Center Brake hose

[Nowik35]

So I am confused every Bronco website says that up to 3" lift stock center brake hose should be sufficient. I just installed a 2.5 lift on my frame from Toms Bronco parts, and picked up a stock length center brake hose from my local auto store for like 15$ I was excited. I went to install last night and it was maybe half inch to short. ughhh! Is this something that should be installed when my body and engine is back in first or am I asking for trouble in the future with that kind of thinking? Should I just bite the bullet and get an extended brake hose? everywhere I look the extended ones are 50-80$ . Does anyone know of a cheap extended option that maybe is a universal hose that is a lot cheaper? I am trying to do this on a budget.
thank you

 

[pcf_mark]

Do you have your shocks on? These limit the travel and if they are not on and you have the suspension hanging you may be drooping lower than normal.

On the cheap you could buy a pre-made 12" steel brake line from the auto parts store and thread one end into the hard line off the frame down and put a few coils in the line and move it lower down on the truck closer to the axle. Then connect the rubber line to the other end. Just fab up a bracket that attaches to free end of the rubber line and tack weld it to your frame to keep it from wobbling around and breaking the steel line.

 

[Nowik35]

yes so. I have my frame reassembled. 2.5 lift springs in the front, TBP shocks installed, and 2.5 "add a lief" installed in the back with the TBP shocks installed in the back. That being said the brake hose i bought is 16.5" in length and like i said I am like .500" shy from being able to screw in the vent and the pre=threaded hole on the frame from the old location.I think you just solved my problem. I will make a bracket to attach it lower on the frame.
THANK YOU !!

 

[Rustytruck]

Back in the day of lift blocks they extended the block on the axle with a 2 inch spacer so you didn't have to brake into the brake lines. For your situation use the rear brake line for a 1978 and 79 Bronco they are longer and bolt right in. No expensive extended lines.

 

[Nowik35]

does the same apply in the front? my front is the problem.

 

[Rustytruck]

Never checked the front just used the rear hose in the back. My front still has the stock size hose with a spacer to lift the lines. I would sure check if the later bronco hose works in the front too.

 

[Tstinnett]

Everything you want to know here, there are quite a few factory longer part #’s:

http://classicbroncos.com/forums/showthread.php?t=119175&highlight=extended+brake+hose

Picked my rear up a few months ago for around 15 bucks shipped.

 

[DirtDonk]

Measure your lift height (distance between frame and axle) and see how far you need to settle it down before it's at your expected ride height.
That would get you some more information, and yes you can probably use the stock length hose if you're more than a couple of inches high still.

But you're on the correct path by extending it a bit (or getting a longer hose) because even though you may never fully extend the suspension, if you do you certainly don't want the brake hose to be the limiting factor.

Let us know which way you go and how it works out.

Paul

 

[Skidd]

Just thought I'd add what I did to help out any future builds. With my 2.5" suspension lift, I used Dorman H36849 in the front & H36537 in the rear. Front is 20", rear is 24". Had to fab the front frame mount. The slack looks good to me. They were $15 - $17

 

[Broncobowsher]

For the front, shock length will matter. The shocks are what limit down travel, and how much length of hose is needed. If you have long travel front suspension, longer hose would be expected over a stock travel suspension. Added travel is generally done in the down stroke, up travel is limited by the axle getting into the frame.

 

[Apogee]

FWIW, I would size your brake hose lengths with the shocks not in the equation, since that will be the maximum travel it might see, certainly not in use, but during maintenance. It sucks to put your rig up on a lift, pull the shocks for one reason or another and look over and see your brake hose (or ARB hose) serving as a limit strap. The hoses noted by Skidd above are a good, inexpensive option for lower lift EB's, though mine with 3.5" lift, CAGE radius arms and 12" travel shocks will use up every bit of a 24" hose with articulation up front., so check your travel and judge your application for yourself.