Pre-bent hydraulic brake line

[duke16]

Is there anywhere that sells pre-bent hydraulic brake lines for 2nd gen Explorers? My passenger front line just started leaking, and I hear it's probably the worst one to replace.

 

[XLTrunner]

Try these guys. Not sure if this is the exactly what you need...but, maybe contact them?

http://www.classictube.com/catalogs...box=&engine=&ymm_cat=StopFlex Brake Hose Kits

 

[J_C]

I know of nowhere, but would try calling a Ford Dealership parts department. However it might be hard if not impossible to get a pre-bent line into an assembled vehicle, unless you un-bend it quite a bit to fish it through.

What I would do is buy a quantity of bulk brake line, copper-nickel "cunifer" line is easier to bend than all steel, can be bent by hand without much effort, then of course you'll need the tube nuts and a flaring tool and tube cutter, file/sandpaper/etc to finish the cut ends good before flaring.

If you can determine the length it needs to be, maybe fish a piece of string along its route, then measure the length of string allowing a few extra inches for bends, auto parts stores sell lengths of line pre-flared and with the nuts already on it, but the longest length I recall at (autozone?) was something like 60", and it is steel not cunifer so a little harder to bend by hand in tight areas, but (autozone, or elsewhere) might have a bender, loaner tool for that. However, you will still need to cut off one end, reuse the old line nut on the ABS module end, and flare that end.

 

[J_C]

Try these guys. Not sure if this is the exactly what you need...but, maybe contact them?

http://www.classictube.com/catalogsearch/advanced/result/?name=&description=&short_description=&sku=&price[from]=&price[to]=&year=1997&make=Ford&v_model=Explorer&cab=&ton=&duty=&drive=252&box=&engine=&ymm_cat=StopFlex Brake Hose Kits

I think that is just steel braided soft lines (hoses), instead of rubber.

 

[Mbrooks420]

When I did my lines I had no luck finding premade lines (although this was years ago). I had good luck with the brand Poly Armor. It bends a little easier than regular lines, and has a coating to keep it from corroding as bad.

 

[1998Exp]

Years ago I used a supplier that would duplicate any hydraulic line if you sent them the old one. Don't recall the name of that business, but worth looking for If you can afford to park your vehicle for a couple weeks.

 

[Mbrooks420]

Now that I think of it, I replaced this line on my retired Mounty. I just took a shortcut, and routed it non factory, since snaking it up in there looked like a nightmare.

 

[duke16]

I know of nowhere, but would try calling a Ford Dealership parts department. However it might be hard if not impossible to get a pre-bent line into an assembled vehicle, unless you un-bend it quite a bit to fish it through.

That's a good point. Looking at where it's routed, there's no way I would get a pre-bent one in.

Is the front-passenger side line one continuous line, or does it have a coupling with two lines like the ones in the rear?

 

[Turdle]

^^^
Rockauto lists http://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/...1362462,brake+&+wheel+hub,hydraulic+line,1820

For 2000 v8. 22 and change but wow look at that thing!

Step 1, install brake line, steps 2-25500 install everything else in engine bay.

 

[J_C]

That's a good point. Looking at where it's routed, there's no way I would get a pre-bent one in.

Is the front-passenger side line one continuous line, or does it have a coupling with two lines like the ones in the rear?

The rear has one line going from the under-hood ABS module to the rear where it splits at the left wheel hose assembly that has a coupler built in (at least on my '98). The front has two separate lines going from ABS to each front wheel, are not coupled to each other.

Sometimes people use a coupling where there wasn't one originally. They pull the old line off, see that they can't bend a new one to that shape and get it on whole, so they split it up into two pieces so those pieces will fit pre-bent.

Personally I'd rather just have the line a little less neat looking by bending it as you go, and avoid having to make an extra flare and screw the two together, and check for and deal with leaks if that area doesn't seal well. Once the rest of the line has been bent, cut to length, and assembled, it'll be a PITA to re-flare a leaking middle junction that (if) tightening more doesn't fix.

You'd probably want to just start over with that run if it was coupled and leaked there. I'd be more likely to do it if the line was factory flared, which you could do by buying two pre-cut & flared pieces at an auto parts store, then still needing to cut off and re-flare the end with the special nut on the ABS module, but that's steel line (at least at all local auto parts stores I've checked, it may be different online) and cunifer (copper nickel) is easier to bend in tight areas.

 

[roscoe 0202]

go to a hose store Raleigh should have 1 they can make you a dot compliant flex hose with the proper ends.
roscoe