Front Disc Backing Plates and New Brake Line Project (1 Viewer)

[Green Bean]

During the knuckle job last year, I noticed that the backing plates for the disc brakes had seen better days. The passenger side in particular had lost some of its metal. At the time, I patched them up and kept them. Recently, I obtained a pair of 60 series backing plates from @cruisermatt (thank you). (Yes, I'm aware of the backing plate eliminators, but decided to stick with the OEM) The "new" backing plates require relocation of the tombstone tabs on the front axle. So, I deleted the old tabs and welded in new ones also supplied by Matt. Well, this is where the snowball effect occurred... a/k/a the "while you're in there" syndrome. I decided to learn how to make stainless brake lines so that I could do some replacement/clean-up. I purchased for a small fortune all of the various flaring, bending, cutting tools (Eastwood) and 3/16 stainless tubing and 10 mm fittings. (Mind you, there were no problems whatsoever with the existing brakes. They worked flawlessly. I doubt that I'll be able to say the same when this is finished.) Watched a ton of YouTube videos and started with the double flairing and bending. After lots of trial and errors, I finished two lines but they are not great. Hopefully, things will improve as I continue this never-ending project.

Old Backing plate:

Made a couple of gaskets since I couldn't salvage the old ones.

60 series backing plates installed:

First stainless hardline.

Second stainless hard line before stopping for the day.

 

[Green Bean]

There are a lot of places where stainless speed flex hoses were used instead of the OE rubber. I'm replacing the speed flex lines with OE rubber brake hose throughout. Here is the rubber hose I ended up using for the front axle to frame:

 

[Green Bean]

It is really hot here still. Managed to get the rear brake lines fabricated and mounted. New tombstone tabs welded on rear axle; new rubber flex lines. Spent the rest of the day working on the two firewall brake lines. The complexity of the various compound bends is taxing my simplistic mind. Hopefully, tomorrow I'll finish running the new lines; "bench bleed the master" on the vehicle; and bleed the system. Also, there are a ton of things that I took off the firewall that I'll have to reinstall. I hope this thing doesn't leak like a sieve.

For the rubber hoses from the rear calipers to the axle, I used Duralast Brake Hose (P/N 70770) from AutoZone and Dorman Banjo Bolts (P/N 13940)

OME rubber hose from rear axle "Tee" to hardline on frame.

 

[Green Bean]

Hopefully, the DIY stainless steel brake line project is a wrap. This was my first rodeo with making my own inverted double flares. It was a real learning experience. After all of the lines were done, I discovered a "few" leaks. Some could be fixed by just tightening the fitting, backing off and then retightening. From everything that I read, stainless is a very difficult material to work with. I discovered a 3/16" copper flared gasket that helped seal a couple of stubborn fittings. The one area that put up the biggest fight was the 3-way union on the front axle. I just couldn't get that one to seal. I have an OEM replacement union inbound, but in the meantime I went with a M10 three-way union from Summit.

This is what I got rid of.

 

[Mark Jennings]

so, why did you replace the SS braided hose for rubber hose?

 

[Green Bean]

so, why did you replace the SS braided hose for rubber hose?

Hey Mark:
When it comes right down to it...I'm not really sure why I do a lot of the things that I do. But I think that my intention was to simplify and go back to more of an OEM type of setup minus, of course, the disc brakes and a whole host of other stuff... I didn't particularly like the stainless flex line running the entire length of the rear axle. Under the hood, the stainless hoses to the master and proportioning valve looked like spaghetti; and to me anyway, were an eyesore.

 

[Mark Jennings]

I got a complete stainless set from American Classics and ordered the stainless braided ‘custom’ lengths for the front and rear Monty Carlo brake calipers from them. They have all kinds of combinations….anyway, the rubber hoses will last a good long time
Cool beans on the new brake lines!

 

[knuckle47]

@Green Bean I can sympathize with your comment…” I'm not really sure why I do a lot of the things that I do “. There are days I look at the 40 sitting there and nothing is wrong or needs to be addressed. However, there I am pulling stuff off, re-painting, greasing, cleaning for no reason. But, It does make you feel better

 

[Mark Jennings]

It’s an obsession….. more than a hobby. Been there done that…