Hard brake lines

Huw

Club Member
To be honest it would probably be cheaper to buy a roll of brake line plus connectors and a bending and flaring tool.

But if you do buy those, don’t buy copper. Copper nickel is far superior than just copper, less prone to corrosion and splitting. If your confident at making hard lines then stainless is the way to go, but it’s harder and less forgiving to work with than copper nickel.
 

AliK

Vehicle Dating Officer
Staff member
Club Member
To echo Huw, I did all of mine last year using cunnifer (cupro-nickle), a cheapo pipe bender and a flaring tool.

Copper is an absolute no no and a good reason why illegal in the US on brake lines!

mid my experience is anything to go by, the copper ones fitted but the PO had all “work hardened” and perished / cracked at the callipers inside the connector / flared part!

having said that, I did buy copper to bend into shape first and get the pattern right before making the final items.

Ps. Total cost of doing all (excluding the very long one that goes all the way back - which was already cunnifer) was under £50!!
 
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AD240Z

Club Member
Thanks for the info .

I did wonder about doing it myself - but wasnt sure how hard it might be .

Certainly going to have a browse for some equipment and have a look. If you did it for £50 Ali - its worth having a go ............
 

AliK

Vehicle Dating Officer
Staff member
Club Member
Pipe and fittings

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brake-Line-Pipe-25ft-Roll-3-16-Metric-20pc-Fitting-Copper-Steel-Nickel-Kunifer-/313619871693


This flaring tool worked well for me ...

https://www.toolstation.com/flaring-tool-kit/p28625

This tool is posher and gives a cleaner finish ...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brake-Pipe-Flaring-Tool-Trident-3-16-4-75mm-On-Car-Double-Flare-Hand-Held-tool-/353605953252

pipe bender ...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-Pipe-Bender-3-in1-6mm-8mm10mm-Copper-Tube-Bending-Tool-Brake-Fuel-Pipe-/254613961678

Extra fittings if you want to do more pipes ...
Pearl PBU437 M10 Male Brake Pipe Union PP54 (50 Pieces) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006HFM5FK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_3GM8Q5GP428XY95GQZ97

OK maybe a little over £50 but way cheaper than buying pre-made ones. If you are taking off the existing ones, you can use them as a template.

For some of the bends like the rear brake drums I used paint tins and sockets to achieve some of the bigger and smaller radii.

Which ones are you making?
 

AD240Z

Club Member
Pipe and fittings

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brake-Line-Pipe-25ft-Roll-3-16-Metric-20pc-Fitting-Copper-Steel-Nickel-Kunifer-/313619871693


This flaring tool worked well for me ...

https://www.toolstation.com/flaring-tool-kit/p28625

This tool is posher and gives a cleaner finish ...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brake-Pipe-Flaring-Tool-Trident-3-16-4-75mm-On-Car-Double-Flare-Hand-Held-tool-/353605953252

pipe bender ...
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mini-Pipe-Bender-3-in1-6mm-8mm10mm-Copper-Tube-Bending-Tool-Brake-Fuel-Pipe-/254613961678

Extra fittings if you want to do more pipes ...
Pearl PBU437 M10 Male Brake Pipe Union PP54 (50 Pieces) https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B006HFM5FK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_3GM8Q5GP428XY95GQZ97

OK maybe a little over £50 but way cheaper than buying pre-made ones. If you are taking off the existing ones, you can use them as a template.

For some of the bends like the rear brake drums I used paint tins and sockets to achieve some of the bigger and smaller radii.

Which ones are you making?

Ali - that’s brilliant mate - Thank You.

Initially I’m doing both fronts as they have had some tough times .

I’m replacing the calipers etc .and everything is rounded off - and worse for wear .

Will probably move onto rears in due course .

Thanks again
 

AliK

Vehicle Dating Officer
Staff member
Club Member
Ali - that’s brilliant mate - Thank You.

Initially I’m doing both fronts as they have had some tough times .

I’m replacing the calipers etc .and everything is rounded off - and worse for wear .

Will probably move onto rears in due course .

Thanks again

Most welcome! Good luck with it and keep us posted. I literally saved hundreds doing all of mine and the fuel lines at the same time.

This one at the front (as you can imagine) took a bit of time

7471DC79-57EA-4AF2-8156-42B6B3AF7F1F.jpeg
 

AD240Z

Club Member
Most welcome! Good luck with it and keep us posted. I literally saved hundreds doing all of mine and the fuel lines at the same time.

This one at the front (as you can imagine) took a bit of time

View attachment 46643

Looks good Ali.

It’s a planned winter project so I’ll try and get a bit of practice first - and then I’ll have plenty of dark nights in the garage ……

thanks again
 

AliK

Vehicle Dating Officer
Staff member
Club Member
Nicely done, but is that new one missing a fitting?!o_O

you will also notice it’s longer than it needs to be at that point - it was flared as practice and to stop the first fitting falling off before I had bent it into shape. After bending to shape the fitting can’t slide past the corners, so you have to put it on first. Did that make sense?
 

AD240Z

Club Member
you will also notice it’s longer than it needs to be at that point - it was flared as practice and to stop the first fitting falling off before I had bent it into shape. After bending to shape the fitting can’t slide past the corners, so you have to put it on first. Did that make sense?

i think it makes sense - you can’t flare one end - shape it - then slide all the fittings down as they won’t pass the corners .

Good tip
 

toopy

Club Member
you will also notice it’s longer than it needs to be at that point - it was flared as practice and to stop the first fitting falling off before I had bent it into shape. After bending to shape the fitting can’t slide past the corners, so you have to put it on first. Did that make sense?

Yes i see, thought maybe you'd done the remaining bends and keenly flared it before sliding the last fitting on :p
 

AliK

Vehicle Dating Officer
Staff member
Club Member
Yes i see, thought maybe you'd done the remaining bends and keenly flared it before sliding the last fitting on :p

Not this time but done many a dumb thing like that before :p especially on electrical connectors I’ve soldered meticulously well, only to have to de-solder and put the cover on the cable ! :(
 
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Geoff-R

Club Member
Edd China was making up fuel lines and brake lines on one of his recent videos which could be helpful?

This is the one

Always enjoy watching him at work and honestly makes it look easy.
 

AD240Z

Club Member
Edd China was making up fuel lines and brake lines on one of his recent videos which could be helpful?

This is the one

Always enjoy watching him at work and honestly makes it look easy.

Thanks for that - always good to see it done .

His Range Rover looks a bit rough mind
 

Mark N

Club Member

I use the Draper version of this tool and it works really well.
It is also small enough to use in tight spaces on the car if required.

I also bought one of these, which saves a bit of time, if you are using a coil of pipe, and doesn't cost vey much.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Sealey-V...ner-for-3-16-4-76mm-Brake-Pipes-/223233311943
 

AliK

Vehicle Dating Officer
Staff member
Club Member
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AD240Z

Club Member
great ideal!

God I wish I had one of those!!! I now recall thinking at the time I should have bought one while doing the fuel lines!!! It would have saved me a HUGE log of hassle!!!

I’ll add one to the list ….EXTRA:D
 
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