Sorry if this is the wrong section, but I'm finishing up a '82 caddy that i've been working for a while. I changed out all of the brakes (shell had been sitting for a few years), and realized i needed new hard lines along the rear axle. After fighting with the fittings on the center of the axle, I gave up as the nut was seized into that rubber line that runs from the axle up to the body. Now, since the bottom of those rubber lines are seemingly pressed into that bracket, i needed to then cut that line in order to get the rubber line off the next connection.
So, my question is, is there anywhere to buy that rubber line for the caddy? I can't find anyone who sells the stock line either with or without that (brass?) bracket that bolts into the rear axle. There's a guy on vwcaddy forum in chicago i think selling a stainless line kit with a new bracket, but i'd rather not spend the $125 if i can avoid it. From what I can tell, it looks like I could get away with using the standard front caliper rubber hose and clipping that onto the axle somehow.
Anyone with experience or better suggestions?
Same thing happened to me when I did the axle flip and sent everything out for powder coating
I just bought the kit, it's a one time thing, great fit and finish
Gee-Bee
Vanagon front hoses are what was pitched as the correct replacement for that NLA part, by the "experts".
They work fine but you need to figure out a way to attach the hoses to the axle tube.
Chris
Yup- second the Vanagon fronts (early eighties). I have some but haven't put them on mine. They will work- probably just a precisely placed large hose clamp will do for the mount on the axle. If that won't work for a clamp , it won't take much to make something or reuse part of the old one.
The fronts you are talking about have a male on one end and they need to be female on both ends, like the Vanagons are.
Rick