Topic: Softening Hardened Rubber Brake Hose

[Chris Thauberger]

Vacuum hose before cleaning


hose after 45 seconds of light wiping.


Did not affect color stripes.

Chris

[Bob Gaines]

Vacuum hose before cleaning


hose after 45 seconds of light wiping.


Did not affect color stripes.

Chris

Respectfully ,there is a difference between cleaning and softening. It has been much easier for me to clean hoses compared to softening .Is the cleaning a by product of the Rubber Renue? i bought a bottle to try.  I have had little luck in softening rubber hoses once they have hardened using a variety of solvents and oils. . If you haven't already tried Westley's Bleche-Wite tire cleaner it has worked well on cleaning (not softening) without taking off markings or stripes. Castrol Super Clean works too but it is a little more aggressive on the markings . Just what I have experienced .Others may have different.   

[Chris Thauberger]

I could not agree more Bob. I was just posting pictures to show what my experience was. Each will have to judge results for themselves.

[mustangmann]

Get a bottle of 303 (made for restoring vinyl dashes and such) and submerge the hoses in it for a few days or so.  I use it all the time on rubber plugs and such. Does not seem to alter the shape of the piece, and once wiped off, leaves a nice, rich black color.  I would check it daily though, as I have not tried it on any rubber parts with markings.  In addition, you can use it on all of your vinyl surfaces, and even your daily driver.  Great stuff!

Ken

[Smokey 15]

 Thank You.  Where can 303 be purchased? 

[Bob Gaines]

Thank You.  Where can 303 be purchased?

I bought mine on ebay.

[preaction]

Respectfully ,there is a difference between cleaning and softening. It has been much easier for me to clean hoses compared to softening .Is the cleaning a by product of the Rubber Renue? i bought a bottle to try.  I have had little luck in softening rubber hoses once they have hardened using a variety of solvents and oils. . If you haven't already tried Westley's Bleche-Wite tire cleaner it has worked well on cleaning (not softening) without taking off markings or stripes. Castrol Super Clean works too but it is a little more aggressive on the markings . Just what I have experienced .Others may have different.   

Bob, they are selling what seems to be a new and improved Westley's in my area and its not nearly as good as the older product and I stopped using it. The original was awesome.

[Bob Gaines]

Bob, they are selling what seems to be a new and improved Westley's in my area and its not nearly as good as the older product and I stopped using it. The original was awesome.

I have seen a knock off labeled Black Magic Bleche-Wite on line . I read that the old formula is in the original marked bottle still available in some places until sold out. I also understand that you have to be careful buying it online because some online sellers still show the old bottle even though they only carry the newer diluted Black Magic stuff. I am going to look starting tomorrow locallyand buy a case if I can to keep for the future. I use that stuff for all kinds of things.

[Smokey 15]

I have seen a knock off labeled Black Magic Bleche-Wite on line . I read that the old formula is in the original marked bottle still available in some places until sold out. I also understand that you have to be careful buying it online because some online sellers still show the old bottle even though they only carry the newer diluted Black Magic stuff. I am going to look starting tomorrow locallyand buy a case if I can to keep for the future. I use that stuff for all kinds of things.

I use it, for cleaning a variety of rubber products, etc. as well. I have some of the 'original' formula left. After reading the previous posts, I will be searching for more. BTW, I also have some of the Black Magic branded stuff and it seems to take more of it to get the same results.

[FXguy]

Thanks to all for the input on this.  I took all of the parts to my rebuilder, who has done countless brake system rebuilds from drivers to trailered original cars.  He inspected the hoses and felt that the rear hose was fine to use, no cracks and plenty of flexibility left, the two fronts he recommended replacing or rebuilding, but he only has double crimp rebuilding equipment - so I went on a search for NOS front hoses. I'm going to start another thread to specifically discuss what would be correct factory markings. 

In the meantime, I'll order some 303 along with a couple of the other products mentioned here and see how they work on the original hoses.

-Scott

[Bob Gaines]

Thanks to all for the input on this.  I took all of the parts to my rebuilder, who has done countless brake system rebuilds from drivers to trailered original cars.  He inspected the hoses and felt that the rear hose was fine to use, no cracks and plenty of flexibility left, the two fronts he recommended replacing or rebuilding, but he only has double crimp rebuilding equipment - so I went on a search for NOS front hoses. I'm going to start another thread to specifically discuss what would be correct factory markings. 

In the meantime, I'll order some 303 along with a couple of the other products mentioned here and see how they work on the original hoses.

-Scott

I may be mistaken but thought David Davis was doing the 65/66 front hose. What you want is single crimp hose. The Ford ones also have the engineering number on them but if they are not single crimp regardless of if Ford NOS or repro from NPD they don't look like assemblyline. You can see the single or double crimp from six feet away . The engineering number is difficult to see unless you are right up on it. Don't waste your money on NOS Ford double crimp hose over repro because one is not any better then the other given their appearance.  FYI being a safety item and what with liability concerns the repro double crimp brake hose is as good of quality compared to genuine Ford double crimp brake hose.

[Bob Gaines]

I use it, for cleaning a variety of rubber products, etc. as well. I have some of the 'original' formula left. After reading the previous posts, I will be searching for more. BTW, I also have some of the Black Magic branded stuff and it seems to take more of it to get the same results.

I am sad to say I only found black magic marked bottles in all of the places I checked.

[FXguy]

I may be mistaken but thought David Davis was doing the 65/66 front hose. What you want is single crimp hose. The Ford ones also have the engineering number on them but if they are not single crimp regardless of if Ford NOS or repro from NPD they don't look like assemblyline. You can see the single or double crimp from six feet away . The engineering number is difficult to see unless you are right up on it. Don't waste your money on NOS Ford double crimp hose over repro because one is not any better then the other given their appearance.  FYI being a safety item and what with liability concerns the repro double crimp brake hose is as good of quality compared to genuine Ford double crimp brake hose.

Thanks for that Bob.  I called DSD and left a message, but haven't heard back yet.  Jeff says he's only doing them for later cars. 

BTW, I started another thread here http://www.concoursmustang.com/forum/index.php?topic=15129.0  to discuss what the correct factory brake hoses look like.

-Scott