How do I route the fr. brake lines???

[LOAF]

Making some progress, ran some errands, came back the wife and baby were I sleep so I went to play with the VW..

I am curious as to how folks with the N/A 944 brakes route there brake lines..
I can't seem to utilize the topline bracket.. or at least I may not be doing it right.. Would see best if it was attached to the fender well somewhere instead of the strut..

Also found out that one or both my tie-rods are short.. I think its the passenger side that is short.. can anyone confirm, I think that is what I read.. if so I have my 78's that I will use.. but how the hell do you take the rod off.. that nut is a pain.. mind you i have not gone under with a light to see if there is a cotter pin or something.. for now just PB blasting to soak up the lubercant..

Also pic of the design 90 test fit.. apparently it going to be wider by an inch


Lastly.. A tree branch hit the bug.. everything was well until I was inspecting and I removed some blue painters tape that was holding the hood from when I transported the car... well the tree branch did not hurt the car hood, but I did while removing the tape.. Man I have some good luck.. well have to get that repainted.. I am an Arse..

Thanks
ALex

[LOAF]

Thinking I did not make this post clear..

My first question is where do I mount the brake lines... I could not utilize the Topline Strut brake line clamps, since this seems to want to kink the line.. It seems easier to some how mount to the body...

Secondly... Do I need to run late model tie rods, with my 73 that has been converted to late SB suspesion, and 944 brake lines..

Thanks
ALex

Lack of sleep is not helping my thought process.A
Alex

[Bullyboy]

The flex line goes from the body to the strut mount, then a short metal line goes to the caliper. At least on our system

[LOAF]

How short is short..

Maybe I am using the rear line on the front

Bought the lines so long ago.. can't rmember which is front and rear..

As you mentioned, I tried the bracket but with the lines I installed, they could not be routed properly without kinking.. again, I may have put the wrong lines on..

ALex

[Mikey]

Originally Posted by Bullyboy

The flex line goes from the body to the strut mount, then a short metal line goes to the caliper. At least on our system

Where the brake line is attached to the inner fender, there should be a flexable (rubber) line between that point and the strut. Then a small, probably less than 6inches, hard line between the strut and the caliper.

I tried to find a picture, If I happen to find one, I'll post it for you.

Goodluck, I'm not a "super guy" but I have worked on a few.

[LOAF]

Mikey, and anyone that can help me..

Still confused..

I have a 73, that was converted to late suspension up front.. I removed the old rubber line, and am trying to replace with a braided metal line..

I am running 944 N/A brakes with the Maxx Struts..

I bought lines from Topline, for my car, but when I tried running the longer 14" line it wanted to kink when using the Maxx strut line brackets.. I was thinking that there may be another way to run the lines, or maybe I am running them incorrectly.. Hence, my questions, and looking for picture..

Any help appreciated..
ALex

[Bullyboy]

You need the hard line from the caliper to the mount on the strut. then the clip holds the hard line and the new flex line solid on the strut. Then the flex line gets attached to the hard line on the body.

[Mikey]

/\ what he said.

Do you understand now?

[LOAF]

Yep.. that did help..
I have to go to the basement, and look for that small hard line.. I wonder if the different mounting location on the 944 calipers will affect anything..

I will post progress after I better look at the parts up close.. and have time to fiddle with them..
THANKS a MILLION.
Alex

[LOAF]

ok.. came back and still have problems..

The brake line that I have for the front is about 6-7 inches long.. It has one male end (which goes to the brake caliper) and a female end that goes to the hard line on the bug..

When I compare this to the picture, it seems I have a different line.. The line in the pic has what looks like to female ends..
Also my hard line which came off the drum is only like 4 inches long.. so it doesn't even reach the SS line.. if I tried..

Any thoughts.. Should I be running the front SS lines from a 944? and not Toplines beetle SS lines..

Pics enclosed
ALex

[Mikey]

It looks like you have the wrong SS line. The front on a super should be Female-Female. Have you tried the rears yet? Maybe you have them switched. The rears on IRS should be Male-Female.

Now, the small hard line. I think you're going to have to just buy a new peice of hard line a few inches longer, and bend it to fit. You MIGHT be able to bend the old line to fit. Just straighten it a little to reach, but if it kinks or just doesn't reach, you'll have to get a new one.

Sorry, I couldn't find any pictures.

[Bullyboy]

I think I had to buy a 12" hard line to get around the strut because the ghia caliper goes to the opposite side of the strut . Any auto supply should have lines in different lengths.

[LOAF]

Bully, Mikey

that is what I figured.. I did some more research, and figured out I had the wrong line up front.. That is part I of the issue..

Part II, is having too short of a Hard line.. Luckily I have some extra hardlines laying in the basement.. Just need to get a line bender..

Thanks again.. Will keep everyone posted, on my odessy..
ALex

[LOAF]

Ok.. got the line on..

After speaking with Topline.. What I learned was that they provide a male/female SS brake line to go directly to the caliper.. it is long enough and reaches the hardline line without a problem..
Once I had everything on, and started playing around with the line and bracket, everything worked out well..

I was going to use to brackets to ensure no rubbing with the tires, but after tightening everything, so far it looks like no problem, with my design 90's..

I think I jumped the gun.. oh well, at least I learned something, while embarassing myself
ALex