jamesinc
Hi all, I need a set of brake hardlines for the driver's strut. The ones that go to the caliper at one end and the soft hose at the other end. They're for the '77 244DL. One got ruined when I separated it from the caliper.
Angus242164
Hmm, from memory '75-'77 use double flares at the hose end, '78 onwards have ball flares on both ends.
I have a set for '78 onwards models, but nothing to suit earlier models unfortunately.
AshDVS
Angus, I'm not massively familiar with the very early cars, could you simply swap to late flexible lines and use the later style hard lines with ball flares (sounds painful!) on both ends?
jamesinc
Here, this is what it looks like:
VolvoHordz
Northern Auto Wreckers in londondarry. They have some pretty old 240's there. I got one of those hardlines for marc a few years back for $15(?). Give me a call if you want me to try and grab one, they arent far form my house and I wouldnt mind an excuse to see if they have anything interesting in stock at the moment.
jamesinc
@VolvoHordz if you find me one I will give you time on my lathe? :)
Angus242164
Yep that is definitely the early type, uses a tube nut with an internal thread, rather than an external thread on the nut like the later ones. It looks like I was wrong about the difference in flare type though, that is a ball flare, the same as the later lines.
Ash I'm pretty sure that changing to a set of later hoses, lines and clips would be one way to solve the issue.
jamesinc
I could potentially make a new line myself couldn't I? Or would a standard flare be incompatible with a ball flare?
Angus242164
If you have access to a flaring tool, the correct size line, and the correct tube nuts, absolutely.
There are two types of flares, ball (also called single, or bubble), and double (sometimes called inverted), the two types aren't compatible, but all flaring tools that I've come across are capable of making both types.
Philia_Bear
If you want to upgrade to the later style I have everything you would need for $15 per side :-)
this is from the 81 which is being scrapped later this weekend
240Joe
Are you still after one or are you sorted?
I think I've got those ones on the '76 244 struts I have in the shed. Is there one in particular you're after or will any do?
jamesinc
240Joe;17566 wroteAre you still after one or are you sorted?
I think I've got those ones on the '76 244 struts I have in the shed. Is there one in particular you're after or will any do?
I am still after one. I only need the driver's side strut, but both hardlines to be safe. The one that's broken is the lower one (i.e. the lower fitting on the caliper) but the other one also got a bit rounded before it came free so if you are offering both I'll take both.
240Joe
Well I practiced getting them off on the passenger side and did so perfectly, then on the driver's side munted one lower nut and slightly rounded the other. It's yours if you want it and/or any of the passenger side ones.
jamesinc
Yeah why not. It's better than what I have now (which is a broken hardline). Did you use a pipe spanner? I've found it's really difficult to crack the hardlines with a regular open ended spanner.
egads (she/her)
Yup, pipe spanners ftw!
jamesinc
FWIW, even a pipe spanner was unable to budge the line I broke. Took a LOT of abuse to remove it. Had to clean everything out, grind down the fitting, then heat it with a torch and rattle gun it off.
240Joe
Yeah I used a normal spanner & wd40, I don't have pipe spammers yet.
So just the one?
Pm me your address and I'll send it this week
Angus242164
I work for a specialist brake workshop and we actually don't use pipe spanners, even though we're working with brake lines every day. We find that they have a lot of flex in them, and it's really easy to round off fittings with them.
We use good quality open end spanners, and if they're too tight for that, straight jaw Vice Grips, which sounds extreme, but causes no serious damage if used carefully.
