Earl's SS lines.. leaky fitting!

[nkb93]

Here's the story: I tried installing Earl's SS lines from Jegs on the front last weekend to compliment the PBR calipers. I planned to do the fronts now since I was changing calipers anyway. I planned to do the rear ones later, as I needed to get the car out of my Dad's shop ASAP and back up to my house (3 hours away).

So I got the driver's front SS line on beautifully, no leaks whatsoever. The passenger side one, though, leaked under gravity flow where the hard line on the car meets the SS line. No matter how tight the plug on the hard line was tightened into the SS fitting, it would still leak, like it wasn't seating well. After taking the line off and inspecting it, you can see where the flare on the hard line was hitting where it was supposed to against the SS fitting.

Comparing the stock and SS lines, the threaded portion of the SS one where the hard line screws in is much deeper than the stocker. It felt kinda like the plug was running out of threads and not fully tightening down on the flare, although there was a thread or two left on the plug.

Anyway, I ended up putting a new stock rubber line on there that I had laying around, which worked fine. I really want to use the SS ones since I have them, but am a bit leery now. Anyone else have this kinda issue?

Sorry for the long winded post.. just can't figure out what's going on!


-Nate

 

[SHO92]

I had Earls lines, and I know of 3 other people personally, that have them or had them, and they never had any problems either.

 

[jedhead]

No problems with my install.

Bob

 

[shojuan]

Why not have Jeg's replace them?

 

[nkb93]

Why not have Jeg's replace them?

I'm working on that at the moment. I was just wondering if anyone else here had ever had this problem.

 

[Todd TCE]

Left side is 7/16-24, right side is 3/8-24 thread. It's possible you have two of the larger size fittings there and it's only slipping into the larger bore with minimal fit.

 

[shomesomesho]

I really want to use the SS ones since I have them, but am a bit leery now. Anyone else have this kinda issue?

Sorry for the long winded post.. just can't figure out what's going on!


-Nate

I've had a problem with Earls lines. One rupture on the driver's side while I was driving in a parking lot.

See thread:

http://shoforum.com/showthread.php?t=54848

 

[DHMag]

its also possible that the flare on the OE line is cracked.

 

[pitaSHO]

I did have this problem when I installed them on my 94 ATX. I finally ended up tightening them down beyond what I thought they could handle without stripping out. The leak did finally stop, though. Now I have to install them on my 95 MTX. Here goes!

 

[shoebilly]

I don't think your problems are finished, what Todd said. Wrong adapter.

 

[clindahl]

Just curious, why in the world would Ford put two different but very close threaded brake fittings on the front left and right of the car? That makes no sense......

 

[Todd TCE]

I did Earl's hoses for some time for the SHO.

I can only speculate that it's possible the hoses were made with 7/16-20 fittings by mistake and not the oddball 24 thread. They'd have been hard to get on however. If they threaded on easy then I'd say you're good. Now keep in mind that sealing of the flair is due to the comprression of the hardline to the ****** (he-he... he said ******...) into the hose end. Sometimes this takes more tq than the first hose.