Routing the front brake line along the LCA

[skullandbones]

I've been busy redoing my front suspension and mounting some Cobra R 9x17 wheels. I had to re-route my brake lines a little (bent hard lines a little). I have seen some run the flex lines along the lower LCA in a few cases but not sure where. It may have been the Porsche 918 supercar add that showed that routing. But I've seen it on other cars as well. I haven't had much luck searching for this on the forum so I was hoping if you have pics of this sort of routing of the front brake flex line, I would be very interested. It seems like it would be more manageable than having it hanging out there in between the F panel and the wheel waiting to be abused. I think I have mine reasonably placed but I am going to change to a stainless steel line anyway, so this would be the perfect time to see the best positioning for this component.
Thank you,

WEK.:cool:

[CraigS]

I never liked the brake hose sticking horizontally into the wheel area either. On Bill3422s car we mounted the steel line to the inside of the 3/4x3/4 w/ the solid line end pointing downward. So the flex line is vertical. We mounted it just inside the rear pivot of the UCA cross bar which gets more clearance as the tire comes toward the "F" panel when the steering is at full lock.We needed to shorten up the bottom of the "F" panel a little because the flex hose comes out toward the caliper under the edge of the panel. After that I went back to my old mkII and moved my steel lines a little. They also are in a vertical at the end but they are on the wheel side of the 3/4x3/4 frame tube. Previously my flex line was in a kind of "S" curve that I didn't like. Now my flex line is in a big "U" shape if viewed from the front. This is the RF looking forward
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y91/craig-s/Brakehose_zpsba957a5e.jpg

[skullandbones]

Hi Craig,

That's a simple and elegant way around the problem (letting gravity work for you). I have my lines at the junction at an angle but not straight down. So I think I can adjust that area when I change the lines out to the braided SS. I had to bend the lower edge of the F panel to prevent the inside of the tires from hanging on them. But here is what mine look like right now. The hard portion of the brake line at the caliper are part of the problem too. I don't like the S in the line either. Thank you for the example. WEK.:cool::cool:

[CraigS]

If you have just a little extra tubing on that solid line, just drill out the rivets, bend everything a little and re-rivet it to the top of the square tube. Also, when buying lines ask if the block on the caliper end has a small lip that overhangs the edge of the flat on the caliper. Mine doesn't, so the only thing keeping it from rotating is the tightness of the banjo bolt. haven't had a problem in three years but I don't like the design.

[skullandbones]

I still have so many other higher priority stuff, I don't know when I will actually change the brake lines but this will give me a plan (probably at the same time I'm adding the rack adaptors from Breeze). In the mean time, I will try to redirect the orientation of the solid part of the brake, the one between the caliper and chassis. That is not angled perfectly which is part of the reason for the "S" shape of the flex line. If I can move it a little and change the mounting tab as you suggest, I can even make this application work better. But it is still getting changed out for stainless steel. If I break it in the process of trying to move it, it gets changed out sooner than later. I want the advantage of the added "brake". I've heard that it translates into better caliper pressure. That's good! Thanks, WEK.

[CHOTIS BILL]

From your pictures it looks like it would be easer to run the flex line attached to the upper control arm and not have to change as many things. I have seen clips used on some formula cars for attaching the two or others just use zip ties. Looks pretty cool.

Bill Lomenick

[skullandbones]

Found this which I think might have the ones you refer to, Bill.

http://inlinetube.com/clips%20brake%20&%20fuel/clips.htm

Funny how things have changed. I used to have so many local resources for hot rod parts, machining, etc. When I moved away from Chattanooga I lost those. But I guess most people use the web and outsource the work now. I have found a great Fab shop nearby who's owner builds sprint cars and has worked on race cars all his life. So I will have to be content with the new way of doing business for the most part. It's OK. It's just not as much fun as talking cars face to face. Thanks, WEK.