New brake lines

[greenallgreg]

Replacing the brake lines that run along the left frame rail. Where is everyone buying their lines? Thanks

 

[RWherley]

i just buy the rolls of line at advanced auto and bend it in, but id buy stainless steel line if i could find it

 

[mwilson]

I highly recommend Copper / Nickle alloy line if you are making your own. Much easier to double flare and bend without kinking. Also not affected by corrosion. Do it once and done.

All parts stores in my area now carry it.

 

[GAmes]

Resurrecting an old thread. I have an old style flair maker. I'm reading about a "bubble flair" tool for brake lines. What's the difference? Is that a "double flair" that Mike is speaking of? In case it matters, I'm restoring a '54 Ford and hopefully will be able to reuse all the junction blocks.

 

[mwilson]

I have an old thread showing a bubble flare, I'll see if I can find it.

 

[JR]

Bubble flare - double flare - probably the same thing if you've been using your set up trouble free all along. I've got a cheapo double flare tool that I used on my 2nd gen when I replaced the brake lines from the abs module to the rear wheels.

While we're on the subject, can anybody recommend a good DIY flare tool that doesn't break the bank? I'm looking at a set up from Eastwood at the moment. My Napa special I bought 15 years ago is well beyond it's useful life. She still makes a flare but not without some creative ingenuity

Edit: just went out and looked at my set, apparently there is a difference as I've got the dyes for both.

 

[Wayne M.]

GAmes, you must learn to make a "double inverted flare" that's used on your old Ford. Make sure your flaring tool has the extra dies to make the double flare.

http://knowhow.napaonline.com/how-to-make-a-double-flare-brake-line/

Newer vehicles from the late '80's to today use an ISO "bubble flare". A different tool, now more widely available is used for that.
You have to know the type of fitting you're dealing with, and stick with it!

Here's a decent resource I just found.

http://www.fedhillusa.com/webnuts/common flares6.pdf

 

[Wayne M.]

JR, I went big on a Snap-On set when I started out, and Gawd it's paid itself off times over. But if I had to get another, I would go OTC.

I have this on the job. It is the BOMB! It even makes special ends for OEM push lock connectors etc.
https://www.mastercool.com/product/72485-universal-hydraulic-flaring-tool-set/

 

[mwilson]

Bubble flare pictures that I did for "The Patriot"..

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/243533-brake-line-flare-question?highlight=bubble+flare

 

[mwilson]

What I have found is the Mini Vans may have Bubble Flare into the ABS pump and regular flares elsewhere.

I ALWAYS double flare tubing, not only on vehicles but also on Furnace Lines and other applications using tubing nuts. It is far stronger and less prone to leak.

After double flaring I run the tubing nut into a spare fitting and tighten it up to seat the flare.

Here is a comparison between double flare and bubble flare...

http://www.fedhillusa.com/?page=flare

 

[mwilson]

Here's a pretty good double flare video that shows the extra die needed to double flare.

Use the Copper / Nickle Alloy line and the double flare is super easy.

https://www.google.com/search?q=how....10001j1j4&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#kpvalbx=1

 

[GAmes]

Thank you everyone! The Ford does have double flair. Never knew the difference before. Thanks again ya'll.

 

[JR]

JR, I went big on a Snap-On set when I started out, and Gawd it's paid itself off times over. But if I had to get another, I would go OTC.

I have this on the job. It is the BOMB! It even makes special ends for OEM push lock connectors etc.
https://www.mastercool.com/product/72485-universal-hydraulic-flaring-tool-set/

That's a slick set up, unfortunately a tad above my pay grade! Especially with copper nickel brake lines. They just last unlike standard tube. Once you reline a vehicle with the stuff your done. Retubing vehicles every 3-5 years is a thing of the past.
I'll look into the OTC brand, thanks.

 

[Capt. Methane]

I never had trouble with the 37 degree flares on aluminum tubing on aircraft. If I had known what I was getting into I probably would have bought a roll of the Cu-Ni line and the b-nuts and a decent flare tool. The "loaner" from Auto Zone sucked and I ended up having to have a union behind the fuel tank (argghhh) but hopefully it will be okay.

In my 92 250 it is using the double flare.

 

[ofelas]

My 91.5 has the SAE double flare as well. When I made new lines, I used the Cu-Ni lines throughout, worked a treat.

 

[Wayne M.]

A quality tool makes the deal. Right now I'm dropping a tank to do a chassis line.