would you want to do it if you have a choice? Is it to save money? Do you just have extra stock length hoses laying around and want to use them? Is it because you have special fittings, and that's the only way of doing it? I'm trying hard to think of a good reason, and aside from an emergency repair, I can't really think of one. You don't really save much money, and either way you still have to get under the car to disconnect the brake hose and rebleed the brakes, so it's not any easier doing it this way. If i were to try and save money or time, I think I would find another place to cut corners.


3jvj,
I don't think you'll see a pressure drop unless you keep the pedal stroke the same. The swelling of the hose will just require more fluid to build up the same amount of pressure. I really don't know how noticable it would be, cuz we're talking some really minor changes.

 

[dustin]

My rear lines are two coupled together. I have a spring where they connect to keep the line up out of the way. I'll probably change it out when I do the rear disk, but it works fine for now. There wasnt any noticable difference in brake feel after I did the lines. It a whole 6 inches longer than it was before.

-Dustin

 

[Mark W]

I have been running double lines on my 40 for over 5 years without any issues. Before anyone figured out the part numbers for the extended lines that cross reference, unless you made custom lines you had no choice.

Unless someone can find something documented from an authority on brakes that says it is unsafe I will continue to run them.

Yep. I know of at least a dozen rigs locally running paired brake lines at one end or the other. Probably more. Some of them for over 15 years that I am aware of. These are rigs that I know well, see frequently and in many case work on regularly. None of them have any leakage problems. None of them have and "pedal feel" problems. None of them have any longevity problems. None of them have any problems at all. ALL of them get used not babied.

Longer lines are not expensive and are usually easy to find if you have access to any decent parts store (or even a lousy one if you know what to ask for). I generally take this route myself rather than pairning lines. But the snide remarks implying that you are some sort of unqualified hack if you even consider pairing brake lines is annoying. It works fine and causes no problems.


Mark...

 

[woody]

I am one of those hacks....thank you very much.

my front line is a new 22" long hose, coupled to the short 7?" line you would use from the axle to the backing plate for front disc brakes.

a "normal" 22" long hose wasn't enuf for the travel I have in the front.

been running this setup for...mmm....10 years??.....hell, I've never replaces the hoses.

other than an additional fitting, and the opportunity to replace one off-the-shelf hose rather than a custom long hose, I don't see where two lines creating a 29" hose is a bit different than two hoses combined for the same length.

 

[bustanutley]

I paired hoses with the hose that goes from chassis to axle and one that goes from axle to knuckle, perfect length for my junk

reason, i'm a cheep poor bastard. Got all of my break lines and fittings off mini trucks in junk yard for a grand total of $2. This is the entire pumbing system in my 40. 2 years, no problems. Stops way way better than with single circuit 4 wheel drums.

 

[Poser]

I am one of those hacks....thank you very much.

Your welcome.... ;p




Christ could come down off the cross, and it would not change my opinon on this....



I am glad that it has worked well for all those that have used it.



I will not use them on my junk ever, nor on any vehicle that I have anything to do with.







Good luck!


-Steve

 

[bonzai]

That scares me as well

By (splicing) to different lines together you have created four instead of two possible failure points. Thus making it twice as unreliable. This is an emergency proceedure. Like when you are broken down.

Just do what everyone here says use one(1) line

FWIW my .02

 

[needamod]

Christ did come down off the cross!

I still agree with you Steve.

BTW, how's it going man?

 

[ducktapeguy]

Actually, by connecting two lines together, you've added a total of three possible failure points on each line, so 6 points of failure in the entire braking system. There's the crimpled connection between the hose and fitting, the threaded fitting itself, then the other crimped connection to the hose again. I won't get into statistics and probability of failure, I think they're probably reliable, but unless it's absolutely necessary, why take a chance?

reason, i'm a cheep poor bastard. Got all of my break lines and fittings off mini trucks in junk yard for a grand total of $2.

Ok, I'm really cheap, I admit it. But junkyard brake hoses? That's going too far, even for me. Man, if you're that poor, i'll chip in to get you a set of new brakelines. Or two connected ones, if you prefer

 

[bustanutley]

nah there fine thax for the offer though
I'll stand by my lines, they were off like a 95 4runner

Plans always were to get braded lines, but I have had zero problems with it so why bother.

 

[rgentry]

How about for us early - 68 drum brake guys, for whom no extended brake hoses exist (as far as I know). Pretty soon even the OEM hoses may not be available for these rigs. I actually don't need much of an extended hose, just enough for a very mild shackle left.

 

[TIRED]

I have had two brake lines on the rear for 4 years, did it to get buy till I got a longer one and never changed it works great.

 

[Poser]

How about for us early - 68 drum brake guys, for whom no extended brake hoses exist (as far as I know).

Fabricate new steel lines with fittings that will work on new hoses that are avaialble, while updating your brake system.

 

[foxfab]

mini truck guys do it all the time. rear mini line is male/female and about 8" long. Should work on a Crusier too.

 

[FJ40fiji]

I put braided lines on because they are cool more than any thing. But the rubber lines I took off were in horrible shape and cracked as I took them off. If they were fresh and I was short on cash at the time, I might have doubled them up, but then I would have still had to buy two new lines for the front axle. Compard to some other stock application that works from a more recent commmon vehicle like the caravan previously, I don't think I would have saved any money. Really nothing wrong with it, but I don't see saving more than a few dollars. I'd rather put on new long lines and not have beer one weekend, than double my lines while my buddies stand around and drink my beer.

 

[fjwagon]

Do it the bullet proof way and be done man. Yes it may still fail going the other route but for the most part chances are good that if a job is done right and safe first time around you will save money and not to mention your life or someone else's. I think this is the biggest problem for me I will not start the mod if I don't have the right parts and of course the projects sits in the corner until I do have the funds....but this just me.

I just did a 4" lift using Alcan springs and since it changed the pinion angle I may just go back down since I don't like the way it handles on the highway. It's just not safe to drive at 50 mph......again it's just me, I would rather be safe.

 

[peesalot]

The hoses will screw together.
The flare does not reach the bottom so you are depending on the copper washer for the seal.
The hose does not have the same seat as the fitting on the axle for the copper washer to seat on.

Those are the facts , wether they will screw together and not leak is prolly true. is it proper , IMO no. Work , yes , does that style of retention belong at that location , not according to any factory design i know of.
Just an observation from a true hack so if I wouldn't run it it gotta be a little bit off.

 

[Adventure Teq]

Yes, and yes...

 

[Isotel]

i did it, it works fine, but it dose look White Trash, and im sure it will get pulled out soon, i need a longer one anyway!..

 

[bad_religion_au]

I have been running double lines on my 40 for over 5 years without any issues. Before anyone figured out the part numbers for the extended lines that cross reference, unless you made custom lines you had no choice.

Unless someone can find something documented from an authority on brakes that says it is unsafe I will continue to run them.

over in australia we have really strict modification laws (none of this "rewelding intermediate shafts" that you guys can do). we can't increase tire size (legally) over 1 inch from standard.

yet these double lines pass engineering no problems. it's no more of an issue than extended lines.