what front brake hose to use with a 4 1/2 / 6 inch drop
 

I have a 1967 GMC 3/4 ton I just did a 4 1/2 /6 inch drop, 5 lug disc/ drum conversion with a 1974 Chevy 1/2 ton suspension. I ordered the brake hoses for a 1974 Chevy 1/2 ton and they don't seem to fit right. The hose fitting to the caliper is touching the upper ball joint castle nut and is not seating correctly on the caliper. What hoses should I use to clear the hose from touching the spindle. What hose should I use, can someone plz help me.
Thanks,
Scott

Re: what front brake hose to use with a 4 1/2 / 6 inch drop
 

Here are some pics. The brake hose is hitting the upper ball joint castle nut. I was not able to take any pics of the front brake hose because I took them back hoping I could find something that would work. I had the Bendix H86551 and H86550 front brake hose

Re: what front brake hose to use with a 4 1/2 / 6 inch drop
 

That's actually a common problem with drop spindles. You have to slightly bend the metal pipe section of the brake hose to make it clear the ball joint nut.

Re: what front brake hose to use with a 4 1/2 / 6 inch drop
 

Cool, glad to know. I didn't know if that much bending of the pipe would break it. Is there a longer hose with the same fittings that would work. It doesn't seem that I would be able to make a full turn either way without it stretching the hose beyond its ability.

Re: what front brake hose to use with a 4 1/2 / 6 inch drop
 

Tx FF I've seen a post where you recommended 71-72 3/4 or 1 ton brake hoses because they are a inch longer. I looked at the hoses for that application and it appears that the fitting to the caliper is different than the 1974 Chevy 1/2 ton truck.

Re: what front brake hose to use with a 4 1/2 / 6 inch drop
 

I'm running a 74 half-ton stepside with 2 and a half in. dropped spindles and 4inch rear drop with shackles and brackets. Stock hoses both ends, with fronts bent slightly. Stock shocks both ends. No problems.

Re: what front brake hose to use with a 4 1/2 / 6 inch drop
 

The 71-72 hoses are a good bit different on configuration. The 71-2 trucks have brake line mounting tabs welded to the front of the crossmember whereas the 73-87 hoses are longer and mount to the frame rails a good bit in front of the crossmember. The 73-87 hoses are quite measurably longer and have a metal tab part way down the hose to allow bolting it to the upper control arm.

As far as the differences in the ends, that's an easy fix with a little bit of grinder work on the casting around the hole on the calipers. The banjo bolts are the same. Just clearance the caliper or the hose to allow it to seat down on the caliper and the banjo bolt to tighten up and seal.

Re: what front brake hose to use with a 4 1/2 / 6 inch drop
 

Cool, thank you. Tx FF. I'm going to check those hoses out. I seen you had suggested Kenny's Website on a post on this topic. I'm going to check on those tonight.
Thanks for the help

Re: what front brake hose to use with a 4 1/2 / 6 inch drop
 

NJLimbaugh, thanks for responding to my post. i was wondering are you running your lines/hoses in front of the control arms or behind the control arms.

Re: what front brake hose to use with a 4 1/2 / 6 inch drop
 

Thanks guys for the help yesterday on here. I went back to the parts store and got the same brake hoses and bent the hose fittings so that it doesnt touch the spindle nut or anything else. It works perfect and didn't need longer hoses after all either.
Thank you, Thank you