NO compression fittings on brake lines, but no rubber hoses to replace steel lines either. Compression fittings are fine for kitchen sinks. The pressure in brake hydraulic systems can easily reach over 2200 psi. Rubber hoses will expand leading to a very low and soft brake pedal. Insurance investigators and lawyers love to find modifications like this. They will convince a jury that you were partly at fault for the crash when the other guy ran the red light because you were less able to avoid it, ... And they will be right.
The highest-pressure fuel injection hose is only good for a few hundred pounds of pressure, and that rubber is compatible with petroleum products like gasoline and diesel fuel. Brake fluid is a glycol product and in no way compatible with fuel line hose. Regular hydraulic hose is also not compatible with brake fluid. To have a hose custom-made costs about $15.00 per foot plus the ends, and it still would not be compatible with brake fluid and it would expand too much. Standard pre-manufactured steel lines with the fittings and double flares already there are cheap and easy to install. If you don't want to cut out a bad section and make your own double flares, buy what you need to replace the entire line. Remove the old end first to see if they used metric iso flares or double flares.
Where the line comes off the combination valve and runs to the back wheels they will likely have used a really large diameter fitting. Any auto parts store will have those odd-size fittings if you're going to make your own line, otherwise they will have the right adapter fitting to allow you to attach a standard 3/16" steel line fitting.
Monday, March 18th, 2013 AT 9:59 PM
