Anyone have experience with Ireland’s SS brake lines? The kit supplies six lines, 4 which obviously run from the hard lines to their respective calibers, the other two for ???. As always, Ireland supplies no instructions and the website is as useful as used condom in a tampon factory.
IE SS Brake Line Install
ctbimmer
#2
Not familiar with the IE kit specifically, but there are 6 rubber lines in an E30 brake system.
The two mystery locations run across the subframe, near the inward ends of the trailing arms. Unless you are very good or very lucky, you will not be able to remove one or both of them. The one on the passenger side is a particular b*tch as there is almost no angle to get a decent flare wrench in there without removing the subframe (at which point the job is ridiculously easy.)
If the condition of the rubber lines seems OK and you anticipate removing the subframe in the not-too-distant future, you may decide to install the 4 and save the last 2 hoses until such time as you tackle the subframe.
One possible strategy I’ve heard but not tried is to partially remove the subframe to improve access to these lines. This means to disconnect the driveshaft (I think you need to for drop clearance), then remove the body mount plates and loosen the 22MM big bolts on the subframe ends and try to drop it a few inches. Slightly less work than dropping the whole thing but not by much.
jlevie
#4
ctbimmer wrote:
[quote]Not familiar with the IE kit specifically, but there are 6 rubber lines in an E30 brake system.
The two mystery locations run across the subframe, near the inward ends of the trailing arms. Unless you are very good or very lucky, you will not be able to remove one or both of them. The one on the passenger side is a particular b*tch as there is almost no angle to get a decent flare wrench in there without removing the subframe (at which point the job is ridiculously easy.)
If the condition of the rubber lines seems OK and you anticipate removing the subframe in the not-too-distant future, you may decide to install the 4 and save the last 2 hoses until such time as you tackle the subframe.
One possible strategy I’ve heard but not tried is to partially remove the subframe to improve access to these lines. This means to disconnect the driveshaft (I think you need to for drop clearance), then remove the body mount plates and loosen the 22MM big bolts on the subframe ends and try to drop it a few inches. Slightly less work than dropping the whole thing but not by much.[/quote]
There is an easier way to do this. Cut the soft line close to the fitting and use a deep six-point socket.
Steve_D
#5
I did those lines yesterday with the subframe out and it was still a small pain to get the flare wrench in there. I had to loosen the gas tank a bit to get clearance.
I’m not understanding the “cut the lines/use a socket” advice, Jim. It seems the problem is getting the flare wrench on the hard line side, not getting a wrench on the rubber line fitting.
King_Tut
#6
Well this thread came as a complete surprise to me. I didn’t even know those rubber lines existed. I got the brake line kit from Bimmerworld, and do seem to recall it had 2 extra lines which I just assumed were for another car as the kit seemed kind of BMW universal. I hope I can find them and now I must add yet another thing to the list.
jlevie
#7
Steve D wrote:
[quote]I did those lines yesterday with the subframe out and it was still a small pain to get the flare wrench in there. I had to loosen the gas tank a bit to get clearance.
I’m not understanding the “cut the lines/use a socket” advice, Jim. It seems the problem is getting the flare wrench on the hard line side, not getting a wrench on the rubber line fitting.[/quote]
I’ve not had a problem getting a wrench on the hard line side of the junction. There’s no room to turn that wrench, and you can’t get a good shot at the soft line side, which is why I just cut the line and use a socket.
ctbimmer
#8
King Tut wrote:
[quote]Well this thread came as a complete surprise to me. I didn’t even know those rubber lines existed. I got the brake line kit from Bimmerworld, and do seem to recall it had 2 extra lines which I just assumed were for another car as the kit seemed kind of BMW universal. I hope I can find them and now I must add yet another thing to the list.[/quote]If you’ve lost the two ‘extra’ lines, BW will sell those to you as singles, unlike most vendors who only sell the complete kit.
bmcqueen
#9
I just got the bimmerworld set last week and bailed on the two hidden lines after spending 30 minutes cursing the BMW engineers from underneath the car. Really, they had to put that connection directly above the subframe!?
I’ve had the front subframe out a few times already, so I also figured that the rear’s going to come out eventually and I’ll just do it then.
bryan
cwbaader
#10
The best wrench to use is the crow foot line wrench…you can actually loosen the lines with one:laugh: CB
cbullard
#12
I actually managed to get mine off then put the SS lines on without moving anything. I just used a line wrench and a plain wrench. It took a while and was very frustrating, but it’s possible. I have the Bimmerworld lines in my car. I don’t think that makes a difference though.