I've bought front brake hoses from 3 different vendors and physically looked at one from a 4th. They are all identical, and all are wrong! The distance from the seat to the hex is 1 3/8" on the correct hose. The replacement hoses from all 4 vendors and at least two different "manufacturers" measure only 1 1/8" from seat to hex. The hex is also larger and the shank is thicker. The hex fouls with the I-beam on the F-100 such that it is impossible to fit a line wrench on it and it can't be tightened with the backing plate bolted to the spindle.

Has anyone else run into this yet? Does anyone have a source for the correct hose? I've tried Rock Auto, NAPA, Mac's and NPD.

Today I ordered hoses for a '72 which use a small steel brake line with male flare fittings at each end between the wheel cylinder and brake hose. I'll make some steel lines similar to the factory lines but I think I'll make them so I don' have to swap the wheel cylinders left to right.

This is the only thing stopping me from driving my truck and it's making me crazy.

 

YES!

A little back story.. when I first got the truck, I replaced the front right hose (picked up at autozone) and all was well. A few months later I decided to do an entire brake system replacement and rebuilt everything. New cylinders, hardware, drums, the whole 9 yards all ordered from rock auto. Rebuilt and put everything back together and while bleeding the brakes I noticed the left front hose was seeping brake fluid at the wheel cylinder/hose connection. I figured maybe the copper washer was the issue. Replaced and still leaked. New wheel cylinder not true and flat? Replaced and still leaked.. as I’m sitting there pissed off that I’m going to have to take the entire drum back apart, I notice the hex on the brake hose is right up against the I beam which was causing it to not lay flat for a solid seal on the washer... this was the hose from rock auto. Went and got another hose from autozone, buttoned her up, and no more leaks... I can confirm AUTOZONE hoses work! The hex was not touching the I beam, it was a few mm away from it like it should be.

by the way, you have to tighten the brake hose with the wheel cylinder bolts loose so that you have enough room for a wrench on the hose.

 

Please, when asking questions, list ALL the pertinent info, we are not mind readers. Year/series/2WD/4WD

Assuming this is the '66 F100 in your signature and assuming it's 2WD:

C5TZ-2078-A .. Front Brake Hose / approx: 17 3/4" long / Right/Left is the same / Obsolete

1965/71 F100/250 2WD / 1967/71 F350.

KLIMESH MOTOR SALES in Calmar IA has 1 = 563-562-3241.

GREEN SALES CO. in Cincinnati OH has 2 = 800-543-4959.

OBSOLETE RELIABLE PARTS in Nashville GA has 2 = 229-686-5101.

NOS PARTS LTD in Waxahachie TX has 18 = 972-937-2201.

 

Bill, I think you sell yourself short.. you do appear to be a mind reader! Yes this is for my '66 F100, and yes I'm aware the '72 style is completely different. I was planning to fabricate the short steel lines to make the '72 style work, but I will jump on the leads you provided. Thanks a million for the info!

 

Good info Daugust! Eventually the NOS supply will run dry and we need a source of hoses that fit right. Thanks for posting.

 

The local AutoZone had the same wrong part as everyone else. I think everyone has gone to the same supplier and they're just putting them in different boxes. Probably cheap and advertised as fitting a BUNCH of applications.

Green Sales had aftermarket hoses. They may very well fit but I wasn't going to take a chance at over $35 a piece.

NOS Parts LTD never answered their phone.

Finally ordered a pair from Obsolete Reliable in Georgia. He measured them, they checked good and he said they were in Ford boxes. Should arrive Monday.

Thanks again Bill.

 

A lady answers the phone, if she's there. If she's not, you have to leave a message.

Don't expect a return call immediately from the owner, it might take several days for him to get back to you.

 

Maybe it's just me or maybe it's late but are these NOS rubber brake hoses really 50 years old and you are going to rely on them??

 

If you got new wheel cylinders, are you sure they’re fully seating against the backing plate? If they’re cocked on one side, it’ll pin the hose right up against the beam. Just something else to check for.. sometimes the machine work isn’t the greatest and mount holes don’t line up

i also agree with the above.. 50+ yr old rubber lines?

 

How do you know they're 50 years old? When were they obsoleted, 10-15 years ago...or ?

 

The rubber looks and feels good. They haven't been exposed to ultraviolet light, oil, grease, solvents, or road debris. They're made right.

In order to install the wrong ones, I had to remove the backing plate from the spindle, then attach the hose to the wheel cylinder and install it as an assembly because you can't get a wrench on them with the backing plate bolted to the spindle. I know they were snugged down nice and tight. After installing them on the truck, the driver's side developed a leak, apparently due to the pressure of the I -beam against the hex on the end of the hose.

However, while I was waiting on them to arrive, I bought a couple of 8" steel lines with 3/8ths male flare fittings on either end, bought a couple of '72 F100 hoses with the female inverted flare fittings on either end, and some brass 3/8-24 male bubble to 3/8 inverted female flare fittings. The brass adapters (same as originally came in the master cylinder) were installed in the wheel cylinders, then the steel lines were bent into a loop and installed between the wheel cylinders and the hoses. I bought a pair of speed bleeders that work great. So the brakes are working fine right now and I'm holding the NOS hoses for my '66 F250 restoration.

 

just go and have some made at your local hose shop.you can get hose that does not expand when under pressure which helps a little if your running drums.

 

I saw these brake hoses advertised on ebay:https://www.ebay.com/itm/FRONT-BRAKE...53.m1438.l2649 The picture looks like the correct style hose. Just thought I'd pass it on.

 

GoodBrakes is good stuff, that's where I picked up a set for my slick.

 

I will also vouch for Brakes Unlimited/ Good Brakes. My 65 F100 4x4 had 64 hoses from the factory. This vendor was very helpful and had just what I needed.