how long is my hose?

[korrg]

I would like to change out my front brake line with a stainless line. I'm not terribly mechanical but I've been holding my own thanks to this forum thus far
Anyway I am having trouble figuring out how to accurately measure how long the front line should be. Anyone have an idea? Is it ok to err on the side of to long?

[Adler]

I dont think its any of our business how long your "hose" is but if you really want to measure you can take a string and run it along the length of the hose and then measure the string.

[korrg]

yea weird mood, anyway the sting worked ok, I must have been a sight trying to poke a tape measure through a triple tree .
I got 43" my choices from the bandit where 42 and 44 so I went long

[BassCliff]

Hi,

In the words of Benny Hill, "Different lengths at different times, Sir."



Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[korrg]

ok so I got the line in today, but it has a straight female fitting on either end. Does the "banjo"(?) bolt have a male fitting? is it reusable? I found nothing in either my service manual or my Clymers ,just says replace every 2 years, no real instructions beyond that (positive mine are every day as old as my bike) This is my daily rider and only form of motorized transportation I want to make sure of what I'm doing before I start. I would like to do both lines at the same time, will I run into similar issues for the rear?

[BassCliff]

Hi,

The banjo bolt is hollow and fits through the fittings on the end of the brake line.






Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[korrg]

that is not what the ends of the line I received look like, just a female threaded ends. no bulbous part.

[BassCliff]

Hi,

What brake line did you buy? For example, did you get Goodridge parts?

Brake line:



If so, did you also order the properly angled banjo fittings?



And the banjo bolts?




Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[korrg]

yea, somehow thought it would come as 1 part, so I need to buy the bolts and the fittings? the stock banjo bolts don't work with the ( yes goodridge) aftermarket parts?
and this is the easy upgrade? getting that bit off more than I can chew feeling.

[BassCliff]

Hi,

yea, somehow thought it would come as 1 part, so I need to buy the bolts and the fittings? the stock banjo bolts don't work with the ( yes goodridge) aftermarket parts?
and this is the easy upgrade? getting that bit off more than I can chew feeling.

You can re-use your banjo bolts if you like. But you do need the Goodridge screw-in fittings. I would also recommend new copper crush washers. It is pretty easy to assemble everything. It will take you more time to bleed the system than it will to put it together.


Thank you for your indulgence,

BassCliff

[korrg]

ok finaly got the chace to do my lines, and change out my rear shocks (progressive 12 series with extra heavy duty 105/150 sprigs, wow what a difference!) both front and rear where about 2"too long (there's a big difference in flexibility at the ends compared to the (most likely stock) rubber lines I replaced, had to do some creative routing to avoid chafing
I defiantly should get new banjo bolts as mine where kinda full of crud hit them with a bit of carb cleaner but when I rebuild the calipers this winter I'll replace them then.
so if the old lines where supposed to be replaced every 2 years how long should these "better than new" steel lines last?

[1_v8_merc]

I re-used my bolts too...since I don't care about looks....just wanted new Lines.

[DPage]

Korrg, you ask how long braided stainless brake lines last, as opposed to the original lines which are supposed to last "two years". My originals were OK (not great) after 25 years. The braided stainless should last at least that long if you bleed them well, once a year. And stainless lines are a great improvement in lever feel over the originals.

If you're worried about a particular brake line brand, look for outer rust on the metal fittings and banjo bolts, other than that they should last a very long time. My stainless lines are six years old, but still look and feel like new.

[korrg]

Korrg, you ask how long braided stainless brake lines last, as opposed to the original lines which are supposed to last "two years". My originals were OK (not great) after 25 years.The braided stainless should last at least that long if you bleed them well, once a year. And stainless lines are a great improvement in lever feel over the originals.

2 years is what the red binder service manual recommends, though of course it is referring to the stock lines, and yes annual bleeding will be the norm.
The difference is night and day (between rubber and stainless) That and the shock up-grade have dramatically improved my ride.

[korrg]

there's a short bit of rubber hose that goes from the rear M.C. to a fitting on the frame (as far as I can tell it looks like all it's there for is to convert the fittings to banjo) attached on either side by screw-clamps. I have looked everywhere for a replacement but the part is out of stock.
would it be an acceptable replacement to either buy another short length of braided line and cut off the female screw fittings at the ends, or since the piece I bought is a little long it might reach, and I could just cut off the fitting from it?
or is there an even simpler answer that I'm missing?