I want to get some stainless steel braided flex lines for my '56. Does anyone know of a good place to go for this sort of thing?
This is another job that I only want to do once, and I don't trust the supply chain to be able to buy American made hoses for a 1956 Cadillac.
I'll gladly pay to have new stainless lines made up for it here in America.
I've been thinking about doing the same for the fuel lines and maybe even my power steering hoses, since I'm going with a Hydro-boost unit. These are probably going to have to be custom made anyway, so why not go with stainless braided lines, right?
Rick
Contact these folks, they have an excellent reputation --- https://gottashow.com/shop/
They make stainless, Teflon lined, brake hoses (last ~ forever) and much more. They also sell through Summit, Speedway Motors, dealers on eBay, etc.
Quote from: 35-709 on September 21, 2023, 11:58:56 AMContact these folks, they have an excellent reputation --- https://gottashow.com/shop/
They make stainless, Teflon lined, brake hoses (last ~ forever) and much more. They also sell through Summit, Speedway Motors, dealers on eBay, etc.
Thanks for the reference. I see that they are here in Arizona as well, so that's handy.
Looking over their site I didn't see anything about brake lines though. I'll give them a call and ask about that.
Do you know if they require a sample in order to make a new line, or do they have all the specs for stuff like that?
Rick
I am sure they do brake lines, do not know if they have the size/measurement specs for a '56 Cad. Also sure that a phone call to them would be fruitful.
Great, I'll give them a call then.
You mentioned Teflon lined, is that normal, or something special?
Normal AFAIK. I have a SS, Teflon lined, oil pressure line in my '35 restomod from the block to the old style non-electric pressure gauge. Did not buy it from Gottashow.
Edit: Also had a Teflon lined SS fuel hose from the firewall mounted gascolator to the carb in an aircraft I owned several years ago, I bought it from an aircraft supply house. Was MUCH more comfortable with that than a rubber fuel line that was normally used.
I can understand that. After reading about recent car fires I figured a stainless flex line would be the way to go. After doing all this work on the car, it would be a shame to have a fuel line go bad and burn it down.
Well, I just spoke to Sergio there and he told me that they are only doing A/C hoses and power steering hoses now. They have just a few fuel line kits, but do not do brake lines.
He also suggested that if I wanted power steering lines, to go through someplace like Speedway motors or another vendor as it would be cheaper than dealing directly with them. It doesn't make sense to me, but that's what he said.
So any ideas on where to go for brake hoses in stainless?
I had hoses for my long dead 58 SDV made by Aeroquip here in the UK. I believe they are a US company? They make the hoses to match your original fittings but all stainless braid with Teflon lining.
Thanks Phil,
I'll give them a call or shoot them an email.
I just got an answer back from MFCP, Motion and Flow Control Products, but they don't have anything for Cadillacs. But I keep looking. Someone has to make these.
I looked at another company that is based over there in the UK, EBC Brakes, but I figure I could find something closer to home. If not, how are these guys?
Rick
I have worked with Brake Hoses Unlimited in MI.
They will make up anything you want. USA made & the owner is a stand-up guy.
616 836 7885
They won't bone you on shipping either.
Quote from: Poncholover on September 21, 2023, 07:19:05 PMI have worked with Brake Hoses Unlimited in MI.
They will make up anything you want. USA made & the owner is a stand-up guy.
616 836 7885
They won't bone you on shipping either.
Thanks for the information, I'll give them a try. I was just looking at another site and went to enter my vehicle information and this bull$**t popped up:
Screenshot_20230921-164240_Chrome.jpg
What kind of crap is this? They won't list a Cadillac, but a freakin toyota will come up.
That's what is wrong with this country anymore.
No luck with Aeroquip, you must have to go through Summit Racing to get anything.
So I'll try Brake Hoses Unlimited and see what I can get. Thanks for the tip.
Rick
Maybe Russell stainless braided brake lines could make some for you or have something available.
SALES: 888-799-1135 TECH: 800-416-8628
David,
Thank you for the tip, I'll be contacting them tomorrow as well as Brake Hoses Unlimited and see if either of them can provide what I'm after. Hopefully one of these places can do it. I didn't think it would be so difficult to find a supplier for these Hoses, but I guess since I'm not working on a Camaro or Mustang you would think I must be asking for moon rocks or something.
Rick
Go to the Russell Hose web site. they list pre-made brake lines. I would call their tech line (1-800-418-8628) and tell them what you need and they will be able to set you up with all the fittings you will need, if necessary, to adapt the lines to the wheel cylinders. You will need to measure the length of the hoses, size of the fitting going into the wheel cylinders at the front and the hose fittings at the rear axle. Also, take a picture of the hose to metal line connections. They will need to know this to get the right adapters.
Do the same for your fuel lines. Length and type of ends.
I will forewarn you that this will not be inexpensive.
I have used Russell and Aeroequip lines for over 60 years and have had great success with them. I have Russell lines and fittings on the 3208 CAT engine that I installed in my 73 Chevy crewcab. I had to remote mount the oil filters and I used Russell lines and fittings. They have been on the engine for over 40 years and have not had any failures.
