Time to fit: 2 hours Braided lines have been around a long time, but like alloy brake callipers, modern manufacturing techniques mean they’ve become much more affordable in recent years.
On a road-going classic Ford, braided lines are most applicable to your brake set-up — replacing the original-spec, reinforced rubber hoses. They’re safer, stronger, last longer and crucially, are far less liable to ‘balloon’ under pressure, which means far better brake feel. Off-the-shelf kits are available to fit most classic Fords, and if you want custom ones, many specialists such as Rally Design, can make them to order with whatever lengths and end fittings you need. Goodridge even do a range of Classic brake lines, kits featuring a black coating on the outside of the braided steel to make them look original. Genius.
How much: £5.94 (new, 3/8 inch braided brake hose, per metre, Rally Design)
“BRAIDED BRAKE LINES ARE SAFER, STRONGER AND LESS LIABLE TO BALLOON UNDER PRESSURE”
21
A
Braided brake lines come in a roll and are cut to the rough length you need — your task is to measure and chop to size. Making your own
B
Once cut, the ends tend to be crushed down a bit so they need a touch of careful straightening with a decent pair of pliers until roundness is restored.
C
Fit the first part of the fitting — the part that screws into the outer — over the braided hose.
F ...it needs firmly pushing home.You can do this on any hard surface but the whole lot needs to be kept clean.
E
Once splayed, you can insert the brass olive into the end of the brake line. It obviously goes over the PTFE liner but...
G
Next insert your end! Note the fine section of inner pipe slides inside the PTFE liner and is firmly pushed home.
H
Bring the threaded fixing nut that you’ve already slipped over the braided hose, and loosely screw it up.
H
Nip it up with an open-ended and a ring spanner. Don’t do it up as tight as it’ll go, you only need to clamp it shut.
D
Spread the edge of the braided covering outwards using a rounded off screwdriver.