need steel brake line from proportioning valve to front right frame rail

[G-NUT]

Replaced my front left (drivers side) rubber brake line. Tried to replace front passenger side but cannot get the steel brake line flare nut loose, the part where it connects to the rubber line on the inside of the passenger side frame rail. In the processes I've totally rounded the nut. I did use a flare nut wrench. Used it from the get-go. Didn't work so I got an old 3/8 inch wrench and used my Dremel tool with a cutoff wheel to cut out a section of the round enclosed end just wide enough to get around the line. This didn't work either. So I got my small Vicegrip brand needlenose vicegrips and locked down tight as I could get. Still didn't work. (all the while continuously soaking it with PB Blaster) So I plan to cut it off, but in doing so I'll be replacing that hard line. It runs between the inside of the front passengerside frame rail to the proportioning valve. I've been looking around online and cannot find a direct replacement line for this line. Anyone know where I can get one?

[Bloodhound]

Check inlinetube.com

[kipps]

Inline tube will have it, but it won't be listed on their site. The only brake lines they list are complete kits. Ask them, and I'm sure they'd have no problem selling you one line, since they're forming the lines just in time to sell anyway. You'll have a choice of stainless or OE steel. If you get stainless, be forewarned that it's a lot harder to flare it if anything needs adjusting.

I don't know about a 2wd, but on my 3/4 ton 4x4, that line is impossible to remove/replace without removing the corresponding frame bracket for the engine mount. I know it's possible to get those frame brackets off with a small block in place, but it's a whole lot easier to do so if the engine is out. A big block may change things, and make it impossible as well. I don't know on that.

[G-NUT]

Thanks for the responses guys. I'll contact them.

I got the correct wrenches and I got the drivers side off with little issue, but MAN! that passenger side. Hopefully I'll be pulling the motor in the near future for some plans that I have. I may just wait till then to install the new line.

[fordguy40]

Recently did a brake overhaul and had the opposite problem; passenger's side line came out easily, had to cut and replace the driver's side hard line. Crow's foot flare wrenches and a shortened 3/8" flare wrench made this job a lot easier. Amazon has a 25' roll of 3/16" line and assorted fittings for 13 bucks, but that's good info about inline tube selling the lines individually...had I not been cheap and impatient, I would've gone that route.

[kipps]

Originally Posted by fordguy40

...Amazon has a 25' roll of 3/16" line and assorted fittings for 13 bucks, but that's good info about inline tube selling the lines individually...had I not been cheap and impatient, I would've gone that route.

The kit I ordered from inline tube was an exact fit -- except for the line from the proportioning valve to the load control valve. That one was so screwy, that I would have been better off making my own line.

For the 200 I spent on a full line kit(not counting the modifications), I could have bought a roll of 3/16" stainless, a roll of 1/4" stainless, all the fittings, and a nice bender tool. I would have spent the same amount, had less total frustration, and still had enough supplies and tools left over for another vehicle.

Don't waste money on a sub-par flaring tool for stainless. Find somebody local who has a really good flaring tool, and pay them 5-10 bucks per flair(or their usual hourly wage, if you're doing a batch at a time). From the prices I was seeing, a flaring tool that I'd trust on stainless is in the $200-$300 range.

[G-NUT]

Originally Posted by kipps

Inline tube will have it, but it won't be listed on their site. The only brake lines they list are complete kits. Ask them, and I'm sure they'd have no problem selling you one line, since they're forming the lines just in time to sell anyway. You'll have a choice of stainless or OE steel. If you get stainless, be forewarned that it's a lot harder to flare it if anything needs adjusting.

I don't know about a 2wd, but on my 3/4 ton 4x4, that line is impossible to remove/replace without removing the corresponding frame bracket for the engine mount. I know it's possible to get those frame brackets off with a small block in place, but it's a whole lot easier to do so if the engine is out. A big block may change things, and make it impossible as well. I don't know on that.

Contacted InlineTube.com. They would not sell me an individual line. They said they'd only sell sets, and I do not need the set. Said I was looking at something like $200 or so for a front steel line set.

Nope. I guess I'll be trying my hand at making a single line when I get my motor out. I don't understand why these companies will only sell a set and not a single line.

[kipps]

Originally Posted by G-NUT

Contacted InlineTube.com. They would not sell me an individual line....

Huh. They specify on their site that if there's anything custom about your vehicle, to let them know at the time of ordering and they can accommodate. This tells me that they're working off of CAD designs and can adjust them on the fly before bending and cutting the lines. If so, I'd have sure thought they could sell one line. Strange way of doing business, but what do I know?

[pitterpat]

Originally Posted by kipps

Huh. They specify on their site that if there's anything custom about your vehicle, to let them know at the time of ordering and they can accommodate. This tells me that they're working off of CAD designs and can adjust them on the fly before bending and cutting the lines. If so, I'd have sure thought they could sell one line. Strange way of doing business, but what do I know?

Too much labor and whims of customers to sell individual lines. Not enough profit in selling single lines.