Making brake lines

nowires · May 1, 2012

So I am down to making hard brake lines I have read up as much as posible. So I need a double flare tool

What is good and what is bad

I know NAPA has one for $75 and I also looked into eastwoods and mastercools

mark · May 1, 2012

IIRC Crusty ponied up for one of the $$ hydralic/powered ones.... and again IIRC he LOVED it.

Next time I have to do brakes I want to hit him up and borrow it.

I have $20 no-name special, gets the job done 80% of the time, but depends on luck, prep and how cooprative the tubing it.

Eastwood make a set of "tubbing pliers" as well for making nice bends. I remember it fom an old Street-Rod Builder artical, made bending line slick and clean. Again, next time I really have to do brake lines I want to order a set.

http://www.eastwood.com/ew-brake-forming-tool-pliers.html

Bodaciouscj7 · May 1, 2012

I bought the cheapy unit that O'reilly'ssells to use at the shop. Seems to work just as good as the Matco unit that I previously had that grew legs.

WHITE TRASH1 · May 1, 2012

I bought a performance tools double flare tool and its ok but in hindsight I should have flipped out someore bills and got s better one.

nowires · May 1, 2012

This is my problem. Brakes are one of the most inportian things on a rig and my life depends on them. One side of me says that go cheap and buy the $75 one and have a few errors and the other side of me says that my life is worth $250 for the good one

JesterFab · May 1, 2012

I bought a craftsman double flaring kit and havent had any leaks. If you want to borrow it, let me know. At least try one out before spending the coin on nicer units.

CHOP SHOP · May 1, 2012

Just buy the correct length line to begin with. I hate flaring line.

Half of the tube stock these days is so hard it will just push the tube out of the jig and mar it up very badly.

I used to put the clamp over the tubing and then put the clam IN the vise to hold it even more. The last one I did was so hard I had the tubing collapsed before it would double flare.

A single flare is gravy, but a double is a biatch with steel line.

With premade lines in 4" increments its kinda easy to bend up a line that fits and avoid that tool all together.

zukkev · May 1, 2012

I've got a cheaper one (Blue Point), and a really nice one (Matco), and both work decently enough (obviously the more expensive one is better).... but to me, it's having patience while doing the flare work that makes or breaks a flare....That I don't have alot of...

johny5 · May 1, 2012

I have the blue point one and it looks exactly the same as the OTC one , but some how works mint every time un like the OTC.

I also have used the hydrolic one too but found it more work than the blue point unit

zuk88 · May 1, 2012

I rented one from Auto zone and it worked fine,it's kinda like a fine art to make them perfect.When I was done I returned it and got my $ back.

skinny_pedal · May 2, 2012

I bitch and moan when I have to do them:redneck: I have a cornwell set and an inline blue point set. Both do good flares. I just suck at making the bends look pretty. If there the option for a pre made set.....its ordered