Rear Brake Line
Extension Bracket
Once longer shocks are fitted along with shock mount
changes for higher lifts over 3", you may find that at full droop that the rear
brake hose becomes taut. This is not a good thing as can lead to the hose
pulling free and having little brakes left to stop you. So this simple bracket
will help give you more length without having to buy a new longer brake line or
even needing to bleed to brakes to install. This setup was used on a 4.5" lifted
XJ and stopped the hose being too short. Pays to always check to see if it suits
your setup as all will be a bit different depending on shock and mounts
used.
I just started with a strip of 25x3mm or 1"x1/8"
strap steel and cut it about 146 mm or 5.3/4" long. I then just bent it into a Z
shape in the vice with a 38 mm or 1.1/2" fold each end in opposite
directions.
A 1/4" hole was drilled in the middle of one end for
a retaining bolt and panel washer to hold it in the original brake hose hole.
The other end had a 16 mm or 5/8" hole drilled along with a 5 mm or 3/16" slot
cut into it from the side. The reason for the slot is so the brake hard line can
be slipped through it. That it saves the line having to be being disconnected to
do this job. So no need to bleed the brakes either.
To install the hose is removed from the old bracket
by pulling the clip with vice grips that retains the hose in the original
bracket. The hose is then pulled forward until the hard line can be slipped out
of the slot. Then bend the hard line with your fingers, taking care not to kink
it, like shown above. The hard line is then slipped through the slot of the new
bracket and pushed forward until the clip can be slid back into place. Using a
large pair of channel locks makes this the easier. Then install the 1/4" bolt
through the bracket, then through the old hose hole with a panel washer and nut
on the backside.
Jack the frame up until the shocks have reached the
end of their travel to make sure the brake hose no longer pulls taut.
