Braided Brake Lines @ SNF

BlackRV7 · #1 03-28-2006, 05:10 AM

Gang, While at SNF I would like to buy replacement line for the brake line Van's supplies. What line am I looking for and do I need alternate fittings. Making the shopping list..........

Dana Overall
Richmond, KY i39
RV-7, Black Magic
http//rvflying.tripod.com/id30.html

gmcjetpilot · #2 03-28-2006, 07:05 AM

I recommend buying new, braided Teflon brake line that is commonly used buy the hot rod and auto guys. You are going to need a certain length and I don't think SNF vendors will have it. It is after all not really a "aircraft" AN spec certify part. I got mine from an industrial hose house that made every kind of hose and fittings.

Here is what I am talking about: -3 hose with -3 AN fittings:
http://www.bakerprecision.com/earls19.htm

These are pre-made for brakes and gages, but you can get just the hose and ends:

Hose: http://www.amstreetrod.com/610006ASR.php4
Ends: http://www.amstreetrod.com/HoseEnds.php4#SpeedSeal

Ends are steel and not sure about angle of cone (45/37) degree. When I had mine made up he had the 37 degree (common aircraft) and 45 degree (common with automotive/industrial). I think most of the hotrod and racers have gone to "AN" 37 degree fittings. DOT brake lines are typically "Banjo Fittings and Pipe thread.

Either way there are pipe thread fittings and adapters to match the hose fitting. You can go with the the -4 hose (which does have aluminum fittings) but that is over kill. The steel fittings on the -3 are small and not heavy. Just know what you are getting on the fittings and that they match the mating fittings.

Keep in mind you will add some weight with the braided steel hose, even though they are small, but I think its worth it. The ridged aluminum one work great from firewall down the gear leg, but the flexing that goes on near the caliper makes me nervous. The stock aluminum line works (Van use to use plastic), but there have been several broken ridged lines next to the caliper. One resulted in a brake fire, but fortunately the damage was contained. You could elected to have half and half, part ridged and part flex braided line near the caliper. I went with all braided since I did not want to have an junction with extra fittings.

Good Luck, enjoy SNF

George

aadamson · #3 03-28-2006, 07:10 AM

At the top of this link there is a guy who makes brake line kits for the Lancairs. He'll make anything if you tell him what you want. Be advised tho, they are *NOT* cheap. But he does excellent work. I have a kit for my Legacy and I would never trade them. That Tygon stuff is just plain crude. No wonder there are brake fires from melted tubing...

http://www.lancairlegacy.com/news.html

gmcjetpilot · #4 03-28-2006, 07:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aadamson

he does excellent work. I have a kit for my Legacy and I would never trade them. That Tygon stuff is just plain crude. No wonder there are brake fires from melted tubing...

You rich Lancair guys, $300, $500 for some brake lines? OH MY!

I think we can do better going thru a race shop that makes brake lines, by an order of magnitude of 10 to 20. I think you can get them for about $35.00 each or less, may be $60 at most for custom made ones to order. HOWEVER if anyone wants to send me say $300 for some RV brake lines I'll take care of you.

Seriously nice looking stuff and sure he uses only the best stuff, but the car / industrial stuff is excellent. Just my opinion. George.

aadamson · #5 03-28-2006, 07:42 AM

If you looked george, that *was* a *race* shop! The name of the place was "captain hook racing"!

And to be specific, It is not *some*, it's 12 lines, pressure tested, with all the AN fittings to convert from the dang tygon tubing and brass fittings. From the reservoir to the parking brake valve, to the cylinders on both sides and then thru all the bulkheads and to the brake calipers.

I tried buying them locally from a race shop, made of the same stuff and they were *more* expensive around these parts. For the entire kit

RV_7A · #6 03-28-2006, 09:33 AM

http://jeffsrv-7a.com/FUSELAGE/04-12-08.htm

-Jeff

rzbill · #7 03-28-2006, 10:39 AM

Like Jeff referenced above, Earls is a manufacturer of brake lines and fittings. You can make your own lines by purchasing the right parts and the appropriate assembly mandrels. They have good quality stuff, including aluminum end fittings for the custom brake lines. I used them on my bike.

RV_7A · #8 03-28-2006, 11:29 AM

It takes a long time for this page to load but this place is truely amazing at what they actually can supply.

http://www.anplumbing.com/shop/index.php

-Jeff

McFly · #9 03-28-2006, 01:02 PM

You can probably get them made locally.

I gave the local speed shop the fitting size (3?), the lenght, the the fitting type (we used words like straight female AN fitting).

The guy at the speed shop made sure that I was aware that a "special avaition" flaring tool would be needed.

They look great and they are exactly half the weight of the Vans hoses.

Good luck.

Kyle Boatright · #10 03-28-2006, 04:12 PM

Are you replacing all of the lines or would it be OK just to replace the last 12" or so with braided, which is typical for spam cans with fixed gear?

That's what I'd do if I was building another RV, because IF there is a brake line problem, it is going to be in the last few inches, and a short braided line is very easy to replace...

K