How To Repair A Metal Brake Line

Brake line splice

Brake line splice instructions

Yous've got ii options to supplant rusted brake lines

If y'all have a rusted restriction line you've got just ii options. Selection #1: Try to lodge a pre-bent replacement brake line from the dealer or society a ready of pre-bent brake lines online or, Option #2: Buy a coil of brake line and perform a brake line splice. There are advantages and disadvantages to each approach.

The advantage to ownership a set up of pre-bent brake lines

The pre-bent brake lines sold in kits are often made from stainless steel set of stainless steel pre bent brake lines then they won't rust like your factory restriction lines. They're pre-flared and they come up with new brake fittings on each end of the line then you don't have to search for the right plumbing fixtures. If your brake lines run under the vehicle, chances are you can replace your rusted brake lines yourself just by unscrewing the former lines and installing the new pre-bent brake lines.

The disadvantages of pre-aptitude brake lines

They're pricey. Wait to pay $200 to $350 for a set of pre-bent stainless steel brake lines. That may seem like a bargain compared to the typical shop charge of $one,000 or more to brand new restriction lines from scratch, only in that location's a catch. They're not always equally easy to install as you recall. For example, many rear factory brake lines run from the master cylinder, into the firewall, along the rocker panels inside the vehicle and then exit the interior near the dorsum seat. There is no manner you can supervene upon ane of those lines with a single pre-bent section. Plus, many motorcar makers run the rear restriction lines over the gas tank, so y'all nonetheless have to bargain with lowering the tank to use a pre-bent line. In other words, that set of pre-bent restriction lines may wind upward costing y'all more than you think in labor if yous don't practise the job yourself.

Brand your own replacement brake lines or have the shop make them

Performing a brake line splice isn't hard if you have the right tools and have the fourth dimension to practise making double or inverted flared ends. Contrary to popular belief it is NOT illegal to brand a new section of brake line and splice it into a non-rusted section of your old restriction, as long as y'all use automotive form SAE double/inverted flare, SAE "bubble" flare and DIN Single Mushroom flare unions and fittings.

Encounter this mail service to learn about brake line flaring tools.

Simply you can't use compression unions or unmarried flare unions for brake line repairs

What y'all can't exercise is use pinch fittings or unmarried flare plumbing unions to brand a restriction line splice. That's not simply bad exercise, information technology's just not prophylactic. Compression fittings aren't designed for loftier brake line pressure level and can leak during heavy braking. Single flare plumbing unions are a big NO likewise. Single flares tin can handle the twoscore-80-psi. in your domicile'southward plumbing organization, simply a single flare tin can fissure and leak at braking pressures up to two,000-psi.

compression unions are illegal for brake line repairs

Notwithstanding, you can perform a brake line splice using an inverted double flare spousal relationship and double flare plumbing equipment

Every bit long as you use an automotive grade SAE double/inverted flare, SAE "bubble" flare or DIN Single Mushroom flare union with the advisable size and type plumbing fixtures, yous tin spice in a new section of brake line. Simply yous should avoid these common DIY brake line repair mistakes:

brake line union

Common rusted restriction line repair mistakes

• Using cheap flaring tools—Making a double/inverted or bubble flare requires high quality tools. If y'all call back you can purchase a cheap flaring tool and make skillful flares, take it from me, you lot're kidding yourself. The clamps won't hold tight and the forming tools won't fit properly. You'll wind upwards with lopsided flares.

This flare was made using the S.U.R.&R. PFT409 Piston Grip Flaring Tool Kit. To encounter how it'due south done, click hither

• Non practicing earlier starting the repair— Making high quality double/inverted or chimera flares takes practice. If y'all retrieve y'all're going to make a good flare on your beginning try, I promise you lot, your connections will leak and yous'll have to remake the entire line.

• Not having the proper angle tools—Most auto parts stores sell cheap bending tools. They piece of work fine for large diameter bends. But you'll need to make some precipitous 90° bends and those cheap bending tools aren't going to cutting it. I've listed some bending tools below. Trust me, you lot'll need them.

• Using steel restriction line—Yes, that's what they used at the mill. But steel brake line

S.U.R.&R. UltraBEND® brake line

Southward.U.R.&R. UltraBEND® Flexible Brake Line Tubing

is hard to bend and difficult to flare out in the field. Practise yourself a favor and buy a spool of copper/nickel easily bendable brake line. Not all auto parts stores carry it, merely it's worth finding because information technology'll make the job MUCH easier. I like S.U.R&R because it bends easily without kinking and is much easier to flare than steel brake line. It costs a chip more than the copper/nickel other brands you tin notice online, simply it's also a much better production. The cheap stuff is made with thinner walls so information technology kinks hands. Find S.U.R&R UltraBEND® Flexible Restriction Line Tubing at at many national retailers and most commercial parts stores and tool distributors.

If you accept tight bend, invest in i of the bending tools shown below. You're going to make mistakes, and so it pays to invest in a brake line straightening tool besides. That can relieve yous from reforming an entire section of line.

TIP: Shop on ebay for used Due south.U.R.&R. angle, flaring and straightening tools. If you can't find them used, buy them new. Then do your brake job and sell the tools on ebay to compensate well-nigh of your investment.

• Reusing restriction line fittings—Most of the time, the brake line fittings are rusted to the restriction line. If you can get the fitting off, chances are you'll have to drill out the old steel restriction line. Fifty-fifty if you go the quondam line out, the fitting is already compromised. It's lost its rust preventative zinc blanket. So it will rust much faster if you reinstall information technology. New fittings are a few bucks. Exist a sport and buy new fittings.

• Reusing old flexible brake lines—If the steel brake lines are rusted, chances are the metal ends on your flexible brake lines are rusted also. They're cheap (specially at Rockauto.com). Buy new lines and start fresh.

• Not checking to see what type of fittings yous have on your vehicle—There are three types of flare connections on vehicles; the SAE double/inverted flare, SAE "bubble" flare and DIN Single Mushroom flare. You can't make a bubble or mushroom flare using an SAE double flaring kit. Also, DIN chimera/mushroom flare kits are harder to find and are more expensive.

types of brake line flares