Does anyone have any idea how to get (DOT approved) SS brake lines on a 1980 with rear drums.....and no i dont want to swich to disks......

I have found Russel sells individual hoses but im not sure which addapters I will need.

Anyone else have a solution to this problem??

Cheers, and keep it rubber side down!!

 

For drum brakes, all you need is the one SS line that runs from the body to the axle. You can probably get it at Victory British or Mazdatrix.

 

The Mazdatrix hoses aren't DOT approved, and Victoria British only carries SS for Discs (and rubber for both discs and drums). The set of non-DOT ones are $72 at Mazdatrix if memory serves.

There are NO DOT approved SS hoses for drum cars. You either buy the non-DOT ones, stick with rubber, or switch to discs.

I doubt the safety-check guys would know the difference, or even notice that your SS hoses aren't DOT-approved.

I have drums on mine. You need two SS hoses of the same type for the front, and the "chassis" hose which goes over the axel in the rear. So three hoses total. Or Mazdatrix sells them in a package.

They are the exact same quality as the DOT-approved Disc ones, it's just that the DOT has trouble approving SS for Drums on our cars for some stupid reason I don't understand.

Jon

 

Any other ideas for actual DOT approved lines??

The abuse road cars take with stones, and other stuff Im not sure i want to use a non DOT approved line. Im sure Non-DOT approved hardware is fine when you check it every session on the track but on a road car I want something i can trust.

 

If you're worried about the abuse the hose will take then stick with rubber hoses. SS lines can fail if dirt works it's way in.

 

I just bought DOT-approved SS lines for my '84 S project from VB. Haven't installed them yet, but I at least opened the box to check them out (don't we all?). They are coated with rubber (for protection), but you can tell they're stainless underneath by the rigidity.

I got the two front lines, plus the back one for the drums, so yes, VB does sell DOT-approved lines for drum-equipped cars. I think I ordered from the Fall 03 catalog.

 

Mazdatrix offers DOT approved lines as well

http://www.mazdatrix.com/j-sslines.htm

They don't show it for drum rear but I'll bet if you give them a call they can do something for ya.

 

My impression was most DOT approved SS lines have a rubber coating over them, or at least over fittings.

I know a lot of road racers protect there lines by putting rubber medical hose over the lines. But for a road car that seems unpractical. Might as well do it right and get the proper hardware.

 

so even though the thread of the 1979 and 80 cars are different, if you get the line from the master cylinder from say a 1985 and run it back then it will work? The master cylinder has the same threads regardless of year? I've got a 1980 with SS lines (non DOT approved) and I have a chance to change my rear to a 1985 GSL with discs. I need ideas on the hose to get it to work for my 80.

 

That is a bit of a waist of time if your existing brakelines are in good condition (which mine are). If you want to take that approach all you simply have to do is cut the line, attach the correct fitting and re-flair the line.

That at first seems like a reasonable solution, but you still cant get a SS kit with just 3 hoses. Because you are still running with no callipers you dont need those two lines.

Great suggestion, and i think that is on the write track.

All I really need is to know is what fittings are needed to use the 'Universal Brake Line assemblies' from -->

http://www.russellperformance.com/automotive/index.html

(I know next to nothing about hydrolic fitting standards)

I was just hoping there was a simpler way of doing it........Surely there is plenty of people with the same conserns as me. I hope a reasonable (cheep) sollution can be figured out.

cheers, and thanks for all the input!!!!!