90 Testarossa - Changing brake vacuum hose from servo to engine bay

Hi All, happy new year to everyone!
1990 Testarossa - engine out, major engine bay overhaul, new radiators etc so taking the opportunity. As part of replacing all the rubber hoses, most of which are straightforward, but the vacuum hose from the brake servo to the engine bay union is putting up a fight! It’s brittle and cracked in the engine bay section - could cut it back but would rather replace. I take it that it is threaded through a metal pipe from within the front scuttle just below the windscreen down behind the front wing and into the sill space. Having pulled quite hard(ish - could put more force on it I guess) from both ends, it’s not budging. Given our wonderful uk climate I’m wondering if rusted inside the tube though my sills look in great condition from a fibreoptic inspection - can’t see any rust. I’ve seen from other threads the braided outer coverings can be our enemies though. If anyone has changed this hose, advice please! Is it better to pull from the front or back, is it worthwhile trying to get some GT40 oil down the tube, any other tricks? Worst case could be wing off and cut into the tube but rather not…thanks for any help gratefully received! Paul

 

Thanks EDoug. Mmmmh - maybe I’m wrong about that metal tube then though my car a bit later. Couldn’t see anything like that ratarossa picture from a fibreoptic through the wing repeater indicator. At the scuttle, hose seems to go through a flared metal fitting down into the wing and looks similar through the front of the sill when putting a fibreoptic through the rubber bung in the front wheel arch which lets you see into the sill from the front and again seems a flared metal fitting from tapping with a screwdriver. I presumed then they were joined but maybe not! Used that joiner method for the other pipes through the central tunnel. Have tried to both push and pull, doesn’t seem to want to move at all but sounds like perseverance name of the game! Noted re the hose and making sure right size and vacuum rated - too many supposedly vacuum hoses aren’t! Got mine from Summit Racing in the US - couldn’t easily find a UK supplier. When I get back to the car, I’ll take some photos but anyone with a newer car who can shed light on any design changes to the routing through the front wing space?

 

Thanks EDoug. Yes agree, I’m pretty sure my hose single piece as yours and that tube simply a “guide” that hose passes through, I’d guess to make this replacement easier if needed though I’m not sure that necessarily figures in a Ferrari designers mind! The parts book says single piece hose but interestingly doesn’t show this tube in any of the body/coachwork diagrammes if indeed there even is one. I’m going to “phone a friend” and have another crack using your approach with some additional moral support

 

Some photos in case these ring some bells…this one in left hand scuttle under windscreen
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And this one shot through the wheel arch hole after removing the rubber bung which seals the sill…
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Thanks EDoug; the Ratarossa project is something special!

 

Image Unavailable, Please Login Well, definitely very tight. Finally managed to move it with a chain hoist but even now can’t shift it by hand push/pull. Next to replicate your joiner EDoug and cross my fingers. Bit of silicone lube I am thinking…

 

Well, tried the double hose barb and couldn’t get it round that bottom bend into the sill, kept stripping out the inner rubber of the hose and parting. Not helped by how tight these hoses are in that guide tube. But, made up a pull through using a boat shift cable and trapping a short barbed metal plug in the end of the hose - that pulled through nicely! Should anyone in the UK want some vacuum hose, I have a lot left as I had to buy a 50ft coil (!) so enough for another RHD Testarossa etc. DM me.