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repairing mk4 astra brake pipes
locostbuyer83 - 1/2/10 at 10:40 AM

Hi Guys,

I need to repair some of my brakes lines of my 2000(x) astra.

I was going to buy this kit...
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BRAKE-PIPE-REPAIR-KIT-METRIC-IMPERIAL-37-PCS_W0QQitemZ300391451190QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash =item45f0b9ca36


does anyone know whether i need metric or imperial ends on a vauxhall?

Thanks in advance.

theconrodkid - 1/2/10 at 10:54 AM

they are metric ends,that is not the best type of flaring tool but they will work,dont bother trying it on the steel pipes tho,are you doing the long ones?nice job

locostbuyer83 - 1/2/10 at 10:59 AM

quote:
Originally posted by theconrodkid
they are metric ends,that is not the best type of flaring tool but they will work,dont bother trying it on the steel pipes tho,are you doing the long ones?nice job


do you know where I can get a better tool? Can I not cut and join the pipe half way down? Can do the whole length if necessary.

Bluemoon - 1/2/10 at 01:37 PM

quote:
Originally posted by locostbuyer83
quote:
Originally posted by theconrodkid
they are metric ends,that is not the best type of flaring tool but they will work,dont bother trying it on the steel pipes tho,are you doing the long ones?nice job


do you know where I can get a better tool? Can I not cut and join the pipe half way down? Can do the whole length if necessary.


I guess you could cut and joint, but I would rather replace a complete length. If you do this you could take the pipe off, measure/take to a motor factor to make the replacement pipes up for you...

Cutting and replacing a bit of pipe will require a suitable joiner, and the pipe is probably steel, and will need a decient flareing tool, also you need to cut the pipe without getting curd into (burs or dirt) it, i.e clean outside then cut with a pipe cutter. It will probably be best to do the above..

Dan

[Edited on 1/2/10 by Bluemoon]

Davey D - 1/2/10 at 01:50 PM

i used a pipe flaring kit like that when building my VortX. its a bit fiddly to use, but it flared everything spot on, and there havent been any leaks

locostbuyer83 - 1/2/10 at 01:54 PM

problem is its my work car so i only have the weekends to fix it. thought if i can do the work myself then i can have it back on the road for the monday morning. can i not just replace the original steel pipe with a copper one?

thanks

Davey D - 1/2/10 at 02:03 PM

yep you can replace it with copper. its much easier to work with than steel. just remove your old one, bend the new line to the same shape, then re fit it

locostbuyer83 - 1/2/10 at 02:08 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Davey D
yep you can replace it with copper. its much easier to work with than steel. just remove your old one, bend the new line to the same shape, then re fit it


Oh result. I think i'll go down that route.

So just to check, shall i go with that kit, and request METRIC ends?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BRAKE-PIPE-REPAIR-KIT-METRIC-IMPERIAL-37-PCS_W0QQitemZ300391451190QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash =item45f0b9ca36

Thanks

Bluemoon - 1/2/10 at 02:18 PM

quote:
Originally posted by locostbuyer83
quote:
Originally posted by Davey D
yep you can replace it with copper. its much easier to work with than steel. just remove your old one, bend the new line to the same shape, then re fit it


Oh result. I think i'll go down that route.

So just to check, shall i go with that kit, and request METRIC ends?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BRAKE-PIPE-REPAIR-KIT-METRIC-IMPERIAL-37-PCS_W0QQitemZ300391451190QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash =item45f0b9ca36

Thanks


Yes if you replace complete pipe (i.e you will then not need to flare a steel pipe). CuNi pipe is better, but I expect a garage would use copper anyhow..

If you try a few test flares first that would be a good start before dismantling the real one on the car... Then use the old pipe as a pattern for bending the new. The test/practice flares and will tell you how much extra length you should allow for the flare probably not to much. Be careful removing the old pipe as the clips might be brittle with age, and I guess you will need to reuse them.

Dan

locostbuyer83 - 1/2/10 at 02:21 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Bluemoon
quote:
Originally posted by locostbuyer83
quote:
Originally posted by Davey D
yep you can replace it with copper. its much easier to work with than steel. just remove your old one, bend the new line to the same shape, then re fit it


Oh result. I think i'll go down that route.

So just to check, shall i go with that kit, and request METRIC ends?
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BRAKE-PIPE-REPAIR-KIT-METRIC-IMPERIAL-37-PCS_W0QQitemZ300391451190QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash =item45f0b9ca36

Thanks


Yes if you replace complete pipe (i.e you will then not need to flare a steel pipe). CuNi pipe is better, but I expect a garage would use copper anyhow..

If you try a few test flares first that would be a good start before dismantling the real one on the car... Then use the old pipe as a pattern for bending the new. The test/practice flares and will tell you how much extra length you should allow for the flare probably not to much. Be careful removing the old pipe as the clips might be brittle with age, and I guess you will need to reuse them.

Dan


Cheers Dan. Appreciate everyones advice.

indykid - 1/2/10 at 07:30 PM

fwiw, i flared steel pipe on the mx5 with the machine mart kit which is very similar to the above.

just make sure you put some oil on the press thread before you try do the steel ones!

it worked for me, but i wouldn't vouch for the quality of the ebay one. for what you get though, it's a billy bargain!

the female to female joiners are cheap enough if you did want to join it in the middle
tom