brake line size

[tonpartain]

I'm replacing all of the brake lines on my '72 f100 and was wondering what size (od) lines to buy? The front disks are from a '74 f100 and the drums are original.

[FORDification]

All our trucks use 3/16" line. There really is no benefit to be gained by going to anything larger, and will cause problems trying to plumb it into the brake cylinders/calipers anyway.

[tonpartain]

Thanks, Keith. Looking at Napa's website they listed various sizes of brake lines and I just wasn't sure what to buy. I'm thinking of replacing all of the lines with their armored, double-flared lines.

[FORDification]

I replaced all the lines on my truck too. I just bought long lengths of straight 3/16" tubing and borrowed a friends double-flaring tool and went to town. When removing the old lines, I hit the coiled factory armor with a wire wheel to clean it up and then slid it down over the stock lines in the appropriate spots. Looks great, and everything to completely replace all hard lines cost me about $25-$30.

The nice thing about 3/16" tubing is that you really don't need a tubing bender unless you're making super-sharp bends. This small line doesn't kink like larger-diameter lines do, so you can do it all by hand with no worries.

[marz68]

To Keith or anybody that has done a 4 wheel disc setup. I also am getting ready to do my brake lines, since I have 4 wheel disc what would you recomend I use, all I know is that I will be using 3/16 line but should I add a proportioning valve or anything else that I should be aware of for a 4 wheel disc setup.

[layedout72]

im not sure on these old trucks, but from what ive read marz, with 80+ trucks proportioning valves are a MUST if you dont want your rear end flying out from under you. putting the same pressure on your rear discs, as your front discs, just doesnt make sense.

[marz68]

that makes sence layedout , I will start looking for one asap cause this truck has to make it to the western nationals on June 24 with or without the bed. All I need to do to be able to drive it is shocks, battery brakes and air system.

[FORDification]

All disc brake setups, regardless of the year of manufacture, require a proportioning valve to balance out the different brake characteristics of a drum-rear/disc-front setup.

On a disc/disc setup, it's slightly different, but still required. You need a master cylinder set up for that, as well as a matching proportioning valve, to have everything working correctly in a balanced manner. I believe what most folks do though is to install a manually-adustable valve to the rear brakeline circuit to dial in the rear brakes in this situation.