Old Britts – Making Braided Steel Oil and Brake Lines
Download the complete PDF version using the green download button at the top right of this page for an Old Britts technical article covering the construction of braided stainless steel oil and brake lines using reusable fittings. Written by Fred Eaton, this guide uses a one-piece Norton Commando race bike front brake line as the example, while noting that the same general method applies to other braided line assemblies.
The article explains how to measure the required line length, allowing for fitting angles and the bend needed at each end. It then covers cutting the braided hose cleanly with a cut-off wheel or fine-tooth hacksaw, protecting the braid from fraying, removing the clear outer covering where fitted and preparing the hose end before assembly.
Further sections show how to install the threaded compression nut, spread the braid, fit the compression ring, clean the hose bore and tighten the reusable fitting correctly. The final notes mention that the reusable fittings can be used again, but the compression rings should be replaced when fitting them to a new section of line, and that the completed hose should be cleaned internally after assembly.
Contents Include
- Building braided stainless steel oil and brake lines
- Reusable fitting installation guidance
- Measuring line length from master cylinder to caliper
- Allowing for 90-degree and 45-degree fittings
- Cutting braided hose without fraying the braid
- Removing clear protective hose covering
- Threading the compression nut onto the line
- Spreading the braid and fitting the compression ring
- Cleaning the hose bore before final assembly
- Tightening the reusable fitting correctly
- Replacing compression rings when reusing fittings
- Final internal cleaning after assembly
