Cleaning steel brake pipes or tubes inside... how??

[cletrac (RIP)]

I'd try that aerosol brake cleaner then compressed air. If you do that a few times then use some brake fluid then compressed air it should get rid of the gunk.

[Bob McNeill]

Try cleaning the pipe using bowden cable, old pushbike brake cable, feed it in spin it in the drill, use it like a rifle pull thru. New pipe is safest.

[Howard]

Although I am not in a rust prone area, I intend to replace all brake pipe.
I just bought 2x 7 metre rolls of 1/4 'bundy' pipe & a couple of handfulls of flare nuts for around $190. This way I know it will be right!

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi Ian - don't waste time and effort trying to restore those. Go new with either a brake shop or get Howard to make you a set.

Bob

[sth65pac]

Well:

Here are the pipes and as you can all now see the rear main and front chassis rail/ frame tubes are cactus.

Petrol cleans all the grease off them, but you have to be careful not to get it inside the tubes as it reacts with brake fluid... mind you the score is 1-3 with one pipe salvageable.

As you can see the rear main pipe was extremely pitted, and I managed to snap it on removal. It was good experience, as I was unsure if the pipes were pre-bent. It appears that by & large they are not except for a few tight radius's.

Having a 7/16 flare nut spanner will allow me to get the remaining unions undone. I feel like I am going backwards in destruct-a-tation, not forwards in restoration.

Howard; Fancy a weekend at the beach??? Bring your pipe, swaging tools, tube & family.. .

Ian

[sth65pac]

On the subject of brakes:

The 'upside' was that the master cylinder was in excellent shape, full of soft decomposed rubber which preserved the bore. A week of soaking in Methylated spirits (wood alcohol) and I managed to clean the goop out.

I used a piece of wooden dowel with a piece of Scotchbrite (scrubbie) to clean the bore to sparkling cast iron grey, and then lightly buffed it with 1200 grade wet & dry paper to remove any imperfections.... Anyone need the part number of the Ford Master Cylinder Overhaul kit in Oz???? See second picture.. one plastic bag says it all.

Keith would you be so kind as to add the Kit P/n to the spares list on MLU?

The bellcrank assembly was serviceable after I removed the dirt and cleaned the clevis pins.

More parts to be hung up & painted....

Ian

[Keith Webb]

Keith would you be so kind as to add the Kit P/n to the spares list on MLU?

I take the easy route and give master cylinders to a brake reco place who rebore and sleeve in stainless and return complete with a kit ready to use so I'm sorry but I don't have a kit number.

[Howard]

Originally Posted by sth65pac

...Howard; Fancy a weekend at the beach??? Bring your pipe, swaging tools, tube & family.. .
Ian

Ian,
Sounds good. But not before Corowa!
HH

[sth65pac]

Jeez Howard, the least you can do is drop by b4 Corowa... how am I going to drive there with no brakes .

Seriously, I cant see me getting my truck done in time.. (sad but true) so I will have to bring the mighty Nissan & Caravan...

Ian