ABS and brake lines

chillman88

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Hey everyone,

I'll be biting the bullet and running all new lines in my father in law's deathtrap. Is the ABS as useless in a 97 as it is in the older trucks? I highly doubt I'll be able to get that bleeder loose and would like to just bypass that whole piece on the frame.

Is the line from the front to rear axle 3/16 or 1/4" on these? It's an hour away and I need to order line, was hoping someone would know. 1997 F350 cab and chassis box truck (retired uhaul)

Thanks!
 

Selahdoor

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Glad you are going to do that for him.

As for the ABS... I look at it this way.

Regardless of whether it is as useless on the 97 as it is on the older trucks... Or not...


It is the one most likely point where you may have trouble.

It is also the most likely point to pop up as trouble after the fact.

Are you prepared to make that long trip again, when it starts causing trouble?


Now consider.

Your FIL, is old. Got to be at least as old as me, if not older.

That means he spent the majority of his driving life, without ABS.

And if he is anything like most of us old coots, he detests the ABS.

He knows how to drive without it.

I know for me, the ABS has actually caused dangerous situations.



Bottom line, were it me, I'd bypass that sucker, unplug the module behind the glovebox, and never look back.
 

chillman88

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@Selahdoor I feel the same exact way about it, but it's a question I felt necessary to ask anyway.

If it's equal to the older systems, it's not worth trying to fix. If it happened to be a much better system I might consider the benefits.

Fact is he's likely to never need it, but I'd also hate him to NEED it even one time and not have it. Kind of a catch 22...

Chances are I'm likely going to bypass it though. Honestly the brake lines I'm going to put on will likely outlast the frame.....
 

chillman88

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the line should be 1/4"

See that's what I was thinking, but I wasn't sure. I'm going to crawl back under my truck now that I'm home because I seem to think it was 3/16 on mine, but it would be far from the first time my memory failed me!
 

chillman88

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the line should be 1/4"
See that's what I was thinking, but I wasn't sure. I'm going to crawl back under my truck now that I'm home because I seem to think it was 3/16 on mine, but it would be far from the first time my memory failed me!

Definitely looks like 3/16 on my 90 and my 91. Did they change it some year? Can't find specs on the rear hose that list thread size. I'll do a little more digging.

Crappy cell phone pics but shows there's no adapter between the line and hose on my 91.
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hacked89

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Yep 3/16th and I believe that holds true through OBS.
Have him take an open end 1/4 wrench and put it around the line you want to replace. If it's a good fit it's 1/4 if you can bang it back and forth it's 3/16.
If he doesn't have a wrench.
Stack 3 pennies and hold it up to it, it will be just about the size.
3/16 is 4.75mm. A penny is 1.52mm.

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chillman88

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I'm just going to order the 3/16. If it ends up being wrong I'll just go to the parts store and overpay lol. It'll get used no matter what.
 

chillman88

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The front lines are the only ones leaking "right now" anyway...
 

snicklas

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Just to make sure, his 97 is a Heavy Duty F-250 or F-350 OBS, correct?

Or is it a 97 F-150 or Light Duty (7 lug) F-250? If it's a 150/LD250 that is first year of the "Taurus F-150" and they had true working 4 wheel ABS........

97 is a strange year for Ford Pickup Trucks. You had the new F-150/LD250, The OBS HD F-250 / F-350.... and the 1 year only OBS Crew Cab SWR Short Bed F-250........
 

gnathv

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I replaced the rear brake line from the rear axle to the RABS valve on my 97 dually recently, it was 3/16.
 

steve phillips

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if you are familiar with cu-ni brake line it is much easier to work with. amazon has the cheapest price and comes with fittings, including the fitting for master cylinder. you can buy a roll of 3/16 and 1/4 inch for what autozone wants for the 3/16. you will need a piece of 1/4 for line from t-fitting on axle to right rear. i will tell you this job is not easy to do with bed on however as access is limited. hope this helps. steve
 
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