Front Flexible Brake Hose Length

[mike_l]

Greetings all,

I will be putting fresh rubber brake hoses on my front wheel cylinders. The ones that are on there now are about 17" long but the book calls for the same as the piece that spans across the radiator brace to the front axle, all three pieces are the same IAW the parts book. That middle hose is about 3" shorter, roughly 14" long, than what I have at the wheels. Is this the correct length for the wheel cylinder hoses? It doesn't look like it will be enough, if the wheels are turned to their limits, to stretch the length over the top of the knuckle.

What is everyone else running on your trucks?

[T. Highway]

Mike,

Here are the part numbers that I have. The chart shows all three on the front are the same.
Org PN 7338963
Napa UBP4000
Raybestos BH 4000
Car Quest SP182

Part numbers change over time so make sure to double check what you are buying.

Bert

[mike_l]

Bert,

Thanks for the information.

I found the NAPA PN to show as UP 4000 (no UBPs in the database) and lists it as a 19.5" hose. The Raybestos BH 4000 lists as a 19.25" hose. The CarQuest PN also is 19.25" long. Additionally I found a Bendix number that cross-matches to the above and it is also 19.6" long.

I like the idea of the slightly extra length vs. the 14" which to me looks like it just barely reaches the wheel cylinders with the tires straight, let alone turned to their limits. But is 19+" too long? The hoses on my truck now are 17", 3" longer than the book says, 2" shorter than the cross-reference parts sheet PNs.

Interesting. Is everyone running these PNs for replacement hoses? I saw AB listed a couple of hoses for the M37 front axles and I sent him a note asking the length out of curiosity but I think he may have thought I was screwing with him because he never emailed me back. He's usually pretty quick to respond otherwise.

[jjefferson]

Hey Mike
About to do the same fix on the trusty plow truck and curious which direction you went with regarding the front hoses.

Thanks
Jim

[mike_l]

Jim,

I apologize for the late reply. I got a set from a seller on ebay, t-4medic, back in April 2013. He advertised them as 14 1/4" long. Checked the wheels from stop to stop and the hoses fit perfectly-no stretching or excess length. I suspect they are the same as what AB and others are also selling.