The line that runs my back brakes blew out the other day. I got it off and figured I needed a new hose too.

I brought the end that goes to the master cylinder into NAPA and they couldn't find anything in the store that would remotely work. I searched the forum a few times and it seems that NAPA should indeed have the parts I need. Trouble is, I don't know what I need, and neither do they.

Heres what I think I need:
15mm flare fitting for the master cylinder end
14mm? (different?!?!) flare fitting for the rubber hose end by the axle
120 inches or so of line. I tried to measure the OD of it but failed miserably.

I did manage to procure the hose at Autozone.
I assume one of NAPA's generic hard lines would work, but none of the sizes are metric. I would really appreciate if someone that's done this before knows what sizes I need or a store that carries a good selection of brake parts. They "don't have anything that big. It's metric too."
I tried to measure the OD w/ a caliper and micrometer but didn't come up with any sizes that NAPA has.

it's for a 92 RS w/ rear drums and no performance package

yeah this post is way too long... and i'm frustrated

 

Ok, i just spent 2 hour this morning at various part stores and it seems nobody has anything thats 9/16ths that takes 1/4in tubing.

Somebody has to have done their brakes before on a 3rd gen. This is ridiculous.

Does it have to be bubble flare? Wouldn't a regular double flare do? And if I walk up and get 1/4 tubing w/ "standard" fittings, would that work? I can't bring this kind of stuff back if it doesn't fit.

 

I think www.finelines.com and there's another site as well that carries pre-bent OEM replacement lines. They also give you the option of stainless steel so you don't have to worry about rusting ever.

 

Well... its good to know that someone makes something that fits. $50 seems like a bit much just to get my car back on the road though. I wonder what the difference is between the $50 and $70 versions.

I did manage to find the rubber hose at Autozone.

This brake fix is getting a bit complicated

 

$50 = painted steel like OEM
$70 = stainless steel

If you go through buying them online, you may as well spend the extra money and get the stainless steel stuff.

 

Get a pre-bent line. Inline tube, classic tube, and plenty of others make them. Spend the $$, open a box, unroll your new line and put it on (it will fit like a glove). This is your braking system, I wouldn't skimp on this. The only other alternative is to buy brake flaring tools (good ones cost more than $50), re-use the old tube nuts off of your brake lines, get a 25' roll of 1/4" brake line from the dealer, and spend an afternoon making it yourself....and hope it works.

 

Oh, I've had bad experience re-making my own brake line by the way. Granted, I must have been retarded and had to have screwed something up, but that car ended its life upside down in a creek at the bottom of a ditch. I'm sure its perfectly safe to do if you do it right (this was like one of my first experiences with fixing brakes on cars aside from replacing pads), but hey, there's always the chance of something happening, right?

 

I have done many of the lines. On your metric car the small lines are 4.5mm which 3\16 works well and the metric fittings will work with the 3\16 pipe. The larger line to the rear is a 6mm which is just smaller than 1\4. I drill the metric fitting out to just over 1\4 ( no more than .010 over) and then you can use 1\4 inplace of 6mm. When I make bubble flares I use an SAE double flare tool. When you set the tube in the fitting I raise it a small amount ( like a hair) above what the die shows and then make the first part of a double flare and instant bubble. As this is not DOT approved way of doing it, I am not suggesting you do it.

 

Ok, I realize that I don't want to do this wrong

Thats why i didn't reuse the old fitting and just use a compression fitting to bypass the rusted line like the auto store guy suggested. That plan had 'bad idea' written all over it.

84406, your post suggests that 1/4 in premade lines from NAPA would work with some adjusting. Unfortunatly I don't want to remove my proportioning valve and drill out the fittings.

I do know that for a fact my '90 Firebird had the same line blow and the owner replaced it with off the shelf generic line. I just didn't know what size and assumed it was something common. I do not know if he simply forced the 1/4 to fit, or if he drilled out the proportioning valve. (don't have the car anymore to check sizes and such)

My dad is saying I should go with the Finelines but my wallet is screaming NO. Being in school and doing your own repairs is rough I'm already very upset by not being able to drive since Wednesday, and I probably won't get the new line until next week if I order it online

Thanks for the help though, I now have two solid ideas of what to do. I'll let ya'll know what I did and if I hate myself afterwards

 

 

Well, turns out that Fine Lines is actually in Ohio and only an hour away. I'm going to drive out there and save $20 on shipping.

I don't have a flare tool and don't think any of my friends do, so I figured prebents would be the best. I don't have the other fitting either, it's rusted onto the hose. That hose is getting replaced as well.

Geez, and to think I've been losing sleep over this. Not to mention forum hovering

Perhaps this issue should be thrown in the FAQ section? The solution was simple enough, but took a while to find.