What size are brake lines? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

In The Ten Ring · 10-20-2018, 10:18 AM

Hey guys,

I've been off here for a while, since my mom is back to her house and requires full-time care. Dad can't afford to hire anyone to stay so guess who is on call 27/7? Nights aren't too bad since she's in pretty good shape from midnight till about 8 AM.

Anyway.....what size are brake lines on a 1972 Chevy 2wd?

I'm going with copper nickel this time.

Thanks!

davepl · 10-20-2018, 10:20 AM

3/16 and 1/4

71sierragrande · 10-20-2018, 10:31 AM

1/4. I did it too, man. Took care of dad for months on nurse duty after heart attacks while trying to keep him interested in trucks for motivational purposes and exercise. He hung on for a while and after he passed away, mom went too seven weeks later. They had divorced in 1971 but were good friends til the end. This was 2009, nine years ago. It was a rough time for me

**70CHEVYBB** · 10-20-2018, 08:24 PM

Just keep in mind that the copper nickel lines turn green. 3/16 for the front and 1/4 to the rear brake hose and 3/16 from rear hose to wheel cylinders

In The Ten Ring · 10-20-2018, 10:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 70CHEVYBB

Just keep in mind that the copper nickel lines turn green. 3/16 for the front and 1/4 to the rear brake hose and 3/16 from rear hose to wheel cylinders

Oh yuck, I didn't even think about that.

Oh well, the Statue of Liberty hasn't rusted any, she kinda looks good in green, and the bends and flares should be easier.

ls1nova71 · 10-20-2018, 11:29 PM

How long does it take them to turn green? I have never had NiCopp lines do that.

**70CHEVYBB** · 10-20-2018, 11:52 PM

Make sure when you cut the copper line use a chamfer the end of the line before the flare. It takes a year or so to turn green

**LockDoc** · 10-21-2018, 12:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ls1nova71

How long does it take them to turn green? I have never had NiCopp lines do that.

My NiCopp brake lines and fuel line haven't turned Green either, and they have been installed in the Panel Truck since 2015.

LockDoc

**HO455** · 10-21-2018, 09:03 AM

I've never had it turn green. I'm just was looking at a car I did back in 2010 and the is was no sign of it turning green.

S_Gibson · 10-21-2018, 01:23 PM

Right or wrong I ran 3/16" lines in place of 1/4" on my truck. I used the nickel/copper lines and it was the easiest brake line I've ever worked with. Flared with little effort and bent easily with no tools.

**jocko** · 10-21-2018, 06:18 PM

It would be wrong, not right, to run 3/16 if you ran it to the rear drums. They should be 1/4. Will it still work, yep - does it work with the proper pressure the way uncle GM designed it, nope.

**70CHEVYBB** · 10-21-2018, 09:57 PM

Well my shop has been using them for about 10 years and have alot of repete customers. So i see the lines all the time. Do keep in mind the i live in the midwest so winters are bad and they are on daily drivers

Qknf4u69 · 10-22-2018, 03:26 AM

Hi everyone,
Funny you guys are talking about brake lines at the time I am trying to get set to do my 69 long bed and I am over thinking it for sure, what to use, Stainless, NiCopp... so I have a few questions.

1. I have the disc brakes off a 72 for the front and Wilwood disc for the rear. Should I still run 1/4" for the rear or should I run 3/16" everywhere?

2. T304 grade stainless steel double anealed, or NiCopp for the lines

3. Where is a good place to get genuine NICopp line if that is the better choice, I have seen some on ebay that looks like copper tubing for refrigerant and I do not want it to be that soft and maybe the stuff that turns green that 70CHEVYBB described.

Anyway, any sugestions you guys have will be appreciated.

S_Gibson · 10-22-2018, 05:33 PM

I bought these lines and was happy with them. Came with the different size fittings. Only other thing I needed was unions (couple bucks), a tubing cutter ($7 at Ace Hardware) and a double flare tool (about $20 at Harbor Freight). Stuff is very easy to work with.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

**jocko** · 10-22-2018, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qknf4u69

Hi everyone,
Funny you guys are talking about brake lines at the time I am trying to get set to do my 69 long bed and I am over thinking it for sure, what to use, Stainless, NiCopp... so I have a few questions.

1. I have the disc brakes off a 72 for the front and Wilwood disc for the rear. Should I still run 1/4" for the rear or should I run 3/16" everywhere?

2. T304 grade stainless steel double anealed, or NiCopp for the lines

3. Where is a good place to get genuine NICopp line if that is the better choice, I have seen some on ebay that looks like copper tubing for refrigerant and I do not want it to be that soft and maybe the stuff that turns green that 70CHEVYBB described.

Anyway, any sugestions you guys have will be appreciated.

Recommend confirm with Wilwood, but generally speaking, 3/16 for disks, 1/4 for drums. So, you'd probably want to do 3/16 all the way around.

