Stainless brake lines - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

**Bernie** · 02-15-2004, 12:23 PM

I have to modify a stainless steel brake line kit that I bought. The inline tube site says not to use a tubing cutter. Somewhere I heard that it is difficult to flare SS. Has anyone had any experience in doing this ?

68LSS1 · 02-15-2004, 02:59 PM

Can't offer you much more than what you know. Yes, the SS brake lines can't be bent with the traditional benders that most of us have (or the cheap ones

). Since the stainless is so tough it has a tendency to crack and kink with out the proper bender. I've always used a cut off wheel to cut it. Depending on how much of a bend you need to make and how many bends there is one trick that works great. Fill the line with a fine sand. This helps kep the line from kinking when it's bent and may allow you to do it. You can use this trick on regular line if you have to do a hard/short bend in it. just make sure to clean it out with some brake cleaner real good.

**Bernie** · 02-15-2004, 05:41 PM

That's a good idea with the cut off wheel. Has anyone else got any hints ? The more I think of doing this, the less I like the sound of it.

gmtruck71 · 02-15-2004, 07:45 PM

I have ruined a lot of 3/16 stainless tubing, by trying to double flare. The 1/4 tubing is a little easier to flare but it too is not easy top flare correctly.
I hate the prebent kits, not enough attention paid to detail for my satisfaction. I use Parker bending and flaring tools, and can make very neat looking lines using stainless tubing.
All the brake (except for the 3/16 lines), fuel, trans coolers on my trucks are ran in stainless. All are double flared except for the 3/16. Hopes this helps

**Bernie** · 02-15-2004, 08:40 PM

That's useful to know. Most of the lines are 3/16. Is it possible to use steel lines ans SS in the same circuit ?

02-15-2004, 12:23 PM	#1
Bernie Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 516	Stainless brake lines I have to modify a stainless steel brake line kit that I bought. The inline tube site says not to use a tubing cutter. Somewhere I heard that it is difficult to flare SS. Has anyone had any experience in doing this ? __________________ Bernie

02-15-2004, 02:59 PM	#2
68LSS1 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Tampa Posts: 1,191	Can't offer you much more than what you know. Yes, the SS brake lines can't be bent with the traditional benders that most of us have (or the cheap ones ). Since the stainless is so tough it has a tendency to crack and kink with out the proper bender. I've always used a cut off wheel to cut it. Depending on how much of a bend you need to make and how many bends there is one trick that works great. Fill the line with a fine sand. This helps kep the line from kinking when it's bent and may allow you to do it. You can use this trick on regular line if you have to do a hard/short bend in it. just make sure to clean it out with some brake cleaner real good. __________________ '68 Short Step LS1/T56, Hydratech, Fatman Fabrications Stage III, Baer, Hot Rods to Hell, US Body, S&W, etc

02-15-2004, 05:41 PM	#3
Bernie Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 516	That's a good idea with the cut off wheel. Has anyone else got any hints ? The more I think of doing this, the less I like the sound of it. __________________ Bernie

02-15-2004, 07:45 PM	#4
gmtruck71 xwrench2003 Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Louisville, Ky Posts: 112	ss brake lines I have ruined a lot of 3/16 stainless tubing, by trying to double flare. The 1/4 tubing is a little easier to flare but it too is not easy top flare correctly. I hate the prebent kits, not enough attention paid to detail for my satisfaction. I use Parker bending and flaring tools, and can make very neat looking lines using stainless tubing. All the brake (except for the 3/16 lines), fuel, trans coolers on my trucks are ran in stainless. All are double flared except for the 3/16. Hopes this helps __________________ Marty Hall 1971 K-10 LWB Cheyenne (461\T-400) 93 S-10 Blazer (330,000 and still going) 86 SS Monte Carlo (40,000 miles) 85 Chevy Scottsdale 02 Jeep Liberty

02-15-2004, 08:40 PM	#5
Bernie Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Northern Illinois Posts: 516	That's useful to know. Most of the lines are 3/16. Is it possible to use steel lines ans SS in the same circuit ? __________________ Bernie



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