Brake lines... is there is a soft line option? (1 Viewer)

[Romanski]

Hi All,

I just bought a set of hard brake lines for my 40 from Marlin. I also purchased the 26" brake line extensions to allow for articulations. I connected the hard lines to each of the front brake caliper, connected the extensions and zip tied to the soft line extensions at the bottom of each shock. I'm just concerned that the hard lines that connect to the brake caliper (disk brakes) will start bending and break, which is what happened to the old line on the passenger side. I gently bent them so they would not stick out in any weird way but it seems like if I snag the soft extensions or turn the wheel they bend ever so slightly. Is there a soft line option that screws directly into the caliper? I used mini truck brake lines and they worked fine. My lines do not run down the axle but go from the brake calipers up to the frame rail to attach to the hard lines along each frame rail. I was also thinking of fabricating a bracket to better secure the hard lines.

Thanks in advance,
Roman

 

[lostmarbles]

.... My lines do not run down the axle but go from the brake calipers up to the frame rail to attach to the hard lines along each frame rail.
Roman

Photos?

I think here-in lies your problem!

Considering the caliper doesn't move on the front disc brake, there is NO chance of the line fatiguing

I suspect you didn't catch the above part of Roman's post?

 

[Romanski]

Thank you for all the input. Here is what I have:

I bought the 40 from my friend which already had the brakes set up in this manner.

Story: I was pulling out of the garage to take a ride with my 6 year old and I asked him to stand on the side while I drove the 40 out. I start going down our driveway and feel the brake pedal start getting softer and softer. I managed to come to a stop, got out and there was brake fluid running out the hard line, on to the tire and on the driveway. I'm so grateful it happened at home and not with my son in the truck coming down some rock ledge. I don't know how old the hard brake line that broke was but no more than 10 years old.

 

[3jvj]

I'm a little fuzzy......


Is your brake line attatched to a shock?

 

[landcrusher909]

Thats not cool ! You need to come up with some sort of bracket the supports the flex line then make a new hard line to the caliper Just my 2 cents

 

[landcrusher909]

I'm a little fuzzy......


Is your brake line attatched to a shock?

Thats what it looks like to me

 

[Romanski]

the blue soft line is zip tied to the shock. without the zip tie it moved to much and it seemed like the line would eventually break from the flex. It seems solid with the zip tie (doesn't move much) but it just doesn't seem right to me and that is why I thought I would ask the experts. I just don't want to take chances especially with brakes.

Lil'John - what do I search for on the web? "10mm to 10mm male to male bolt?" I like the idea of connecting the soft line directly to the caliper as long it doesn't melt or anything like that. Then just make a bracket to secure the soft line ?

 

[Romanski]

btw, doesn't the zip tied softline at the shock act as a bracket? The tire and shock move up and down together so they act as one unit. It's just that when the wheels are turned the line want to stretch?

 

[landcrusher909]

btw, doesn't the zip tied softline at the shock act as a bracket? The tire and shock move up and down together so they act as one unit. It's just that when the wheels are turned the line want to stretch?

Here is a pic of the fitting John is talking about just google it (2) -3 AN TO 10 MM X 1.25 IF MALE STEEL ADAPTER FITTING - 592035 at The Chassis Shop just make sure your lines are long enough for your axle to flex the zip tie is your call

 

[Romanski]

Thank you Landcrusher. I think I will have to get two more extensions. It looks like I will have about 6-8 inches of travel if I bring the soft line to the caliper. So it's safe to go right into the caliper with the soft line? It won't get damaged from the heat?

 

[landcrusher909]

I dont know about heat but i had to go take a pic of mine running this set up for years without a problem forgive the dirt

 

[Romanski]

I dont know about heat but i had to go take a pic of mine running this set up for years without a problem forgive the dirt

Thanks again... so your line runs along the axle and up to the brake cylinder somewhere near the middle of the axle? I don't mind the dirt, hoping to get mine done already so I can get it dirty.

 

[landcrusher909]

PM me your email address and tommorow i will send you some detailed pics Time to step away from mud for the night

 

[Romanski]

Pm on the way! It does say "site Addict" under your name I'm obsessed with the cruiser also. Lots still left to learn.

 

[lostmarbles]

Roman

That is the most dangerous brake line work I have ever seen!

But it is good that you realise it isn't right and are keen to fix it .

In a properly designed system, no steering or suspension movement (AT ALL) should get transferred to any hard lines.

Either end of every flexible brake line must be solidly anchored/bracketed (to the brake calliper itself, to the diff casing, to the chassis, etc) RIGHT AT THE FITTING.

That hard line hanging off your calliper is really bad!

And so it the hard line hanging off your chassis (to connect to the flexible line)!

And tying a flexible to a shock is unacceptable too! (Although this probably does slightly reduce the immediate danger posed by the other faults in your case.)

That cruiser shouldn't be driven at all in its present state.

 

[antFJ]

not good! that zip tie around the frame is not an acceptable solution either. Many I love your paint job.... come do my truck and I'll do your brakes!! haha

use these to mount your hard line/soft line junctions to the frame rails. Make sure you check the soft lines in the back too - they are probably just as quick fixed.

Brake Line Mount Set | Marlin Crawler, Inc.

 

[Romanski]

I tried to find pictures how others have routed their lines but there are no pictures available (that I could find) so once I get this fixed I'll make a thread with detailed pictures for other noobs in my situation. Landcrusher was kind enough to offer some detailed pics of his brake lines but I won't post those unless he wants me to plus my cruiser is nice and clean at this point and his is well... in used condition LOL

Seriously though I never did brakes and was looking at our FJC to get an idea of how Toyota did it but it's a totally different setup. Regardless, I'm not taking the 40 out till this is straightened out. As always, thanks to all you guys for the help and criticism

antFJ - I can paint BTW... I still have a fair amount of paint left if someone wants this same color... must be about 1/2 gallon... it's a 1969-73 Toyota color Zenith blue

Color Chip Selection

 

[cruisermedic]

a dirty cruiser is just in its "workin' clothes". nothing wrong with it, actually i like mine dirty. i drive mine around dirty hoping a hot chick or three will offer to wash it.

yours is a nice looking 40, wish mine had as much metal left in it. michigan roads are hell on sheet metal.


steve

 

[Romanski]

a dirty cruiser is just in its "workin' clothes". nothing wrong with it, actually i like mine dirty. i drive mine around dirty hoping a hot chick or three will offer to wash it.

yours is a nice looking 40, wish mine had as much metal left in it. michigan roads are hell on sheet metal.


steve

Got it, if you get some chicks take some pics When I got my cruiser it wasn't rust that was the major problem, it was rock damage and funky modifications.

If you look close you can see how the brake line was originally hanging down. I thought that's how to run the line when you got so much flexing going on so I did it in a similar fashion. I'll see if I can find a better picture.
ex: