Replacing center tunnel brake line

bbh03 · 04-06-2006, 11:33 AM

Hello,

I still have a question for those of you who have done this. The line seems to be "glued" in where it protrudes from the belly pan in the front and back, right about where the fitting is. Should I just cut this junk away? If I do that, will the line basically just slide out if I pull from the rear (engine is out)? Is fishing the new one in difficult and does it need to be seured in any way inside the pan or at the ends (like more of the crap stuck to the ends now)?

Thanks in advance!

Brian

rattlsnak · rattlsnak's Garage

It should be held in place by a grommet at both ends, that over the years does become kind of 'gluey'. You can cut that stuff out, and simply use some sealer when you reinstall. Now, will it slide out? Well not really, you're going to have to take off the shifter, rear cover and e-brake to gain access to 'wiggle' it out. It has a few 'bend over tabs' along the way, and is also interwined with throttle linkage etc. Sounds like a lot, but once you get those things out of the way, you use a long slender screwdriver to move the tabs.

bbh03 · 04-06-2006, 11:41 AM

Thanks for that info. I'll try and get in there tonight. Is the grommet replaceable? If not, what kind of sealant? RTV silicone?

I should have mentioned this is a 78 SC.

rattlsnak · rattlsnak's Garage

Good luck finding the correct grommet. RTV is fine.. Once you get the line installed, just point the nozzle in the opening and 'fill the hole' !!

911pcars · 04-06-2006, 02:47 PM

Suggest you use the "follow the leader" method to install. That is, when you pull the old one out, the new one follows in the same path. This insures the new brake line feeds in and around surrounding parts and nothing gets pinched. This can be as simple as wrapping some wire around both ends. Verify nothing sticks out to snag inside the tunnel.

Sherwood

rattlsnak · rattlsnak's Garage

Dont think that will work in this case. You have to take it out from the rear, and new one goes in from the rear first.

bbh03 · 04-06-2006, 07:37 PM

I think he means pull string through from the front when pulling the old line out the rear and pull the string to help the new line back in? Sounds like a good idea.

Thanks everyone. I didn't get a chance to try this tonight - I dropped a washer into by damn timing chain casing while installing heads and still haven;t fished it out. I'm going to give the brake line a try on Saturday.

bbh03 · 04-09-2006, 08:20 PM

I spent a few minutes this weekend dismatling the interior (which will be disposed of anyway) to reach the line clips. I located 2 before I stopped working (One via the shifter gole and one via the ebrake hole). I think there may be a third, but I'll find out for sure an post for posterity. I didn't see one in the shift u-joint hole upon quick inspection. Thanks guys.

Brian