SnakeOyl Brake Lines Install Help

[GTS_Mann]

I'm doing some brake work on my 97 GTS (Tom's 40mm, pads & rotors) and decided to do SS lines. Since IPSCO lines are no longer available I got a set from ViperPartsUSA/SnakeOyl. I was just going to call them in the morning, but it's been killing me. I can't seem to figure out how the rear frame brackets are supposed to fit. I haven't gotten to the fronts yet. Has anyone else installed these? The bracket isn't anywhere close to the OEM mounting hole and hard line connection. What am I doing wrong?

Sorry the picture uploaded sideways. It's the best picture of them side by side I could get for comparison. The new bracket is nowhere close to the factory one and there's no other holes back there.

Thanks,

Mike

[LATAMUD]

Are you possibly accidentally attempting to install a front on rear or rear onto front kit?

[GTS_Mann]

Thanks. I thought that might be a possibility. But the fronts are longer and have a pretty distinctive bracket on the line that attaches it to the hub. And the bracket that attaches to the frame is actually very similar to the rear bracket. So neither one would fit. At least I hope I don't have them switched up. They came with barely instructions and no labels.

[dave6666]

Big Brake Dave (RIP) would advertise that his kit is the only one that the brackets fit the car properly. They were the IPSCO parts. I have them on my car if you need pointers.

[GTS_Mann]

Thanks Dave. I think what I really need and what I was hoping to get originally was the IPSCO lines. Jon B had originally said he could have them made. But I don't know if he meant the mounts and adaptors too or just the lines.

[Fatboy 18]

Looking at what you are working with you have the configuration correct.

I looks like you need to cut the existing OEM bracket away from the old rubber brake line.

Drill / nut and bolt, or weld new bracket onto OEM frame bracket.

What's the deal with ipsco? Are they no longer producing stuff?

[GTS Dean]

Those rear adapter mounts are not exactly correct, that's for sure. However, once you remove the OEM hose you can slightly bend the hard line forward a tad to fit the new adapter tab location. Be sure that you don't have the L & R sides mixed up if the tabs are not symmetric.

[GTS_Mann]

Looking at what you are working with you have the configuration correct.

I looks like you need to cut the existing OEM bracket away from the old rubber brake line.

Drill / nut and bolt, or weld new bracket onto OEM frame bracket.

What's the deal with ipsco? Are they no longer producing stuff?

That could be one way to make it work. Although that might be beyond my scope of abilities. I was under the impression that the kit would fit without any modification or fabrication.
I did call them this morning. They're looking into it as we speak.

As far as IPSCO...they just aren't making the brake line kit anymore. I believe there just wasn't the demand for them to produce it. So they stopped, unfortunately.

[Fatboy 18]

Have to admit, how these so called specialist parts suppliers cant even make the correct bracket amazes me.

If you do use the bracket they supply (Without using the OEM Bracket and self tapping hex head screw) you would likely have to drill a new hole in the frame after positioning the new bracket.

That's why Ipsco was the go to place, everything fitted,
Job done.

But the ipsco brackets will not work with your Snakeoyl lines as the ipsco stainless brake lines came off the bracket straight

[GTS_Mann]

Those rear adapter mounts are not exactly correct, that's for sure. However, once you remove the OEM hose you can slightly bend the hard line forward a tad to fit the new adapter tab location. Be sure that you don't have the L & R sides mixed up if the tabs are not symmetric.

I don't know how comfortable I'd be bending the hard lines.

I triple checked that I was using the correct line for that side. The brackets are stamped with a L or R.
I haven't heard back yet, but my guess and my hope is, that they sent the kit with the wrong rear brackets

[Fatboy 18]

I personally would not bend the OEM Hard Line as they are painted for protection and "might fracture", then you are into another world of grief!

[GTS_Mann]

Yeah, I don't want to go there. If I have to keep the OEM lines on that's what I'll do.

[Viperrt96]

Those rear adapter mounts are not exactly correct, that's for sure. However, once you remove the OEM hose you can slightly bend the hard line forward a tad to fit the new adapter tab location. Be sure that you don't have the L & R sides mixed up if the tabs are not symmetric.

I was thinking the same thing. I just bought a set of rear adapters from Mark at IPSCO so the install is fresh in my mind. The set he made me was brass and fit perfectly to the factory line & mount. He made me a set because he said he didn't sell them (or stock them) anymore as If I were to get anything it would be NOS from a distributor and probably only as a complete kit. Well in my case I just needed the rear adapters. My kit is an older (version) Big Brake Dave kit and it doesn't use banjo ends as it has an adapter for all calipers. Anyway He said they originally used Stopflex (brand) and turned me on to Classic Tube. My line is a -3an (female ends) and if I recall the rears were 19" long and the fronts were 18".? Again a little different set up as yours but Mark was definitely a huge help when it came to helping me fix my issue. Mark at IPSCO is a stand up guy

[Fatboy 18]

Yeah, I don't want to go there. If I have to keep the OEM lines on that's what I'll do.

I still have my old lines on the shelve,I will take a close up look at them tomorrow and see if the frame mount bracket can be separated

[GTS_Mann]

Awesome. Thanks. I really wish I could've gotten the kit from IPSCO. I've already got some of his other parts and will most likely be getting more. Maybe if it comes down to it I can convince him to do set of rear adapters for me too.

[Fatboy 18]

If you get the adaptors the lines you currently have will not work,

Here's a pic of the Ipsco set up on the RHS Rear wheel. sorry its not sharper but you can see the Ipsco line comes out with no bend.
20180722_190910.jpg

Sorry pic is sideways

[dave6666]

OK I shimmied under the car and I think I get better pics than Mark. Driver side. Once again these are Big Brake Dave / IPSCO lines from back in the day.

Front

20191230_180608.jpg
20191230_181036.jpg

Rear

20191230_180905.jpg
20191230_180929.jpg

[GTS_Mann]

The verdict is in... The lines were assembled incorrectly. The L&R brackets were switched. But that's not the end of it. The recommended install method is to "carefully re-contour" the OE hard lines to meet the mounted adaptor. Which I have no desire to do.
So that means back to square one, because yes, the lines in my kit won't fit a IPSCO adaptors even if I can get them....
Back to OE rubber lines for now...

[GTS_Mann]

Thanks for all the pictures and suggestions. At least I wasn't doing something stupid on my end. That would have been embarrassing.

[Colo08]

Awesome. Thanks. I really wish I could've gotten the kit from IPSCO. I've already got some of his other parts and will most likely be getting more. Maybe if it comes down to it I can convince him to do set of rear adapters for me too.

what year of car are you working on, I do have some frame fitting still in stock. You would need to get brake lines that have a -3an female fitting on the frame end. Give me a call or email me 303.252.4481 mjohnson@ipsco.org and i will help you out.

[GTS_Mann]

what year of car are you working on, I do have some frame fitting still in stock. You would need to get brake lines that have a -3an female fitting on the frame end. Give me a call or email me 303.252.4481 mjohnson@ipsco.org and i will help you out.

Thanks Mark!

It's a 97 GTS
I'll call you tomorrow.