Front brake hoses too short for 2.5" drop spindles?

[67ChevyRedneck]

My hoses mount up front. I got the control arms put together and painted today. I won't be able to work on it tomorrow, but hope to get the cross member cleaned up and repainted sunday and get the parts installed.

Kevin (Tx_firefighter) recommended a place called kenny's Truck parts as to where he's bought his over the years. I called them today and placed an order. They called me back an hour later saying their supplier no longer sells them but they have another option. After some back and forth with pics and calls, he said he found the right hoses for a 3/4 ton and they're 15-3/4" long (mine are only 13" long) so hopefully they'll be here by the end of next week and I can post a P/N for everyone. I'll also be putting my brakes back together for now, so I'll also show how the hose is taught.

[clemsonteg]

That's just strange. You would think that something as simple as drop spindles would require so much effort or at the very least it would be a common problem that most people with drop spindles would have figured out.

[REEDS 72]

When I lowered my 72 3.5 in the front I had new lines that I thought I could put right on but they were to short had to have new ones made had a place just locally make them not a big deal there is a thread about it somewhere on here anyway worked out fine.

[67ChevyRedneck]

I think the problem is limited to 71/72 trucks, or trucks (like mine) that have been converted to discs with a complete 71/72 suspension (including the cross member.)

Apparently GM put the hose mount on the back of the cross member for 67-70 trucks and on the front for 71/72. So, if you buy a conversion kit (or conversion drop kit) for your 67-70 you don't have any problems because there is plenty of hose length, but for 71/72 trucks (and 71/72 cross member conversions) you have the hose in the front and it becomes too short when you drop the truck.

[picklito]

Originally Posted by clemsonteg

My hardlines and hoses mount on the back of the crossmember on my 70.

I was just going to say that. I'm assembling parts for my 70 disc swap right now. Hard lines are behind the crossmember and it looks like it'll work out nicely.

The local NAPA guy was SUPER helpful finding hoses. He came up with several GM part numbers with the right ends, gave me a medium length set and said, "Try them and we'll go longer or shorter."

[REEDS 72]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

I think the problem is limited to 71/72 trucks, or trucks (like mine) that have been converted to discs with a complete 71/72 suspension (including the cross member.)

Apparently GM put the hose mount on the back of the cross member for 67-70 trucks and on the front for 71/72. So, if you buy a conversion kit (or conversion drop kit) for your 67-70 you don't have any problems because there is plenty of hose length, but for 71/72 trucks (and 71/72 cross member conversions) you have the hose in the front and it becomes too short when you drop the truck.

x2

[clemsonteg]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

I think the problem is limited to 71/72 trucks, or trucks (like mine) that have been converted to discs with a complete 71/72 suspension (including the cross member.)

Apparently GM put the hose mount on the back of the cross member for 67-70 trucks and on the front for 71/72. So, if you buy a conversion kit (or conversion drop kit) for your 67-70 you don't have any problems because there is plenty of hose length, but for 71/72 trucks (and 71/72 cross member conversions) you have the hose in the front and it becomes too short when you drop the truck.

Have you asked Matt if he had any issues? He's pretty good about keeping part numbers and locations where he buys parts when he upgrades. I asked about a million questions when I installed my boyd tank.

[HeavyD]

So if we get then made, is there a specific length recommended for a 71-72?

[67ChevyRedneck]

Originally Posted by clemsonteg

Have you asked Matt if he had any issues? He's pretty good about keeping part numbers and locations where he buys parts when he upgrades. I asked about a million questions when I installed my boyd tank.

I haven't but talked to Paul the other day and he said when Matt's truck is laid out they're stretched like rubber bands. This was only recently Paul saw it and told him, so he should know now.

[68 Greenie]

Yea I had the same problem I ended up running the hard lines in front and had rubber lines made.

[OLEBEATER]

hey picklito do you mind shareing those part numbers with?

[picklito]

NAPA 36616 seems to working really well for the 70 and older with the hard lines BEHIND the crossmember.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Couple pics of the hose.

It's "rubbing" the bottom of the upper ball joint bolt. While it's not actually "tight", for the DS on a right turn, it's getting taught, then you add in the suspension movement and you could eventually end up with a cut or broken hose.

It's also too taught to put the brake shoes back on over the rotor. It would suck to have to remove the hose and lose all the fluid every time you do a brake job.

I got my new hoses for a 3/4 ton. They appear to be the same and should work. The line fitting size is different (it's actually smaller!) but that should be an easy fix with a new adapter fitting.

I didn't measure, but the new hoses should be 2.5-3" longer.

[67ChevyRedneck]

So it works!

So I called Kennys Trucks a couple of weeks ago, a place several had recommended as having the 3/4 ton hoses. I called and ordered them. They called me back about an hour later saying their supplier no longer has/makes them, but he will find me something that worked with the length, etc needed. A couple phone calls and some texted pics later he said he was pretty sure he found what I needed.

I googled the PN I got, and it seems they're available from Summit, as 69 Camaro/Firebird and/or 69-72 Nova Hoses:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/rsd-fh03

The P/N is FH03

From where they mount on the frame they are a full 3" longer than the stock 71/72 C10 truck hoses.

[67ChevyRedneck]

Did have a little issue though, my original factory steel hoses were 7/16-24 while the new hose was 3/8-24, so I had to get an adapter. Found them at Advance.

Dorman Part No. 327828.1 - yeah... odd P/N but that's what it comes up as online too. It goes in deeper than in pic, I just quickly screwed it on.

[67ChevyRedneck]

It's hard to get a good pic with the tie rod in the way, but I turned the wheel lock to lock and checked the "fit" at each full wheel turn. There was good clearance all around the hose and it had plenty of slack for suspension movement. Pretty happy.

