69 front brake hoses

[Fubar]

I swapped out my 1969 drum brake axle for a 1977 disk dana44, but the brake lines are different. The 69 hoses don't have the block at the axle side like the 77's do, and they have different size hard lines at the frame. What has every body else used? Do I need to have hoses custom made? Thanks, Eric

[roluje]

fubar,
I converted my 70 to disk brakes by swapping everthing from the knuckles out with a 75 dana 44. I used 75 brake hoses from the calipers to custom mounting tabs moving the hoses from mounting in the frame to just below the frame (my truck has a 4 in lift or so). I then replaced the hard lines from the proportioning valve to the hoses with standard 3/16 brakes lines from napa. I had one line from prop valve to tee (seen in pic) and then from tee to each wheel. I bent the lines myself and followed the path accross the cross member as the old lines followed. It works GREAT and stops like a beast. I must wear a seatbelt to stay off the windshield I also swapped the master cylinder and proportioning valve from a 72 which had factory disk brakes. If I remeber the distribution block used on the 70 was sized for 1/4 line for the front brakes and the proprotioning valvle on the 72 was sized for 3/16 line for the front breaks. Worked out really well and only cost $15 or so for the 3 hard straight lines and a tee. A little more than that for the new hoses, rotors, calipers, pads, ujoints, ball joints, tie rod ends, drag link, etc

[Fubar]

Thanks for the info, I guess changing the hard line's to match the newer brake hose's is the way to go.

[roluje]

I'm sure it's not the only way to go but it worked well for me. I was a little suspicious of the integrity of my old lines anyway so it was an easy decision for me. I wish you the best.

[Rack Man]

I Just went down to my local hydraulic hose joint and had them make me up a couple flexible lines and left all the hard lines the way they were.....Seemed like the simplest solution for me...

I actually brought the new ones (that I had already bought) which were too short down to that shop and they re-used the fittings.....saving me a couple bucks!