14-Bolt drum brake hard line routing?

[cdoggwsu]

OK this is getting frustrating.

I got a rebuilt 14-bolt, was told it was from a '79 3/4-ton but its got the newer style backing plates. The diff housing doesn't have all of the newer ribbing so I'm guessing the plates were swapped in at some point. The brakes have just been rebuilt too, so I'll be keeping them for the time being.

I ordered the rear hard lines from inline tube based on a '79 3/4-ton but I'm having issues with the kit they sent. The passenger side dropped in fine but the driver side hits the diff cover and is pointing in entirely the wrong direction. Do I need to send these back to inline tube or am I doing something wrong? I got these so I wouldn't have to mess with custom bending.

Any of you guys that kept the rear drums, if you'd be so kind as to post pics of the hard line routing it would be appreciated.

Pics below for reference.

 

[cuervo]

They should both go over the top of the housing and not across the back of the diff cover.

 

[mr.smartass]

Yeah just turn the one that's going going across the cover up so it goes over the top of the housing and see how that looks.

 

[cdoggwsu]

That's the thing...when they're lined up with the hole in the backing plate they end up as you see in the pics. To make them go any other way they'll need to be bent or twisted so if they are in fact incorrect lines I'd rather send them back then kink one and have to buy another one. I guess I should have just bent and flared them my damn self...

Maybe they just need a slight coaxing...I'll check at lunch today.

 

[cdoggwsu]

It's definitely the wrong line. Even if it was routed differently it's way too long, doesn't meet up at all with the passenger side where the distribution block will be.

While I was at it I checked the "extended" stainless soft lines Inline Tube sent and they are the same length as the ones I have now which are stretched to the limit with the 4" lift. I'll be sending these back for the correct ones, too.

So far the only thing they sent me that was right was the passenger side rear hard line.

 

[cdoggwsu]

No one has any pictures of the hard lines? I found a few general pics on the net but nothing very closeup.

 

[Mountain_man]

The spring around that line is ment for bending it by hand. just turn it to go above the cover and connect it up. Bend very slowly and try your hardest to figure out where to bend then do it the first time. I made my own lines and they were to long of course so I just added an extra bend or two and they work fine. Clears properly and everything. Ugly? Yes but for 6 bucks I'm happy.

 

[Desert Rat]

I did my own and it was easy. If you are concerned about kinking, just go get a small hand tube bender from your local auto parts store. They are cheap and you won't accidently kink the line. You should be able to modify those if you wanted to.

 

[mechted]

This is from a '78 C20. I also replaced the backing plates with newer style ones, the old brake lines lined right up iirc.

 

[cdoggwsu]

This is from a '78 C20. I also replaced the backing plates with newer style ones, the old brake lines lined right up iirc.

Sweet, thanks for the pic. I had a feeling this line was designed to to across the front of the diff cover, it's just too freakin' long and bent a little bit off.

Thanks for all of the replies so far. Considering I paid for the convenience of drop-in lines I'll be returning/exchanging this stuff before I go hand bending it.

 

[Mudstud]

Are you aware that you can buy straight lengths of hardline from AutoZone that are flared and have the fittings on them all ready? With a hand bender they are easy to bend up. Especially something as simple and
accessible as a rear line.

 

[Desert Rat]

That is exactly what I did for my Corp14ff when I did my rear disk conversion. I bought a bunch from the auto parts store and just hand bent them to fit.

 

[RudyO]

The spring around the line is not for bending, it is for additional protection. If you buy a bender and try to bend it with that protection on, I doubt it will even work.

Proper way is to start with fresh line, and use a half decent bending tool (NOT the $3.00 HF one, or those spring looking ones). If you get a bender that is in a kit you also get the other stuff to do flaring Also as stated, AutoZone, Checker, etc all sell straight lines. Longest I've found is in a 60 inch length. Cut off one fitting, bend to shape, add the protection, and reflare.

You could also do the cheap route and bolt two small pulleys to a board. I've seen that also, and it works. One pulley needs to arch around the other.

 

[cdoggwsu]

Are you aware that you can buy straight lengths of hardline from AutoZone that are flared and have the fittings on them all ready? With a hand bender they are easy to bend up. Especially something as simple and
accessible as a rear line.

That is exactly what I did for my Corp14ff when I did my rear disk conversion. I bought a bunch from the auto parts store and just hand bent them to fit.

The spring around the line is not for bending, it is for additional protection. If you buy a bender and try to bend it with that protection on, I doubt it will even work.

Proper way is to start with fresh line, and use a half decent bending tool (NOT the $3.00 HF one, or those spring looking ones). If you get a bender that is in a kit you also get the other stuff to do flaring Also as stated, AutoZone, Checker, etc all sell straight lines. Longest I've found is in a 60 inch length. Cut off one fitting, bend to shape, add the protection, and reflare.

You could also do the cheap route and bolt two small pulleys to a board. I've seen that also, and it works. One pulley needs to arch around the other.

Of course I'm aware that it can be purchased straight and hand bent...the whole point was I needed extended front and rear soft lines anyway so when I called up Inline Tube I had them toss in the pre-bent hard lines as it wasn't much more.

My point in requesting pics was to see if I was just doing something wrong in the routing of the lines. From mechted's pic and what I've found on the net I can see how it is supposed to be run but whatever Inline Tube sent me isn't correct. I know I can try and bend this line to get it to fit but I don't see why I shouldn't just get what I paid for in the first place.

 

[cdoggwsu]

OK, so I can now confirm the axle is in fact a '78 3/4-ton 14 bolt with drums and backing plates from an '86. Is there a difference in depth/backspacing/offset/whatever you want to call it between the old style backing plates and the new ones?

Looking at it again, if the lines themselves just slid 1/2 an inch or so outward everything would line up. Or, presumably if they are different I could just swap the ones I have for a pair of lines for an '86 and everything should be ok.

 

[YZEATER]

for a 1/2" your worrying about this? either send them back and wait who knows how long or just bend them a little bit to get them to fit. or you could learn how to modify something and cut and re-flare the line shorter.

 

[cdoggwsu]

for a 1/2" your worrying about this? either send them back and wait who knows how long or just bend them a little bit to get them to fit. or you could learn how to modify something and cut and re-flare the line shorter.

I'm just trying to figure out what I've got here. It's not a matter of "learning how to modify" anything. If I bought it and it didn't fit I'd like to know why before I go hacking anything up.

I think I've got all the info I need. Thanks again everyone for the replies.