I was only able to finish DS. If you live in the NC/SC area you know that's it's been raining/misting almost literally non stop since Thursday. I tried to paint stuff outside between weather breaks, let it dry a bit, then bring it in the garage. so I didn't get to the PS side today

[67ChevyRedneck]

Noticed something odd when I did the PS. Apparently the DS and PS hoses use a different thread size?

The stock 71/72 brake hoses I bought were threaded for a 7/16-24 on the Driver's side and 3/8-24 on the PS. The hoses are side specific, so maybe this was so they got installed on the correct side of the truck?

The hoses I got have a universal end and can be used on either side, and both sides were the 3/8-24 thread size, so I didn't need the adapter on the PS.

[Paul V]

I have a 71 and have been following your thread from the start, thinking i have the same set up as you but my brake lines have loads of play i wonder what his problem could be that was until i sat my tuck down on the deck



My new lines were from "brake hoses unlimited" but were the stock length, i will go back to them and ask them to make some longer ones.

Mine are located to the front of the cross member and are both different thread sizes.

[TexasLS1]

Tagging for future reference. Thanks for the info and research guys!

[WIDESIDE72]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

Noticed something odd when I did the PS. Apparently the DS and PS hoses use a different thread size?

The stock 71/72 brake hoses I bought were threaded for a 7/16-24 on the Driver's side and 3/8-24 on the PS. The hoses are side specific, so maybe this was so they got installed on the correct side of the truck?

The hoses I got have a universal end and can be used on either side, and both sides were the 3/8-24 thread size, so I didn't need the adapter on the PS.

Through the yearsmy brothers dad and I have had several 71/72 Chevys and one gmc. The brake hoses are in fact different side to side. Not sure why though.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Old thread but I wonder if anyone found correct flex hoses? I won't admit to how many pair I've bought or had made. And yeah, 13" rubbed the upper ball joint. Only the LH side ball joint, it was a pickle anyway, had to max out the torque just to put pin in it. 13" would be too short anyway, IMO.

I read someplace 16" where you want to be. Had them made with the correct fitting at the front of the crossmember, but they rubbed ECE 2.5" drop spindles. So I figure take 1-1.5" off. Wrong again still rubs the spindles, and he put the wrong fittings on anyway, didn't see that when I left the shop, confidence shot Just one of those things I revisit every now and again, have to stop sometime.

Just speaking for what I see on this 2.5" drop, stock height coiled 1971 C-10 (front crossmember brackets), I think 14" is close. I'm trying on 13.11/16" hoses tomorrow, perhaps a revisit of old hoses. Wrong fitting at the bracket like all retail, but at this point I have a file.

1971 design on the bracket fitting is flat on two sides and domed on two sides. Retail fittings are four flat and one domed, though I think I may have seen hex before, can't say for sure I've only held 6-7 sets so far


Good question on the different fittings LH & RH side. The ports look the same size to me, and you won't get the wrong side to mount on the caliper anyway.

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Hallelujah, I found front brake hoses that work, they're BrakeBest BH380712 & BH380713.

They claim to be 13.11/16" but I was discouraged to find at least one was just 13", which is approx. what the original hoses were. Yet they work anyhow with the 2.5" drop spindles. I'll bet it's simply the bend of steel off the caliper fitting.

Unlike the last 13" I tried, this set has great clearance from the ball joint on the LH side. It's barely off on the RH side, though clears at all turn ratios. Something to watch, if I need to I can probably bend it a pinch at the caliper fitting. Other than that there's enough slack and I'm pleasantly surprised after 6-7 attempts these 13" store bought actually work.

Edit: If anyone knows of a 13.5-14" brake hose, IMO that's just right. That assumes the bend off the caliper fitting is right, so I don't know, maybe not


1971 C10, 2.5" drop spindles, stock height coils. Hey speak of stock height coils, not sure that was the way to go really. I can say with the 4/2.5" drop the truck is level all the way around, and stock height coils are a pickle to install with drop spindles. Other than that I'm clueless

[pjmoreland]

Glad you got it working. Hose length wasn't an issue on my 68, but the shape of the fitting on the end of the hoses that came with my Western Chassis drop spindle set was like yours with the two flats and two domes. This isn't correct for 67-70, so I filed the fitting into a hex shape to match the brackets on my truck. Had to add a .080" thick washer to make the groove line up with the retaining clip.

I had the same issue with the cotte rpin hole in the upper ball joint. I had to file the hole in the ball joint into a slot to get the pin to fit through. That was even with a lot of extra torque on the nut.

[ChevyRacefan]

The off road, lifted crowd has had good luck with these .
If you need something a little better than an oem rubber line that has no protection
http://www.crownperformance.com/

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Originally Posted by pjmoreland

Glad you got it working. Hose length wasn't an issue on my 68, but the shape of the fitting on the end of the hoses that came with my Western Chassis drop spindle set was like yours with the two flats and two domes. This isn't correct for 67-70, so I filed the fitting into a hex shape to match the brackets on my truck. Had to add a .080" thick washer to make the groove line up with the retaining clip.

I had the same issue with the cotte rpin hole in the upper ball joint. I had to file the hole in the ball joint into a slot to get the pin to fit through. That was even with a lot of extra torque on the nut.

I'm surprised they sold fittings that are domed two sides & flat two sides, which is correct for 1971. All retail I've seen to date were hex or flat four sides & one dome.

Apparently it's common for an upper ball joint require bunches of torque just to insert a cotter pin. From what I've read it's generally one side for some reason. All I know is the RH was easy while the torque on the LH side was maxed out, if not more.