Who rents these tools?

[Eric VerValin]

For the rear brake flaring thing? I was just thinking, I'm an electrician, and run / bend conduit all the time. **** I probally ran 1,000 miles of it in my short time as an electrician. I'm assuming Napa would have the brake lines, and fittings? How much work is it to do away with that stupid load sensing valve? Just a matter of pluging them up with the bias plugs? I'm going to get a new set of hoses, then everything else but the hard lines, and the master cyl will be new, so why not fix everything now. What the ****, just one more thing to add to my sig line..

But midas quoted me around 200 to install new lines, and I'm assuming they can bleed out my abs pump when they do their bleeding, so is it that hard to do? Or am I only going to save $50 doing it myself. If I had my choice, copper lines would be ****, but I could deal with another 15year stint with stainless. Opinions? Sugguestions? Thanks again as always!

 

[SHOtime2511]

be carefull with the bias plugs if you choose to install them.
they change the breaking Characteristics of the car dramatically.

 

[SHO92]

Trying to do the factory style flare at home is very difficult from what I've been reading and have heard from a few that tried it. There are also different style flares on some of the lines.

If Midas only wants $200, I'd take it there.

I'll be using adaptors for the flares and bending the lines myself since I only am replacing the right rear line from the valve to the flex hose, and 1 off the MC up front.

 

[naval-avi8or]

Trying to do the factory style flare at home is very difficult from what I've been reading and have heard from a few that tried it. There are also different style flares on some of the lines.

If Midas only wants $200, I'd take it there.

I'll be using adaptors for the flares and bending the lines myself since I only am replacing the right rear line from the valve to the flex hose, and 1 off the MC up front.

Peice of cake. The key is to purchase a double flairing tool. However I would think it would be easier to just purchase new lines (I think you can get them ready to plug and play).

 

[Storm-Chaser]

Ford discontinued replacement brake lines l-o-n-g ago. Each of the steel brake lines that leads to the flexible hoses uses a mix of metric and standard (SAE) fittings and associated end-flares (ISO and Double-Flare). So at best you have to buy ISO lines, cut one end off, add the flare-nuts, bend the line and then re-flare the double-flare end. Practice with some scrap-line before you start.

My experience has been that when the first line goes, the remaining lines tend to go one at a time in relatively short-order (1-2 months). Additionally, the left front line comes directly off the ABS pump, and is integrated into the six-line bundle of brake lines along the left-front subframe rail (which is not readily accessible, or easily removed with the engine in-place - sorry Eric). The three remaining lines have in-line unions along the left-front subframe rail below the master cylinder, to the right-front and both rear brake lines. All the fittings are a mix of M10 and M12 metric flare-nuts and ISO flares.

Conversely, while the $200 cost may look quite appealing, this is not something I would trust to Midas if I didn't know someone there and how experienced their shop is. While anyone with the proper tools can do the work, this is not a repair where you want an inexperience guy doing a hack-job on your car.

Call Dimension West Ford and ask for Chuck - he's owned a few SHOs and may have some decent lines you can simply use to replace your rusted lines.


If you want to tackle this yourself, PM me and I can give you a written description of the lines and fittings at each position, as well as some tips.

 

[Eric VerValin]

Wow... Chuck huh.. Is he the guy that had the Yellow SHO ? Or is the the other guy? I knew there were 2 different guys that used to work there before they moved. I'll have to see if he's around there still. I take it you've been up here before or something? Seeing as you know the SHO guy there. Just never attempted flaring and bending this tubing and such, but then again, i never swapped a motor out before either.

 

[Storm-Chaser]

Yes - been there a 'time or two'. :wave:

May '05 was the last time. I've stopped in at the dealership twice, both times Chuck was not there (last time it was Saturday). He was still working there as of last week when i called. Yellow? I think he had a yellow SHO (he's owned more than 10 SHOs, if I remember correctly)! When I was there in 05, there were two SHOs sitting in the vehicle lot out back - I believe he [owned] both.

 

[Eric VerValin]

Yea, that must be the guy.. the yellow one was the yellow paint they used on the older cobras. And I know he had a few others too. Its funny the guy at the parts counter there, is always tellin me how much fun i'm going to have working on my SHO. I'm glad this isnt the first time I've had my hands on one tho. I'll have to bring it up there sometime to show em. And I wish they would let me test drive that GT they got there. Sign says, DO NOT TOUCH. lol