On Thu, 20 Jan 2005 12:12:50 -0500, "Daniel J. Stern"
> wrote:

>On Thu, 20 Jan 2005, Steve wrote:
>
>> I just helped a friend replace her right rear brake steel brake line on
>> her 93 caravan. I tried to get a factory piece from chrysler but they
>> said that I have to bend the lines.
>
>Right. Pre-formed lines are not supplied.
>
>> So instead of paying the dealership big money for their brake lines I
>> just went to the local auto supply store and picked up a 3/16 thread
>> double flared 30" steel line and installed it.
>
>Right, but it sounds like you left off the armor coil on the outside of
>the line.
>
>> My question is: The line that i bent doesn't bend exactly like the line I
>> took out but does follow the same general path. I made sure I bent the
>> lines in a gentle curving fashion and there aren't any kinks.
>
>Good.
>
>> There was a clip holding the old line to the axle but I didn't
>> re-install it on the new line b/c I figured that the steel clip will rub
>> on the steel line thus eventually puncturing the line. The factory line
>> had the clip b/c the old line also had a spring like winding around it
>> to protect it.
>
>It's best to secure the line. If you don't feel you can use the steel
>clip, use Tie-wraps or something. And yeah, you really do need the armor
>coiling.
>
>> Also the replacement line has the screw fittings on each end but the two
>> are different lengths of threads. I screwed the longer threads into the
>> rubber line for the rear brakes (it didn't really screw in a whole lot
>> but I didn't see any leaks and the threads were screwed all the way in)
>> and the shorter threaded end into the wheel cylinder. In both instances
>> when the screw in fittings were completed tightened there were threads
>> still exposed on both ends of the line.
>
>That's fine.


And the armour coiled lines ARE available from the aftermarket. They
bend nicer than the plain lines too. Roughly double the price, but
they are still pretty cheap.