Hi - I have a 1983 f-150, 4x4, long bed, regular cab pickup with an inline 6. I need to know the length of the brake line from the master cylender all the way back to the back axel. I took them off and mis-placed a piece so i dont know how long they should be - please help.

brandon

 

 

the best thing u can do is get the longest line u can and cut it to fit and reflare the end.

 

Try a measuring tape maybe?

 

Try running some string, taping/fastening it to the bends where the line should be. If anyone does know the length, you have WAY too much time on your hands...go do something productive, like, organize your tools, or something...

1989 F-150 : 5.0, shorty headers, Flowmaster cat-back, K&N filtercharger intake, March pulleys, "Multi-brand" performance ignition, soon to be Mass-Air...doesn't know she's not a Mustang

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 02-Mar-01 AT 05:44 AM (EST)[/font][p]Now don't get me wrong, I'm very careful with brakework. I mean, when I'm done, the moving parts are Neverseized, you could do surgery on the backing plates, I get all the surfaces cut every time, buy the best parts, hell, I've even been known to buy *gasp* new hardware now and then.

BUT, in my experience, brake line length is not rocket scientry. IOW, if you consider that the L/R and R/R wheels' hyd. line length varies by several feet, the odd few inches/foot is irrelevant. I don't even go to the PITA of flaring them myself. Rather, I buy lengths as close to what I need as I can get, and I've never had differential braking, i.e., pulling, as a result of pressure imbalance. So I say, go to a local auto parts store that deals with "the trade" (this would eliminate Auto Zone, PEP Boys, Checkers, etc...) like a NAPA store, and buy preflared lines w/ the fittings installed, based on your (tape) measurements, as the man said. If you end up w/ a few inches too much, just do a little loop-de-loop up above the frame rail (out of the way, and won't trap air) and "Bob's your uncle!" It doesn't seem to matter if you have several of the fittings in the run of line, so don't worry about it.