I am using the 3/4ton front calipers and can not find a male fitting that will thread into the caliper. The threads for the caliper seem to be 7/16 - 20 and seem to be much coarser than all the threads offered for a male chevy brake line. I know shakers guide says use a 3/16ths line male fitting but all of those are too small. I figure i gotta be doing something wrong. I was thinking of picking up brake lines off the front of a 73and cutting the line off that block held to the caliper by that bolt and tapping it for smaller threads but would rather do this the "right" way. What the hell am I doing wrong? Is it just the horrible Pepboys that I am going to?


Charlo

On my swap, I used the same calipers you did. I used the rubber brake hose with the banjo bolt to the caliper, then ran a hard line from that to the distribution block on the rear axle. Running a hard line all the way from the block to the caliper will be bad since the caliper moves, and will eventually fatigue the steel line, causing it to break. (No pun intended) Use the same rubber hose as on the front, then run hard line from that. You may have to fab some brackets to hold the hard line right where it meets the hose to prevent movement, but it will work good. That's what I found when I did mine. Good Luck!

I know what you are going through. I would go to NAPA because they have all kinds of flare fittings for doing this. I skipped all this and just went and got all stainless lines from "Earls" yes $$ but after you add it up it's only a few $$ more to have "it right". If you use the "hard line" make sure its attached good so it doesn't vibrate and crack on you....:eek:

First let me confess, I also was in belief that running just a hard line to a floating caliper was bad engineering. Theory would have it that the movement would fatique the line after awhile.

Here's the fact: ALL of the earlier design HMMWVs (until just recently A2 variants) use ONLY hard line to the calipers. The floating calipers are mounted inboard, on the differential, and only a small pig-tail coil takes up any movement.:eek:

It must work OK. The Army has thousands of HMMWVs in heavy duty service each day. If there was a safety issue they would have been all-over-it. The A2 variant does use a short flexible line, but I think it's more of a servicability issue.;)

I was thinking of buying some stainless flexibles, Will the be easy to attach to the distribution block? Or do I run a short section of hard line from dist. block to flexibles? I just need to know what fitting to get on the short section of hard line which should be easy to match up if the flexibles are a female.


Charlo

Originally posted by charlo
I was thinking of buying some stainless flexibles, Will the be easy to attach to the distribution block? Or do I run a short section of hard line from dist. block to flexibles? I just need to know what fitting to get on the short section of hard line which should be easy to match up if the flexibles are a female.


Charlo

Yeah you can run flexibles (sp?) ( I Did ) to the distribution block "if" you get the right adapters with the lines. Take your lines to NAPA and they will get you straight....... :D

Yeah you can run flexibles (sp?) ( I Did ) to the distribution block "if" you get the right adapters with the lines. Take your lines to NAPA and they will get you straight.......

Your the man Shaker.


Charlo

Go to the junk yard and find a rear disc brake caddy. They came in all of the late 70's and 80's models. There is an adapter that is bolted to the caliper. Un bolt it and put it in your pocket. Then take it home, drill the main hole out to fit your factory banjo bolt. after that, you have to grind off one small ridge to make it sit flat on the caliper. You can use your factory lines this way.

Ok I dug up my parts list for the rear that I got to complete my disc conv. I ordered the stuff from "American Street Rod" (1-916-638-3275). Here are the part #'s

Part # 581531 "Caliper Adapter -3" 8.00
Part # 63010136 "-3 St/St 36 in hoses" 18.29 each
Part # 9976032 "7/16 Sq. Bango" 13.22 each

Hope this helps you guys.......Take it easy

Shit I just got stainless lines today, ofcoarse I paid 20 bucks more than you did. I got the 24" skyjackers for $30each The banjo bolts for $3.50 each and a short section of hard line 12" for $2 each. But thanks for diggin up the P/Ns shaker. Now I just gotta install the proportioning valve. That ought to ba fun test drive :D


Charlo

But I have the lines from a ScoutII & the fittings are the same as a Ford rear D60. USe the rubber flex hose NAPA p/n# 4136797 to the caliper. Than the rear hardline for either the ScoutII 44 or the Ford D60 fittiings bolted to that. If the rear line is different at the frame fitting you could maybe just buy one adater & use ford hose(from frame to axle) since its like $19 for a 23 7/8 inch long hose.

Shaker, what length lines did you get? Does Earls make them in 6" or 8". I want something short that basically just goes to the axle housing and connects with the hard line.

Originally posted by spoolnaround
Shaker, what length lines did you get? Does Earls make them in 6" or 8". I want something short that basically just goes to the axle housing and connects with the hard line.

Yes....they can make a 6-8 in. line if you want one. I got a skyjacker rear SS line going from frame to the dist. block....I'd say it's about 15 in. long.....

No not that one the :goofball: I meant the ones to the calipers.

Originally posted by spoolnaround
No not that one the :goofball: I meant the ones to the calipers.

Same as listed above......I used 36 in. S/S lines....have about 4 in. of slack on each side......:D :p