Crazy brake line idea?

[85 Jimmy]

Has anyone used stainless braided hose and AN fittings to make your own brake lines? If so, what hose and what size did you use? I've looked at some online that say "not for use with brake fluid". I'd like to think it'd be cheaper, and easier to carry a length of hose and re-use the old fittings if you ever need to replace a hose on the trail.

How big of a deal is it to actually be DOT approved? I can't imagine many law enforcement officers, or even an inspector, to pass a state inspection would be able to tell a difference.

And just to be clear, I'm only talking about the soft lines, not replacing the hard lines with stainless braided. (Although, I don't think that'd be a problem.)

 

[sweetk30]

I riped off 1 line in 20+ years of play / work / driving . was my own fault also .

its brakes don't cheep out .

 

[85 Jimmy]

I riped off 1 line in 20+ years of play / work / driving . was my own fault also .

its brakes don't cheep out .

My main reasoning is b/c my current ones are just barely too short when flexing the front out. I need new/longer lines so I'm just looking at some options.

 

[4X4HIGH]

My main reasoning is b/c my current ones are just barely too short when flexing the front out. I need new/longer lines so I'm just looking at some options.

Then just buy the premade stainless lines from Earls or a few other companies and be done (extended length obviously). It wont be cheaper trying to make your own lines and the ones you can buy pre-made ARE DOT approved.

 

[sweetk30]

do what I did many years ago .

I cut off the stock bracket and lowered it by bolting it to the bump stop bracket were my bump stops use to be before they rotted off.

with the lift kit I never used them anyways . it worked great .

 

[newyorkin]

AN fittings are 37 degree flare, automotive fittings must be 45 degree flare. Mating the two will result in leaks at high pressures (like emergency braking). You'll find you can't mate the AN up to your calipers/wheel cylinders/master cylinder, too.

Also, brake fluid is pretty nasty stuff, and tends to swell a lot of rubber compounds. You could end up using the AN OK for a little while, but the brake fluid over time may swell the inner diameter of the hose shut, and you'll have no brakes and no idea why.