brake flaring tool

[gsd2000]

Could anyone recommend a good brake flaring tool

My rear brake lines could do with being replaced soon, so ideally needs to easy to use under a car


thanks

[Evoluzione]

Yes this is very good:

http://serenco.co.uk/uploads/products/brake_flare_...


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brake-Pipe-Flaring-Tool-...

Comes with one of those great tubs of lubricating grease reading 'Do not eat'.

Edited by Evoluzione on Friday 7th June 22:24

[ch427]

make sure it will flare the hard cupro type pipes you will probably have on your car, most cheaper stuff will only do copper.

[gsd2000]

ch427 said:

make sure it will flare the hard cupro type pipes you will probably have on your car, most cheaper stuff will only do copper.

that was actually my next question which material would be best for the actual brake pipes?

[bearman68]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Brake-Pipe-Flaring-Tool-...

Comes with one of those great tubs of lubricating grease reading 'Do not eat'.

Edited by Evoluzione on Friday 7th June 22:24

[/quote]

One of these - I use it in a commercial shop on a regular basis. It enables you to flare (not DIN) underneath the car on steel pipe, and therefore join it to the copper pipe normally used to replace the steel rubbish.
When you are preparing for this job, be aware that it's normally impossible to seperate the flexi hoses from the steel, so you may as well purchase the flexi hoses straight away. Also you'll find it easier if you flare the pipe from the master cylinder first, and then cap it with a hammered over joint. It stops the fluid from escaping from the master cylinder, and makes it easier to bleed when the time comes.
Finally, use DIN 5.1 fluid - bit more expensive, but much better.

Best of luck.

[ch427]

gsd2000 said:

that was actually my next question which material would be best for the actual brake pipes?

copper is fine for most normal people, im sure someone will be along in a minute to disagree though!

[bgunn]

Cunifer. It's marginally more expensive, but better to work with as it doesn't work harden anywhere nearly as badly as pure copper.

Usually the actual job of fitting the lines is the 'cost', not the lines themselves, so fit the best pipe.

[The Black Flash]

Having done my whole kit with Cunifer/Kunifer because everyone said it was better, and then had to do it all again to get the flares right, breaking the tool in the process, I'd go for copper next time.

In theory it might not be as good, but it's about a thousand times easier to get good, well sealed flares with.

[InfoRetrieval]

I used Kunifer but you must use a decent tool to do the flares.

This type is rubbish:

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/product/details/...

This is one I bought (Sealey PFT08). It contains proper dies for the flares does a much better job:

http://www.justoffbase.co.uk/On-Car-Brake-Flaring-...

[Mr2Mike]

The Black Flash said:

Having done my whole kit with Cunifer/Kunifer because everyone said it was better, and then had to do it all again to get the flares right, breaking the tool in the process, I'd go for copper next time.

In theory it might not be as good, but it's about a thousand times easier to get good, well sealed flares with.

That's almost certainly down to the quality (or lack thereof) of the pipe flaring tool. The cheap ones that use two bars with multiple different sized holes as listed by someone above are virtually useless.

With a decent quality flaring tool and a bit of practice it's not hard to make perfect flares cupro-nickel pipe. The soft copper pipes are actually illegal to use for brake hydraulics in some countries due to the risks of work hardening and subsequent cracking.

[bgunn]

Mr2Mike said:

That's almost certainly down to the quality (or lack thereof) of the pipe flaring tool. The cheap ones that use two bars with multiple different sized holes as listed by someone above are virtually useless.

With a decent quality flaring tool and a bit of practice it's not hard to make perfect flares cupro-nickel pipe. The soft copper pipes are actually illegal to use for brake hydraulics in some countries due to the risks of work hardening and subsequent cracking.

I wouldn't feel comfortable using pure copper pipe. Granted, as long as you use the OEM pipe clips and ensure the pipe is properly supported and not stressed in any place, it should be fine, but I wouldn't take the risk. As said, get a proper flaring tool, and use the proper pipe.