Triumph Repair: 73 Triumph Spitfire rear brake hoses, richard ferris, brake hoses

Question
Hi,
I have a tough question, I ordered pre-bent brake lines from classic tube for my 73 Spit.
The rear 2 lines from the 3-way valve going to the rear brake hoses are not bent to fit correctly. Here is my problem, Classic tube says
the brake hose should run from the wheel cyl. to a bracket on the frame, then connect to the lines. Bentleys and Haynes show a diagram agreeing with them, but my car has a bracket on the backplate and another one on the frame.Each end of the hose mounting on each bracket The old setup had a brake line running  from the wheel cyl.to the end of the hose mounted on the backplate bracket. If I run the hose directly from the wheel cyl. to the frame bracket the lines from classic tube are wrong. I dont beleive any changes to the rear end were made to this car no independant suspension. bracklets are not bent or appear to have been modified either. What do you think?   THX. Richard Ferris  

Answer
Richard,

Let's agree to some conventions before we start.  The wheel cylinder is on the brake back plate.  The rubber hose in the rear system is "the rubber hose".  

Ok, let's see.  On all the Spitfires I've dealt with (1965 thru 1978) there has been:

1)  A steel brake line approx 1 foot long that connects from the wheel cylinder to the bracket on the brake back plate

2)  A rubber hose that connects to the short steel line (on the brake back plate) to a steel line on the frame (with bracket on the frame)

3)  A steel line (fairly straight) that connects from the rubber hose to the 3 way connector near the differential (working from memory, need to go look at one of the many parts frames in the yard)

So, which "pre-bent" line did you buy?  The one intended to attach to the wheel cylinder?  Or the one to connect from the rubber hose to the 3 way connector on the frame?

I have seen parts cars where a DPO has attached the rubber hose directly into the wheel cylinder.  That is not correct, and potentially can lead to the failure of the rubber line (and the braking system!!!! )

I hope I answered the question.  If not, feel free to ask for more clarification.


Cheers,

Jim