Shortening brake lines? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

CG · 07-08-2018, 10:36 AM

I'm scrapping some chassis and wondering if the brake lines are worth keeping. Can you shorten brake lines by cutting, flaring and putting in a brass junction? Heck of a lot cheaper to reuse perfectly good parts than to be continually buying new stuff. And you know it's going to fit

**Ol Blue K20** · 07-08-2018, 10:48 AM

I've done it.

**HO455** · 07-08-2018, 11:10 AM

The problem with brake lines is they rust from the inside too. Brake fluid absorbs moisture from the air until saturated and over time it drops out and the steel factory lines began rusting. That one reason why it is recommended that brake fluid is replaced regularly. So old lines may be fine until that time you really hammer the brakes and that rusted spot you can't see fails.

Overdriven · 07-08-2018, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HO455

The problem with brake lines is they rust from the inside too. Brake fluid absorbs moisture from the air until saturated and over time it drops out and the steel factory lines began rusting. That one reason why it is recommended that brake fluid is replaced regularly. So old lines may be fine until that time you really hammer the brakes and that rusted spot you can't see fails.

I know someone who was stubborn and didn’t want to replace brake lines. They repaired the rear line twice, with compression couplers (cringe), before finally replacing it. Then when one of the front lines failed they did the same compression coupler repair until it failed in another spot and they replaced both front lines and the hoses. I don’t know how but thankfully there were no incidents to go along with all these failures.

**jocko** · 07-08-2018, 02:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CG

I'm scrapping some chassis and wondering if the brake lines are worth keeping. Can you shorten brake lines by cutting, flaring and putting in a brass junction? Heck of a lot cheaper to reuse perfectly good parts than to be continually buying new stuff. And you know it's going to fit

You can do it, but it's really not worth it - several good reasons listed already. But, for me, it's just one more place to leak, and my brakes always seem to leak, so I'd rather not add one more just to save a few bucks on new lines when I need em. What old brake lines ARE good for is as a practice line when bending your own, especially when replicating some complex bends - so they might be worth hangin onto.

CG · 07-08-2018, 02:39 PM

Sounds like they aren’t worth saving then. I’ll just leave em attached to the chassis for the scrapper.

07-08-2018, 10:36 AM	#1
CG BlahBlahBlah Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Wa. Posts: 20,019	Shortening brake lines? I'm scrapping some chassis and wondering if the brake lines are worth keeping. Can you shorten brake lines by cutting, flaring and putting in a brass junction? Heck of a lot cheaper to reuse perfectly good parts than to be continually buying new stuff. And you know it's going to fit

07-08-2018, 10:48 AM	#2
Ol Blue K20 Proprietor of Dale's Corner Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: Vacaville , CA Posts: 16,245	Re: Shortening brake lines? I've done it. __________________ "Some Days Chickens And Some Days Feathers" Dale XNGH ECV Sam Brannan 1004 R.I.P. 67ChevyRedneck R.I.P. Grumpy Old Man R.I.P. FleetsidePaul

07-08-2018, 11:10 AM	#3
HO455 Post Whore Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Portland Oregon Posts: 11,350	Re: Shortening brake lines? The problem with brake lines is they rust from the inside too. Brake fluid absorbs moisture from the air until saturated and over time it drops out and the steel factory lines began rusting. That one reason why it is recommended that brake fluid is replaced regularly. So old lines may be fine until that time you really hammer the brakes and that rusted spot you can't see fails. __________________ Thanks to Bob and Jeanie and everyone else at Superior Performance for all their great help. RIP Bob Parks. 1967 Burban (the WMB),1988 S10 Blazer (the Stink10 II),1969 GTO (the Goat), 1970 Javelin, 1952 F2 Ford OHC six 4X4, 29 Model A, 72 Firebird (the DBP Bird). 85 Alfa Romeo If it breaks I didn't want it in the first place The WMB repair thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=698377

07-08-2018, 02:39 PM	#6
CG BlahBlahBlah Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Wa. Posts: 20,019	Re: Shortening brake lines? Sounds like they aren’t worth saving then. I’ll just leave em attached to the chassis for the scrapper.



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