Board logo

Kinked Brake line
pekwah1 - 25/7/14 at 12:45 PM

Hi Guys,

I have a kink in one of my copper brake lines which i need to sort.
This might be a stupid question, but can i cut out the kink (about 1" and simply replace with some tubing instead, e.g. rubber fuel line?

Regards.
Andy

DW100 - 25/7/14 at 12:48 PM

No

pekwah1 - 25/7/14 at 12:51 PM

Thought as much, is the only repair possible to replace the whole copper line then?

DW100 - 25/7/14 at 01:04 PM

Yes, but if you have good flaring facilities it is possible to cut, flare and join in a new section of kunifer pipe. Many tin tops come from the factory with joins just using male and female unions and flares.

Daddylonglegs - 25/7/14 at 01:20 PM

This is your brakes! Replace the line is the safest option. Just my honest opinion, failing brakes ain't funny, ask me how I know.....

pekwah1 - 25/7/14 at 01:22 PM

it wasn't me trying to cut corners, just honestly didn't know.
I'll get the whole line changed.

loggyboy - 25/7/14 at 02:14 PM

Just add a 2 way union where the kink is.
3/8 UNF FEMALE CONNECTOR ( 2 WAY ) JOINER BRAKE PIPE MALE NUT NUTS UNION BPN30

britishtrident - 25/7/14 at 03:59 PM

If the car will likely have metric fittings on the brake plumbing, if that is the case you should try and keep all the fittings metric.



You will need an "on car" brake flairing tool this type works well and is a quality tool, which will produce decent flairs on the pipe ends. In theory it makes old style SAE flairs but these work fine with meteric fittings.

BRAKE PIPE FLARING TOOL 3/16"' ON CAR FLARE BY POWERHAND PH-BFT-316

You will also need
Male M10 fittings (sometimes called "tube nuts" and some "Kunifer" 3/16" pipe (nb. Kunifer pipe NOT copper pipe)

Copper Nickel Kunifer Brake Pipe 25ft, 3/16"', 6 Metric Short Male Female Ends

Although not 100% essential a pipe cutter and pipe bender are useful.


brake pipe cutter and pipe bender copper kunifer car


You will need to do a few practice flairs before doing it for real as you will make rookie mistakes such as putting the threaded fitting on backwards or for getting to put it on altogether.



[Edited on 25/7/14 by britishtrident]

[Edited on 25/7/14 by britishtrident]

rusty nuts - 25/7/14 at 07:10 PM

quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
If the car will likely have metric fittings on the brake plumbing, if that is the case you should try and keep all the fittings metric.



[Edited on 25/7/14 by britishtrident]

[Edited on 25/7/14 by britishtrident]


I agree in an ideal world but I can think of at least one major luxury car manufacturer that mixes imperial and metric unions on the same brake line albeit on one of their older models. IIRC it was a Silver Shadow by Rolls Royce. I also suspect that a lot of kit cars using bias bar master cylinders may be using imperial fittings along with metric. It makes sense to check

02GF74 - 25/7/14 at 08:45 PM

Dammit lost my post.

Fuel line works under much lower pressures so dony even think it . Brake hoses like thosr going to front wheels are reinforced.

If access is easy repkave the entire line.

Otherwise use two jounets to fit a short length of pipe.

steve m - 26/7/14 at 11:24 AM

Andy

which brake line is it ?
as ive made all mine at home, got the flaring tools and some spare unions

steve