Brakes

 5/7/2023

Beside the actual brakes (which are done), there are brake lines to run and the master cylinder to install.

I purchased brake lines, already fitted with fitting, from Rovers North because I thought it might cut down on the confusion of having the right fitting to go with the rest of my set-up.  The lines came rolled in 6” circles and so need to be straightened before I can fit and bend accordingly.  These line are the black nickel and not pliable like the copper lines.  I needed to purchase a line straightener, but most available do not clamp into the line (rather feed the raw tube in one end) so I can’t use them with fittings already on.  I purchased the tool pictured below and used it today with what I think is pretty good success.  Here are some pics,

One thing I learned about fitting the brake lines was that if they are pre-made lines, you have to make all the same bends like the manufacturer envisioned or else you will come out long or short at the far end.  I have always built line from scratch; start at one end, make your bends and when your ge to the other end add the fitting.  I bought pre-made lines from RN and fund a couple to be. Couple inches too long, which I was able to get past with some creative bending.  But I had one that was 10” too short; I used the same bends as was original to my truck but apparently the company that built the lines had a different routing in mind.  This required me to build a 10” extension piece.  The lines on the truck did have one extension/union in one of the lines and it was made using compression fitting which is Not RL and not ideal.  More evidence that this truck was not as “unmolested’ as I had been told; but I guess I should not have believed that anyway as it just doesn’t make send on a 55 year old vehicle.

This is how the rear came out.