If possible I would recommend buying them pre-made if possible. Installing the fittings on the hose is fussy and somewhat difficult unless you have the proper equiptment.
I just received an email from the store manager at Controlled Motion Solutions, which was just bought by Motion & Flow Control Products, and he said that they may be able to make the brake hoses, but I would have to give them the sizes and lengths. I did tell him exactly what I'm wanting, and if they can't do it, could he recommend a company that might be able to. He said that they don't typically do automotive stuff, but have on occasion.
So, I'm waiting to hear back from him.
In the meantime, I'll be contacting these other two outfits and see what they say. But I think I'm going to have to remove the hoses from my parts car to get the sizes, as I tossed the old ones from my coupe without thinking about needing them to match up with new ones later.
I did look into getting a new set of regular brake hoses just for reference, since they don't appear to cost much.
The Hydro-boost hoses I'll have to make myself from ones for something else that I then will bend and cut to fit as needed.
This will be the second time that I've had to do this, the first one being on my 64 Chevy truck. It was a lot easier though, since the pump and the booster were in the usual locations.
The booster on my Cadillac is sitting on a bracket above the left upper control arm where the original TreadleVac was, with the power steering pump right beside it. Gonna make for some interesting looking lines!
Rick
Hi Rick,
I don't have any experience with the other company you mention. As for Aeroquip I used a company called Think Automotive who are stockists of their products. I went there with my original hoses and they made the stainless steel braided hoses to match. They didn't list Cadillac hoses. Phil
Phil,
Even though I was contacted by the manager at Controlled Motion Solutions, I doubt they'll be able or willing to help, mainly just from what he said about them not doing anything automotive.
As I've been thinking about it too, having the hoses made to fit with the ends built onto it as part of the hose instead of using a universal pre-made hose with adapter fittings, doesn't seem to be the best way to go if you ever needed another new hose. You would have to have another one special made and go through all the hassle of finding a company that will do it.
Going with the pre-made universal hose and the adapter fittings, if that hose ever needed to be replaced, then all you need to buy is the universal hose, the fittings should be reusable, in theory anyway.
So I'm going to look into this from that angle now. At first I thought it was a waste and a cheap out way for those companies to sell the hoses, but it actually makes sense after thinking about it. The cost of the hose itself is less because it doesn't have the fittings made into it, and the fittings are reusable, so if you ever needed a new hose, that's the only part you have to buy. And since the hose is universal, it should be cheaper to make and the only option would be the length.
I'm glad I thought about why these places were selling universal hoses instead of made to fit hoses. Economically it makes more sense for both them and us.
So now I just need to decide which company to go with.
I wasn't able to contact the other companies Friday, got tied up with some honeydew's from my wife, so I'll do that tomorrow hopefully.
Thanks again to everyone
for all the tips on where to get these hoses, I appreciate it. I'll update when I have more info.
Rick
Give Russell/Edelbrock a call. They are really helpful
It never fails, I try to do something and something else, or somebody else messes up my plans.
I finally got time to call Edelbrock about the Russell hoses and my neighbor calls and wants to come over. By the time we are done talking, it's 5 o'clock and when I called Edelbrock about the hoses, I am stuck in their phone queue for 30 minutes, so I just hung up. I'll try again tomorrow.
I did get online and looked up Brake Hoses Unlimited and I found these that are supposed to be made to fit and made here.
Has anyone here had any experience with these guys?
Screenshot_20230925-153451_Chrome.jpg
Rick
Edit: I also wanted to ask, but I think I know, aren't the hoses for the 56 series 62 and the series 60 as well as the series 75 all the same in the front? And I think the rear hoses are the same as well.
Brake Hoses Unlimited is listing these as separate models, which makes sense, but they are all different prices.
If there is a difference, no problem. But if not, I think they are taking advantage of people who don't know any different.
On my lines to disc brakes, the general curve and
the keying at both ends needs to be turned right
to fit. Perhaps you do not have that issue?
Bruce Roe
Quote from: bcroe on September 25, 2023, 08:34:34 PMOn my lines to disc brakes, the general curve and
the keying at both ends needs to be turned right
to fit. Perhaps you do not have that issue?
Bruce Roe
If I were going with disc brakes, that would be right, but with the drums, the line screws into the wheel cylinder, then the other end is clipped to the metal line bracket, so the ends aren't "keyed" in specific positions like what a lot of disc brakes need.
I don't have a parts book that goes back to 56, but I'm thinking the hoses are the same for all models. I can't think of anything that would make one different from another in the rear. The fronts should all be the same simply because the suspension is the same.
Can anyone with a book on these verify that?
Thanks,
Rick
1941 to 1956 the front brake hoses are the same, two per car. The rear hose is different, they are the same from 1950 to 1956, one per car.
Thank you Roger, that's very helpful.
Rick
Here's what Brake Hoses Unlimited has to offer for stainless steel Hoses for a 56, and others that match.
