Today I tried changing the rear brake hoses on my 89 IROC with PBR rear brakes. The fittings were completely rusted together so I ended up stripping them trying to unscrew the lines. I need to replace the 2 hard lines that run off the “T fitting” along the axel. I know I can buy stock replacements from Classic industries or www.classictube.com but don’t really feel like paying a lot and waiting for shipping.

My local NAPA and Advance Auto Parts stores sell different length lines with fittings and flares already on them. They are not the same length as the stock ones so my question is can I buy a flaring tool and the hard lines and just cut them to size and flare them. I have searched and read a lot of conflicting information with people saying this will not work because you need a “bubble” flaring tool or the lines at the store are SAE not metric so they will not fit.

Can anyone clear this up for me?

 

you can buy tools for bubble flare or standard double flare. you need to flare the line to match what you have now, or use adapters. if the ready made replacement line is too long just put and extra bend or two in it to take up the extra line.

 

Ya... I got a really chep but well working kit from one of the more cheap tool places in the area. They are really easy to get the flare going but I had to try it 2 or 3 times before I really got a good one that would seal tight. O and dont gorget to keep the fitting on the line after you cut it. Like it says in my sig... I am a NOOB.

 

Did you physically see these lines yourself? Or did they tell you about them? In my Pep Boys, if you walk thru their tire racks (hehe), that's where the brake lines are. The metric ones are listed as for being for "foreign/import vehicles". Guess nobody told them that GM used metric since '84? Just wondering if your store thought "GM= SAE double flare" and didn't even put 2 & 2 together to just give you a "foreign/import vehicle" tube.

I think http://www.toolparadise.com has an ISO bubble flare tool (make sure it's not a metric double-flare tool, i've seen those, too)... but then again, you've gotta wait for shipping.