10-20-2018, 10:18 AM	#1
In The Ten Ring Registered User Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: West Virginia Posts: 6,421	What size are brake lines? Hey guys, I've been off here for a while, since my mom is back to her house and requires full-time care. Dad can't afford to hire anyone to stay so guess who is on call 27/7? Nights aren't too bad since she's in pretty good shape from midnight till about 8 AM. Anyway.....what size are brake lines on a 1972 Chevy 2wd? I'm going with copper nickel this time. Thanks!

10-20-2018, 10:20 AM	#2
davepl Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Redmond, WA Posts: 6,332	Re: What size are brake lines? 3/16 and 1/4 __________________ 1970 GMC Sierra Grande Custom Camper - Built, not Bought 1969 Pontiac 2+2 427/390 4-speed Coupe 1969 Pontiac 2+2 427/390 4-speed Convertible

10-20-2018, 10:31 AM	#3
71sierragrande Petroleum User Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: San Diego, California Posts: 928	Re: What size are brake lines? 1/4. I did it too, man. Took care of dad for months on nurse duty after heart attacks while trying to keep him interested in trucks for motivational purposes and exercise. He hung on for a while and after he passed away, mom went too seven weeks later. They had divorced in 1971 but were good friends til the end. This was 2009, nine years ago. It was a rough time for me __________________ 1971 GMC Sierra Grande 2WD 1/2 ton, 350/400 auto 2008 Chevy Silverado 2WD 1/2 ton LT1 5.3L auto

10-20-2018, 08:24 PM	#4
70CHEVYBB Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: chillicothe, illinois Posts: 688	Re: What size are brake lines? Just keep in mind that the copper nickel lines turn green. 3/16 for the front and 1/4 to the rear brake hose and 3/16 from rear hose to wheel cylinders

10-20-2018, 11:29 PM	#6
ls1nova71 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Independence Mo Posts: 4,117	Re: What size are brake lines? How long does it take them to turn green? I have never had NiCopp lines do that. __________________ My '72 short bed build. http://www.ls1tech.com/forums/conver...6-0-4l80e.html 5.3 swap into my RUSTY '71 C10 http://ls1tech.com/forums/conversion...71-c-10-a.html

10-20-2018, 11:52 PM	#7
70CHEVYBB Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: chillicothe, illinois Posts: 688	Re: What size are brake lines? Make sure when you cut the copper line use a chamfer the end of the line before the flare. It takes a year or so to turn green

10-21-2018, 09:03 AM	#9
HO455 Post Whore Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Portland Oregon Posts: 10,783	Re: What size are brake lines? I've never had it turn green. I'm just was looking at a car I did back in 2010 and the is was no sign of it turning green. __________________ Thanks to Bob and Jeanie and everyone else at Superior Performance for all their great help. RIP Bob Parks. 1967 Burban the WMB,1991 S(stink)-10 Blazer,1969 GTO, 1970 Javelin, 1952 F2 Ford 4X4, 29 Model A, 72 Firebird. 85 Alfa Romeo If it breaks I didn't want it in the first place The WMB repair thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=698377

10-21-2018, 01:23 PM	#10
S_Gibson Registered User Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Winston Salem, NC Posts: 95	Re: What size are brake lines? Right or wrong I ran 3/16" lines in place of 1/4" on my truck. I used the nickel/copper lines and it was the easiest brake line I've ever worked with. Flared with little effort and bent easily with no tools. __________________ Stupidity was meant to be painful!

10-21-2018, 06:18 PM	#11
jocko Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Godley, TX Posts: 17,930	Re: What size are brake lines? It would be wrong, not right, to run 3/16 if you ran it to the rear drums. They should be 1/4. Will it still work, yep - does it work with the proper pressure the way uncle GM designed it, nope.

10-21-2018, 09:57 PM	#12
70CHEVYBB Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: chillicothe, illinois Posts: 688	Re: What size are brake lines? Well my shop has been using them for about 10 years and have alot of repete customers. So i see the lines all the time. Do keep in mind the i live in the midwest so winters are bad and they are on daily drivers

10-22-2018, 03:26 AM	#13
Qknf4u69 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2017 Location: Grants Pass, Oregon Posts: 43	Re: What size are brake lines? Hi everyone, Funny you guys are talking about brake lines at the time I am trying to get set to do my 69 long bed and I am over thinking it for sure, what to use, Stainless, NiCopp... so I have a few questions. 1. I have the disc brakes off a 72 for the front and Wilwood disc for the rear. Should I still run 1/4" for the rear or should I run 3/16" everywhere? 2. T304 grade stainless steel double anealed, or NiCopp for the lines 3. Where is a good place to get genuine NICopp line if that is the better choice, I have seen some on ebay that looks like copper tubing for refrigerant and I do not want it to be that soft and maybe the stuff that turns green that 70CHEVYBB described. Anyway, any sugestions you guys have will be appreciated.

10-22-2018, 05:33 PM	#14
S_Gibson Registered User Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Winston Salem, NC Posts: 95	Re: What size are brake lines? I bought these lines and was happy with them. Came with the different size fittings. Only other thing I needed was unions (couple bucks), a tubing cutter ($7 at Ace Hardware) and a double flare tool (about $20 at Harbor Freight). Stuff is very easy to work with. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 __________________ Stupidity was meant to be painful!

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