Brake hose question…

Working on the brakes on my ‘72 Fiat Spider that has remote brake fluid reservoirs delivering the fluid to the master cylinder. Looks like 5/16 fuel lines with hose clamps. Would replacing it with fuel line work? Or will I need some special brake fluid resistant hose be required…

 

No, fuel line is not compatible with brake fluid & brake fluid hose isn't very expensive! https://www.pegasusautoracing.com/p...pjxXO0AuTpSMYQ-PleS48G2pj9dgTr-0aAsnxEALw_wcB

 

Brake line need to be capable of handling alot more pressure than fuel lines.

 

There is only gravity with the remote reservoir .

 

I got new hose from one of the fiat parts suppliers for my 76 124 last year.

https://www.midwest-bayless.com/Fia...4-128-x19-128-850-scorpionmontecarlo-new.aspx

 

Thanks guys. I assumed that was the case. When I looked up brake hose, some of the listings said: gas line, brake fluid line, transmission fluid line. Gas line, I have in several sizes. Brake fluid is so strong, I figured it wouldn’t work. I think the PO used gas line, that is one of my issues with the brakes. Hopefully, it didn’t dissolve and get into the master cylinder and lines (which the PO installed new)… the two reservoir lines don’t match, and one has a bubble on the side… I just eliminated some over engineered Italian brake parts on the rear brakes. The rear has a cut off valve, that cuts the brake fluid to the rear brakes under hard braking, to prevent the rear brakes from locking up. No easy way to check if it’s adjusted properly, and I’m just going to be driving this that hard. I connected the rear brake line directly to the brakes, and (orange View attachment 6464296 View attachment 6464296 View attachment 6464296 line) eliminated the valve

 

I replaced that valve on mine...don't know if it did any good...but also had a leak back there that didn't want to go away. But I sold the car, so next guy got to deal with it.

 

These prop valves are usually called 'compensator' valves. As long as the linkage to it is not mangled and moves freely with suspension travel it should work fine.
Best to bleed the brakes with the car level and all four wheels supporting vehicle weight.
On some French cars if the system was bled with the wheels in droop no matter how light you touched the pedal the ass would tear up. A quick bleed(crack the bleeders) with suspension loaded and car level would fix that issue.

 

Just ordered brake hose from Pegasus Auto Racing. Thank you Dick Stevens for the link.
Went to three auto parts stores and two said that they didn’t stock it, and one wanted to sell me fuel line, claiming that it was the same thing!

 

Another brake question: don’t remember if I’ve ever bled power brakes before. Does the engine need to be running while doing this?

 

No.

 

Thanks, that’s what I thought… I don’t think any of my hot rods and classic cars have ever been equipped with power brakes. Can’t remember having to bleed any of our daily drivers over the years… this Fiat is a “horse of a different color”…

 

But sometimes bench bleeding the mc before you install it, really helps get things flowing.

 

Don't forget to bleed in the order furthest to closest from the master cylinder.