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.