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Hello, I have a 1987 Iroc Z Camaro and I am working on swapping a HAWKS 8.8 rear into the back. I wanted to see if anyone online could help me with the rear brake line that I messed up when I was trying to remove it from the old rear end. I had cut the line because this is a northern car and the rust was so bad I could not get it undone. I also couldn't put heat on it since the brake line is next to the fuel line. So after cutting it, I straightened out the tube and tried to get it back on but it was just not working all that great. So now I am looking for any solution, maybe a new brake line or a new nut and just flare the end that I had cut? Also, I should mention that I stripped the nut pretty badly trying to wrench on it. I am only 19 so I'm fairly new to working on these old cars, any help is appreciated and I have attached some pictures below.
That flare nut is done. Being from the northeast and having done this to my own car, I would recommend running a new line. The line doesn't look terrible but once you start trying to flare 35year old lines you're gonna have issues. Also, the line that runs back on our cars is a weird large diameter. Do you need that size for your flex hose? Think about what size you need for your flex hose and go from there. When I did my 9 inch I made all new lines from the master to the rear wheels. If your using stock brakes on the 8.8 just make new lines. If your using aftermarket/larger brakes think about an adjustable prop valve while your at it.
if your using all your stock stuff you could consider splicing in a new section. This is less expensive and not necessarily the wrong way. Either way you're gonna need a flare tool and some line. The newer copper-nickel line is easy to work with and will not corrode. The down side is it's soft. You can also buy premade lines.
So I will probably try and splice a new line in if that is the easiest route. I know that this flare nut was the proper size for the flex hose that connects to my new 8.8 . Im usiing a LT1 style brake setup so not the factory.
When you splice it just pick an area that is free of any rust/pitting where you are gonna make the new flare. When making a flare if there's any corrosion the flare can crack/leak and create a headache for you. Good luck!
That tube nut is a size M12x1.0 (you'll also see it written as M12-1.0). The end of the brake tube itself is flared with "metric bubble" type flare.
If you choose to build your own patch section, then you'll need that kind of tube nut and a metric bubble flaring tool to flare a 1/4 inch brake line. I have had good luck with Edelmann tube nuts.
The original brake line is a metric 6 mm diameter with a tube nut sized for 6 mm tube. The brake line you buy at the store is 1/4 inch diameter which is slightly larger, and the tube nuts you buy also will be sized for 1/4 inch tube.
This won't happen in your case, but if somebody needed to re-use the stock tube nut meant for 6 mm tube, then the tube nut has to be reamed a small amount to fit over a 1/4 tube. Not ideal but it will work if you have the right tools.
Those fuel lines look proper wasted too. You can get a full new set front to back from Inline Tube in steel or stainless. No fooling with splices or dodgy repairs because the only thing worse than loosing brakes on the expressway is burning to death at a stop light.
Not sure you can put a 6mm nut onto ¼" line... ¼" = 6.35mm. Might be too big to fit through.
No problem though. Parts stores carry 6mm line with both ends bubble flared and nuts already on it. You can buy a stick of it and bend it up to fit your car; or, get a short piece, a bubble flaring tool, a nut, and a bubble flare union similar to this (not sure if this one is the size you need, but like it, anyway) https://www.summitracing.com/parts/edd-276000; or, you can get a full set of stainless ones from Finelines, Classic Tube, Inline, or maybe even Dorman.
That's kinda like the agnostic dyslexic insomniac...
He laid awake nights wondering if there really is a dog.
Back to topic:
I have put a 6mm line into a ¼" fitting before. Even managed successfully to put a 45° SAE double flare on it. (long story short: 91 or so rear into 83 car) It fit kinda sloppy butt at least it worked. Still, the reverse might work, with at least some parts in some cases, but wouldn't be something I'd want to bet on.
04-21-2024, 11:45 AM
