DeTomaso Mailing List: September 2000, Message #86

Dear Mike,

        You've raised an troublesome point about the longetivity of our
original brake lines.  You mentioned "(the) standard lines lasted twenty
five years".  How long would you expect the standard brake lines to last
given complete neglect and given regular flushing of fresh brake fluid?
When they fail do they fail catastrophically or with a whimper and puddle of
brake fluid on the floor?  Has anybody actually experienced the failure of
the standard brake lines?
        Now, given the decision to replace those puppies, how hard is it to
replace the old lines with new ones?

                Curious minds want to know,  Chuck Engles


----- Original Message -----
From: <MikeLDrew@aol.com>
To: Multiple recipients of list <detomaso@realbig.com>
Sent: Sunday, September 03, 2000 9:07 PM
Subject: Re: Stainless steel brake lines question


>
> In a message dated 9/3/00 8:34:41, whtvnm@mind.net writes:
>
> << Now that I have completely removed every thing possible, short of
cutting
> things off, I am evaluating several upgrades while I have the "body in
> white". One of them is replacing the old brake lines with new stainless
> lines from Pantera Parts Con. in CO. My question is does any one on the
list
> have any experience/challenges with their kit. Additionally, I have talked
> with one individual that installed the kit and had a terrible time with
> leaks as the stainless is much harder than normal brake line metal and
they
> had a tough time sealing the fittings.
>  >>
>
> >>>I was advised AFTER I purchased a stainless steel brake line kit for my
> GT-350 of the sometimes difficult nature of stainless hoses.  Before
> installation, I teflon-taped the heck out of all of the fittings, and
> fortunately experienced no leakage.
>
> The benefit of stainless is that it's essentially immortal, but the
downside
> is, it's more difficult to work with.  Your standard lines lasted 25
years--mi
> ght want to consider a pre-bent non-stainless kit (if available.)
>
> Call Classic Tube in NY and see if they have line kits for the
Pantera--they
> have EVERYTHING and the people running the joint own (or owned) a
Pantera...
>
> Mike