Custom Flexible Brake Lines

[VFR750]

I deleted the hard lines to both front and rear brake calipers.

This makes it so easy to remove the caliper without breaking the line open. They just swing away like every other car i have ever owned. So easy!

You don't have to flush the whole system after swapping rotors or servicing the hub, which has been known to create an endless fight to get that last air bubbles out.

I replaces the front hard line and flex line with a 18" standard -3 braided line and used 3AN to M10 adapters

I replaced only the hard line in the rear with a custom made line. I kept the flex line from the chassis to the swing arm, but used a M10 to 3AN adapter to fit the swivel nut fitting.

Parts List:

[VFR750]

Picture of rear brake line

[Marc Bixen]

????????????????Why???????????

[VFR750]

Because I want to be able to swing the calipers away from the rotor without disconnecting the brake line.

The hard line is good, but not better.

Why not?

It’s easier

It’s faster

And a PITA to flush. I have wasted too much fluid chasing an air bubble.

[mrdstr]

I appreciate the post and jumped on it. I am tired of having to constantly break the lines open for various work i need to do. Had one of the rear hard lines twist due to getting bound with the fitting the first time I had to pull that caliper. What is the reason not to do it?

[Locker537]

I've wondered why a short hard line is used on the front. Cost?

Whenever I have to open up a line, I end up draining the system.

[thsupernge]

Originally Posted by VFR750

Because I want to be able to swing the calipers away from the rotor without disconnecting the brake line.

The hard line is good, but not better.

Why not?

It’s easier

It’s faster

And a PITA to flush. I have wasted too much fluid chasing an air bubble.

Agree 100%. The original is a terrible design. I bet racers changed this back in the day. Can you imagine having to bleed brakes in an endurance race? It's bad enough the hub 'lock' is front of the rotors.
Great idea!

[thsupernge]

Originally Posted by VFR750

I deleted the hard lines to both front and rear brake calipers.

This makes it so easy to remove the caliper without breaking the line open. They just swing away like every other car i have ever owned. So easy!

You don't have to flush the whole system after swapping rotors or servicing the hub, which has been known to create an endless fight to get that last air bubbles out.

I replaces the front hard line and flex line with a 18" standard -3 braided line and used 3AN to M10 adapters

I replaced only the hard line in the rear with a custom made line. I kept the flex line from the chassis to the swing arm, but used a M10 to 3AN adapter to fit the swivel nut fitting.

Parts List:

Where did you order this?

[VFR750]

Pegasus.

Generally it would be in bad form to call out another company on pelicans bbs. But, they don’t sell this stuff.

[wrxnofx]

You can just pull the clip that holds the union of the hard and soft line to the car. This enables you to remove the caliper from the rotor without having to open the line.

[thsupernge]

Originally Posted by wrxnofx

You can just pull the clip that holds the union of the hard and soft line to the car. This enables you to remove the caliper from the rotor without having to open the line.

How is that done?

[VFR750]

Originally Posted by wrxnofx

You can just pull the clip that holds the union of the hard and soft line to the car. This enables you to remove the caliper from the rotor without having to open the line.

Don’t know how to do that. The clip is trapped by the hardline nut.

[thsupernge]

Originally Posted by VFR750

Don’t know how to do that. The clip is trapped by the hardline nut.

Yeah it has to come apart in this case...

[Otter74]

I like the OP's mod from a serviceability standpoint. It's been a few years since I replaced the calipers on my car; IIRC I think it *is* technically possible to remove the caliper from the rotor without breaking the line - I think that when you remove the clip seen in the photo above, you can push the union out of the holder far enough to maneuver the caliper and tie it up - but it takes some care. My 911 is the only car I own with a hard line to the caliper and I do find it a bit annoying, though at least pad changes can be done without removing the caliper, which is quite nice.

[thsupernge]

Originally Posted by Otter74

I like the OP's mod from a serviceability standpoint. It's been a few years since I replaced the calipers on my car; IIRC I think it *is* technically possible to remove the caliper from the rotor without breaking the line - I think that when you remove the clip seen in the photo above, you can push the union out of the holder far enough to maneuver the caliper and tie it up - but it takes some care. My 911 is the only car I own with a hard line to the caliper and I do find it a bit annoying, though at least pad changes can be done without removing the caliper, which is quite nice.

There may in fact be different types of tabs that pressure fit the lines into the bracket. Mine is not notched but it sounds like some are. Maybe those non-notched clips can be removed for the open clip type. That would most definately allow enough wiggle room to remove and hand the caliper out of the way. And yes, pad changes are 5 min., which I love.

[berndtj]

Mine (83) has a notched tab in the front and rear, so it’s possible to remove the calipers without breaking the line, but I don’t know when they started doing that.


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[Locker537]

Originally Posted by wrxnofx

You can just pull the clip that holds the union of the hard and soft line to the car. This enables you to remove the caliper from the rotor without having to open the line.

This only works in the rear.

The front line feeds *through* the mount on the strut and must be disconnected.

[Locker537]

Originally Posted by berndtj

Mine (83) has a notched tab in the front and rear, so it’s possible to remove the calipers without breaking the line, but I don’t know when they started doing that.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Would you be able to snap some pictures of the front? My gut says someone customized those front tabs.

https://www.pelicanparts.com/More_Info/803611715.htm?pn=803-611-715-M4&SVSVSI=0826&DID=162823

Even with a notched retaining tab, the mount on the strut isn't notched. There is a hole, but I am not sure you'd be able to slip the hard line nut though it...

[thsupernge]

yep, about five posts prior...

[Locker537]

Originally Posted by thsupernge

yep, about five posts prior...

The retaining tab is not notched in that picture.

berndtj said they have different tabs. I'm curious about those.