951/964 Front Caliper Install on 911...?

[MotoSook]

I've seen a couple of ways to install the 951/964 calipers on a pre-89 car w/regard to the fluid line, but I haven't seen anyone (none that posted yet anyhow) simply use the 951 hose to go from the caliper to the hard line on the chassis. I haven't started unbolting things yet, but it appears that the stock 951 hose may be long enough to do the job.

Anyone gone down this exact route yet? Any issues?

[MotoSook]

Bump for the day crew.

[MotoSook]

Com'on boys...I can't be the first to have thought of something so stupid

[Jon Merck]

Souk, I used my existing lines (braided stainless) and rebent the hard lines. I could not route thru the loop welded on the strut. Everything was too short, so I plan to weld a clip for my new configuration if I have any problems.

I will try to get a picture of what I did and post it.

Hope this helps!

[MotoSook]

That helps Jon. If I don't have a heart attack trying to fit 3 days into one day today, I'm going to get the car on the lift when I get home and get greasy. I'll know if the 951 line will suffice, else I'll give your method a shot...or the otherway around. Thanks.

[KTL]

The ideal thing is to have custom flex lines made. Next best is custom fitting your own hard lines and that involves flaring which can be a PITA. Last and easiest is to buy pre-length hard line already flared with tube nuts. That's what I did with little difficulty. Only hangup I found was 8" is a bit too short and 12" is a bit too long. I'll shoot a picture of some of my iterations.

I didn't feel comfortable re-bending the existing A caliper hardlines. But Bernie hasn't died yet and that's what he did. Original lines are easier to bend because it seems like they're softer metal. The parts store lines are prettty darn stiff compared to the originals.

[MotoSook]

The 951 flex line is pretty long, I'm thinking it's 12-14 inches long, almost twice as lone as the 901-XXX-XXX-XX part number hose/line.. I happen to have a used one that came with one of the calipers I bought for machining. I did a preliminary check last night...and I'm hoping it's all I need (just the 951 line from the caliper, and no new hard line). I'm gonna be all over the place for work before the Octoberfest DE, and I don't have time to be fooling around with bending or flaring tubing

I'll give you the keys to the garage and leave out lots of food if you want to come work on FB while I'm gone K-man.

[efhughes3]

I bought straight (pre-flared) lengths of hard tube @ NAPA.....They came in several lengths. I think I ended up using 12 inchers. Bending was really pretty simple and only took about 10 or 15 minutes per side.

[hmd]

Originally posted by efhughes3
I bought straight (pre-flared) lengths of hard tube @ NAPA.....They came in several lengths. I think I ended up using 12 inchers. Bending was really pretty simple and only took about 10 or 15 minutes per side.

Same here.

[MotoSook]

So you use the stock short hose (part number 901-###-###-##) and the Napa hard line? Right?

[efhughes3]

The Napa hard lines are available in metric sizes which hooked right into the soft lines. I happen to have braided S/S, but they are the same size fittings as stock. It really worked well. Let me see if I can dig up a pic...

[MotoSook]

A pic would be great, Ed.

Here is what I'm thinking (the diff in hose length and ends).

With the 951 part, I don't need the hard line.

[efhughes3]

Here's the only pic I could find, but it gets the point across. I'm pretty sure these were 12" long pipes to start with. I got 10's too, IIRC, but they were too short. I see what you're getting at, but the question that comes to mind is: Why do you never see flex lines going to calipers? Is there a reason why there is always (to my knowledge) a flex line between the chassis and a hard pipe going to the caliper?

[MotoSook]

That's a pretty clean installation Ed. Thanks for the pic.

I suppose the less soft line there is, the less chance of debris damaging the line. The only reason for the soft line is for steering and suspension travel...just enough, but not tooo much to allow it. Plus, less soft lines, means less expansion.

[Jon Merck]

Souk,
Here is the front using existing tubing off my 77

Here is the rears

Note: I have not road tested these yet but, I feel confident that they will hold up...

[jhelgesen]

Jon, you know I need more pictures of your caliper installation......and to know what rotors you are using.

[Bill Verburg]

Why do you never see flex lines going to calipers?

You do


But the flex capability isn't needed between the caliper and the strut, I think that it is a neater to use a hardline in that section.

[MotoSook]

Thanks for the posts guys. I'll down a shot of rub with get a bucket of Original Recipe from KFC while I'm on the road, so that no bad mojo befalls me when I start ripping into this the night before my DE.