Screenshot_20230925-153451_Chrome.jpg
Screenshot_20230926-114148_Chrome.jpg
Screenshot_20230926-114027_Chrome.jpg
Now I'm just curious, is there something that they know that we collectively do not know here?
Why would the hoses for the 62 series be more money than those for the 60 and 75 series?
Besides cosmetic differences between models, are they not identical underneath, discounting of course body lengths?
Before I call them, I'd like verification from someone that has a parts book for these years.
Roger has answered already, but did he maybe miss a footnote?
Thanks in advance,
Rick
No footnote. There are crocks everywhere.
Quote from: Roger Zimmermann on September 26, 2023, 03:52:12 PMNo footnote. There are crocks everywhere.
Well I just found out that these guys make the hoses as they're ordered, and the prices are updated as the sets are ordered as well, so apparently there were no hoses for the 60 and 75 series ordered since their last price update. They haven't had the chance to update the site yet, thus the discrepancy in price.
But even at the higher cost, these are worth the price. The hose is made here, not China.
I finally got to speak to someone at Russell hoses and he freely admitted up front that theirs are Chinese made.
So once I verify a couple things on my parts car, I'll be ordering from Brake Hoses Unlimited.
The guy I spoke with was very knowledgeable and helpful too, so if you're in the market for any stainless brake hoses, check these guys out. 1-616-836-7885.
Rick
"The guy I spoke with was very knowledgeable and helpful too, "
Your mileage may vary but when I told him that I was happy with my previous purchase but need to try another rear hose as my rear brakes have been dragging, I suspect the internals may have collapsed...
he did not hesitate to remake at no charge.
I wish we had more guys like that in our hobby :)
Quote from: Poncholover on September 26, 2023, 08:04:49 PM"The guy I spoke with was very knowledgeable and helpful too, "
Your mileage may vary but when I told him that I was happy with my previous purchase but need to try another rear hose as my rear brakes have been dragging, I suspect the internals may have collapsed...
he did not hesitate to remake at no charge.
I wish we had more guys like that in our hobby :)
Well I greatly appreciate the referral Poncholover, I got a set ordered today. I went with the black covering on them just because they would look more like an original type of hose. I thought about getting them with a red, white and blue covering, but keeping them clean would be a pain.
I also received the promise that if anything didn't fit, or I was unhappy with anything, he would be happy to replace them with another. Excellent customer service there.
Rick
Just wanted to update. I received the hoses last Saturday in the mail, and they look great. Other than the slightly smaller diameter of the hose itself, and the gloss of the covering, they would just appear to be stock-style hoses if you were to glance at them under the car.
It's still going to be a while before I can install them, but I don't anticipate any problems. They look identical to the original ones as I said, just a slightly smaller outer diameter.
Hopefully I won't ever have to buy another hose for it, but if so, the price is very reasonable. Excellent service and speedy shipping.
I highly recommend this outfit if you are in the market for new brake hoses.
I haven't had a chance to take any pictures of them yet, but will post some as soon as I can.
Rick
Very good thread on these SS hoses., I have a 52 Fleetwood, thankfully no hose issues, but I always like finding out about good suppliers as you found and reference here and keeping for future use. My question is - did you have to send them old hoses to match, or do they know specs and make to order from their internal specs?
Thank you again
Good luck on install.
Peter
Quote from: papas52cad on October 07, 2023, 10:22:34 AMVery good thread on these SS hoses., I have a 52 Fleetwood, thankfully no hose issues, but I always like finding out about good suppliers as you found and reference here and keeping for future use. My question is - did you have to send them old hoses to match, or do they know specs and make to order from their internal specs?
Thank you again
Good luck on install.
Peter
Hi Peter,
This guy had all the info on the hoses, size of fittings, size of hose, and I told him about changing out the rear axle on mine to a 72, and he wanted to know if the end on the axle would have to be the same as a 72 or if the 56 hose would work. Since I used the original fittings and plumbed the axle to match, there was no need for a modified hose.
But he makes them as they are ordered and will make anything special you want.
The other place I contacted uses adapter fittings and a universal hose, which might be cheaper the next time you need a hose, as you don't need to buy the adapters again, but I didn't like that idea.
This guy also includes the copper washers and the retaining clips for the hoses. I know those don't cost much, but it's nice to have them with the hoses, you don't have to go looking for them later from somewhere/someone else.
Rick
Hi Rick
Many thx, appreciate the details. I will keep this as a reference. I believe my hoses are all fine, but unlikely they are SS. I'll have to have my shop take a close look next oil chg. I have owned this cad for6 yrs now and I believe hoses may have been chged when it was restored, I'll chk records. For reference can you tell me what your cost was for your caddy?
Thx again. I'll be looking fwd to ur updates after you install them
Take care
Peter
Have installed those 4 years ago in my 54 and had no problems. Fitted perfect and I think there is a better "feeling" when I push the pedal since I have them in my car
Hey Peter,
These cost me $84.99 plus the tax and shipping.
Here's some pictures of what I got.
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20231008_170907.jpg
20231008_170911.jpg
20231008_170917.jpg
Thank you, greatly appr, very good value.
Good luck with your installation.
Peter