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#1 |
Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: old hickory, tn
Posts: 150
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3/16 or 1/4 in brake line for all drum brakes?
I getting ready to start replacing the brake lines and have seen conflicting reports/opinions and brake line size. As Ive stated in other threads about my brake system, someone put a disc/drum booster, mc and prop valve from a early 70s truck on it. I had 3 different size brake lines on this truck.
Do I: 1. Install all 1/4 in lines? 2. Install all 3/16 in lines? 3.Install 1/4 in lines back to the rubber hose, then go to 3/16? This is what I think is correct as I want to do a front disc conversion at some point and I believe the front lines need to be 1/4 for a disc system, unless a all drum system need the same size lines through out.... |
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#2 |
Never Ending Projects
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 3,836
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Re: 3/16 or 1/4 in brake line for all drum brakes?
Typically the rule of thumb is, disc use 3/16" and drums use 1/4". On my '65 Panel, the factory lines with 4 wheel drums was 1/4" to the front and 3/16" to the rear.
In either way, you must have the correct MC for your app. If you have 4 wheel drums, you need a drum only MC. If disc and drums, you need a disc/drum MC. 4 wheel disc, you need a disc only MC. That is three different MC depending on the application. That said, if you know you are going to a disc/drum setup, I would run 3/16" front, 1/4" rear but still swap MC for the correct application. When you do your disc conversion, swap MC again.
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. 1965 C10 Panel, ![]() 1968 Chevy C10, Long, Fleetside, Hot Rod Hauler http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=313233 SOLD 1965 Chevy C10, Long, Fleetside, Hot Rod C10 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=415702 SOLD We were given two ears and one mouth for a reason... listen twice as much and speak half as often... |
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#3 | |
Senior Member
![]() Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Godley, TX
Posts: 17,963
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Re: 3/16 or 1/4 in brake line for all drum brakes?
Quote:
Concur - gotta have the correct mc. I'd recommend do the whole thing all at once, even if it takes a little longer (i.e. to include front disk conversion now, rather than later - IF you plan to do one). That will guide your mc and line size choice. If disk/drum combo - 3/16 to front and 1/4 to rear is correct. If you're going to stay all drums forever(!) I'd personally do 1/4 lines all the way around (and a new mc for all drum systems - 67 impala mc is a good choice for this), power or manual depending on whether or not you have a booster, there is a difference in the mc's for power vs manual and 4 drum vs disk/drum). |
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#4 |
Never Ending Projects
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 3,836
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Re: 3/16 or 1/4 in brake line for all drum brakes?
I don't know if Panels are different than trucks but it surprised the heck out of me. There was the 1/4" line running across the crossmember and when to a tee. The pass front line was a 1/4" to the flex line. The rear line coming out of the tee is 3/16" and runs back to the rear flex line. Lines on the axle are 3/16". I don't know if they did this for a different brake bias due to more weight of the panel or what. Definitely different then my '68 which had 1/4" all around.
__________________
. 1965 C10 Panel, ![]() 1968 Chevy C10, Long, Fleetside, Hot Rod Hauler http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=313233 SOLD 1965 Chevy C10, Long, Fleetside, Hot Rod C10 http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=415702 SOLD We were given two ears and one mouth for a reason... listen twice as much and speak half as often... |
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#5 | |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Wasilla Alaska
Posts: 537
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Re: 3/16 or 1/4 in brake line for all drum brakes?
Quote:
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#6 |
Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: pleasant valley--placerville ca
Posts: 3,039
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Re: 3/16 or 1/4 in brake line for all drum brakes?
some have said on here that it doesn't matter what size. my 61 had 1/4 to both fronts and 1/4 back to the rear tee, then 3/16 to both rear wheels. drum brakes stock. I have added disc to the front, (with power booster and dual master/manual P-valve) and have 1/4 to the disc and 1/4 to the rear. stops perfect
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1961 chevy K10 my build is------------61K10 build |
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