stainless steel brake lines (IPD)

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stainless steel brake lines (IPD)[850/1995] posted by Mark Holter on
Thursday, 19 March 1998, at 3:40 p.m.

Has anyone used the stainless steel brake lines sold by ipd? If so, do they warrant the cost, and if so, how's installation?

mark holter
'91 745 65K

Re: stainless steel brake lines (IPD)[850/1995] posted by Chris A. on
Thursday, 19 March 1998, at 6:18 p.m.

Yeah, I put them on my 1800, it was a simple install. If you're familiar with brake systems, it should be a breeze, but I certainly wouldn't recommend it if you've never opened a brake line before.

Re: stainless steel brake lines (IPD)[850/1995] posted by Steve Seekins on
Friday, 20 March 1998, at 6:57 a.m.

I have installed them on 4 or 5 240s, several 700s, and a few 850/70 models. A full set is cheaper by about $5 than the OEM lines, installation is messy, but not a problem unless your Volvo is a bit old and crusty. Then you may have a problem breaking the unions on some of your original lines. Be sure to soak them is a GOOD penetrant like Parker Brothers Blaster or Kroil (forget the WD40) twice a day for several days prior to working on them. Also, use a good quality flare nut wrench to avoid ruining the brass fittings. Even so, you may find that at least one fitting will require the vicegrip treatment and a replacement hard line and fitting.

On the 240s where the front flex hoses pass through the holes in the brackets on the strut, some folks cut a slot in the brackets so that the hoses can be pulled free without breaking the fittings in the future - handy if strut work is required.

The stainless lines will generally improve the brake feel a bit - particualrly if your old lines are getting soft. I have never had a problem with a failure on a stainless line - used them on my old 71 1800E for about 300,000 miles, have them on 2 240 turbos and a 745 turbo (ABS).

Volvo Club of America

Re: stainless steel brake lines (IPD)[850/1995] posted by Andy on
Friday, 20 March 1998, at 6:46 p.m.

I did the replacement on my mom's 89 744 recently. My only hang-up was that in that year, there were double lines to the front calipers, even without ABS.

The lines were exactly the right size, and installation is best accomplished with a drain pan beneath the caliper.

Allso, let me turn you on to Speed Bleeders. These are brake bleeding fittings sold by Russell and directly by the guy who invented them. They are like grease fitting in reverse; loosen half a turn, apply pedal pressure and fluid goes out, release pressure and air doesn't go back in. Brilliant. Makes brake bleeding a TRULY one-person job.

Here's their numbers...
phone (630) 739-4620
fax (630) 739-9626

Also, make sure to use that Castrol LMA fluid.

Good luck,

ANDY

Re: stainless steel brake lines (IPD)[850/1995] posted by Paul S. on
Tuesday, 24 March 1998, at 12:18 p.m.

I put SS lines on my 1981 262C (same as a '81 24X) Easy pie. Of course I had the complete calipers off for rebuild. All the install advice above is good stuff. I'll add some easy advice:

Buy three(3) quarts of Castrol LMA Dot 4....I'm not kidding...Buy all kinds of cleaners and degreasers for the bottom of your car. (Castrol Super clean, Simple Green, etc...)

Clean the living bull puckey out of the bottom side of your car. Then go back and clean all the brake line fittings...I mean brand new clean. (Use a brass brush if necessary). Really clean. You don't want dirt inside!!!

Then suck the old brake fluid juice out of the master cylinder resevoir, pour in some new Castrol LMA Dot 4. Flush the brake system well...'till new clean fluid flows. Use those new bleeder one way nipples...it will make it very easy.
(The idea is - You don't want dirty old fluid in your new lines do you?)Get everything clean inside and out - before installing the new lines.

Then spray some Kroil or PB Blaster on the connections. Wait awhile, smoke a cigar. Spray some more penetrant, then tap on the connections. Smoke another cigar. Clean the joints again then wrench them apart.

Install new SS hoses....bleed brakes...enjoy your new firm positive pedal. (At a cost less than replacement rubber hoses!)

Paul S.

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