New brake pipes - recommendations ?

morgan · Post by **morgan** » Tue Sep 21, 10 8:18 pm

Gearing up for a winter of discontent - one of the jobs on the list is brake pipes - they are showing signs of corrosion and got picked up as an observation on the last MOT...

While I am at it I thought I may as well do them all - its done then. I have seen some complete kits - pre-bent pipes, and of course braided hoses etc. Wondered if anyone had bought a kit and if so who from, and obviously would they recommend it ?

( Yes, I know, you back-yard-blacksmiths will think I should just bend , flare, kink and shape my own pipes but I believe that potential misery lies down that road so would rather investigate other options first

)

So - Any recommendations ?

Roger · Post by **Roger** » Tue Sep 21, 10 8:33 pm

I got the stainless fine lines stuff. Fine lines in true american tradition couldn't grasp that the world extended beyond the USA, so had to get them from yearone.

Id give them 8 out of 10 for the product. Pre bent maybe, but not a perfect fit. A bit of tweaking required.

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Tue Sep 21, 10 10:32 pm

I too used Finelines on the 'Bird, but did not opt for stainless. I got them shipped to an address in the 'States. I would use them again.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Tue Sep 21, 10 10:45 pm

doing your own lines isnt that bad you soon get into it first time i did it i was a bit nervous but soon got stuck in

latil · Post by **latil** » Tue Sep 21, 10 10:48 pm

rickster wrote:doing your own lines isnt that bad you soon get into it first time i did it i was a bit nervous but soon got stuck in

We are talking brake lines here?

I've never bought hard lines,always got some pipe on the shelf and a proper Sykes flaring tool.

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Tue Sep 21, 10 11:55 pm

latil wrote:
rickster wrote:doing your own lines isnt that bad you soon get into it first time i did it i was a bit nervous but soon got stuck in
We are talking brake lines here?

I've never bought hard lines,always got some pipe on the shelf and a proper Sykes flaring tool.

Ian Z · Post by **Ian Z** » Wed Sep 22, 10 10:54 am

Morgan, just done mine.

Copper/nickel pipe 3/16:
http://www.frost.co.uk/item_Detail.asp? ... ame=3/16in. Seamless Copper / Nickel Brake Pipe&catID=14&frostCat=Brakes&frostSubCat=&subCatID=
Or maybe cheaper at your local store.

Flaring tool at MachineMart - or good tool store:
http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/produ ... tting-kit-

Might be worth ordering up any pipe fittings you may need in advance. Most of the fittings are unique to each other, so check and confirm closely! Your local store wont have them.
You wont prob know which you need until you dismantle originals and identify thos which, strip/round off/brake. Oh, and when you make a pipe, put fitting on before flaring...DOH!

Before buying any of above, check total price against Pete and Roger's recommendations. Prob not a lot in it - just the wait to get from States. Plus, will you use the tools again?

Anonymous · Post by **Anonymous** » Wed Sep 22, 10 11:08 am

Got mine from Fine Lines. Great product and service, exactly like factory originals. No complaints here.

db · Post by db » Wed Sep 22, 10 4:43 pm

DON'T get a cheap flaring tool. More trouble than they're worth. If you can't justify buying a decent one, try to hire/ borrow one.

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Wed Sep 22, 10 5:33 pm

If you decide to make your own, I have all the tools you need. It isn't that hard to do with the right equipment and a bit of advice, I've made loads and loads of 'em over the years. You'll need about 20 odd quid of line and you should be able to re use all the fittings if you know the right way to get them off

MilesnMiles · Post by **MilesnMiles** » Wed Sep 22, 10 7:57 pm

aah, Blue getting them off

It took wacking great molegrips and Mustang Mike's not inconsderable girth and 'can do' attitude to wrench one of my brake nuts off.
The rest of the fun has been replacing a front to rear brake line that was installed at the factory onto the chassis with the body off. Not being in a position to do a body off brake line repair I have had sooo much fun replacing said brake line

Mine is a Buick, hope the Mope is easier!

Blue · Post by **Blue** » Thu Sep 23, 10 6:34 am

The trick with brake pipe nuts is to cut off the pipe right at the nut, then remove the nut with a good quality single hex socket, works every time for me.

Pete · Post by **Pete** » Thu Sep 23, 10 8:53 am

Blue wrote:The trick with brake pipe nuts is to cut off the pipe right at the nut, then remove the nut with a good quality single hex socket, works every time for me.

Works for me. You just have to get your head around the fact that you have to sacrifice the pipe to re-use the nuts, but this is not an issue if it is the pipes you intend to replace.

I too have the flaring tools and have made the pipes up for the race cars. Quite theraputic.

MilesnMiles · Post by **MilesnMiles** » Thu Sep 23, 10 1:40 pm

I cut mine flush off, but one was really seized, way beyond what you might expect. On the other hand, my 40 yr Cougar brake nuts snapped undone a treat. Dry state car

morgan · Post by **morgan** » Thu Sep 23, 10 4:07 pm

Great. Now I am erring toward having a go at making some... pretty sure I have a pipe bender somewhere from the kit-car days (my last experience of this, which was Ok as you make your own routes).

Whatever I choose to do it sounds like the tools/kit is/are readily available so I will decide when I get them off and see what sort of condition/complexity I am looking at.

Thanks all - as ever...