Copper brake lines, single flares

bob ward

I've just removed the brake line from a '36 diff. The 1/4" brake line is made from copper and the flares at the slave cylinders are single flares. That is very much a no-no today of course, but is that how it was back in the early days of hydraulic brakes?

PAULARGETYPE

I WOULD SAY NO SOME ONE HAS DONE A MICKEY MOUSE REPAIR TO THE CAR AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER DUBBLE FLAIRS AND STEEL TUBING IS THE WAY THEY WERE BUILT 

StillOutThere

Agree fully with Paul.

Lee ODell

I agree with Paul also.  I would go even further to recommend all Hudson, Essex or Terraplanes that have never had brake lines replace to do so.    I have seen badly corroded brake lines leak on cars with far fewer years exposer to the elements then this 36 approaching 80 years of age..  Steel brake lines rust out like body and frames. 

Lee O'Dell         

charles4d

Should get stainless steel ones
I had mine made by inline tube.
Send them the old one and they make new ones.
Stainless steel is only $10.00 more

pseftoncomcastnet

What was your overall level of satisfaction with inline tube.? I am about to order a set of stainless lines for my 1951 Commodore from them.

Peter Sefton

Alexandria, VA

RL Chilton

I would just say if you go with stainless, you should have them professionally builit, especially having the flared ends done.  Stainless is very hard and difficult to make proper flares by hand (need a machine).  

As far as that is concerned, I've noticed that even steel lines these days seem much harder than they used to be.  Doing 10 or 12 flared ends (on 5/16" lines) at a stretch will wear out my arms and hands now so much that not even advanced age would make that much of a difference.  There must be a much higher carbon content in the new steel lines than there used to be.  

hudsonguy

I've found Inline Tube to be great to work with. A few years ago, when I was replacing my brake lines, I had previously purchased SS straight lines from them, and planned to all the flairs and bends myself. However, I quickly learned that I did not have the machinery to do SS flairs, so I figured out the 'cut length' of the tubes, added the connectors, and sent them back to Inline. They added the flairs and returned the lines, which I then bent to fit during installation.

pseftoncomcastnet

Thanks. Good news about inline. Did bending the SS limes require anything more than standard hand tools?

Peter S

Lance

I agree with Russell. I did a complete fabrication job on a convertible (fuel and hydraulic) and used the current steel tubing . By the time I was done my flaring tool was worn out.!  I can't imagine using stainless and trying to bend it.

pseftoncomcastnet

Turns out that Inline Tube now sells preformed SS lines for the 1951 Hornet. I think I know the answer, but wanted to verify that the Commodore lines would be identical.

pseftoncomcastnet

at least I think so.

KTRON

Ive been using cunifer (Nickel-Copper) brake lines on everything up to 50K GVW trucks with hydraulic brakes. The cunifer will not rust, corrode or fatigue like steel hard lines. Stainless steel is a real mess to work with, flares do not come out as nice, and it doesnt bend or straighten out as well. Cunifer is a dream to straighten, bend and flare. I use a Brakequip BQ350 flaring tool and Rigid/Imperial/Swagelok tube benders. You wont find a nicer combination of tools to flare/make brake lines with.

Chris

Glowplug

Thanks KTRON