Brake Lines... Bend or Pre Bent ???

[bajabob]

First attempt at bending lines with new tools.... Kinda of weak but its a start. Son brought home some wire used to hang drop ceilings. Will use wire to try and get the shape and bends. See if this method works better.

[parkwood]

nothing wrong with that, looks good... main thing is that it doesn't leak...

[bajabob]

thanks parkwood, I think I can do a little bit better. I actually had to sit there and think alittle bout which way I wanted to bend it and you can see some waves in the line from trying to fix the rookie mistakes.... line was 6.00 bucks a piece with fittings (5 foot section). So I am still not into it for much, will try a couple more times to see if I can even things out and get some straighter runs.

[parkwood]

been there done that.... i've bent my share of lines the wrong way.. use the scape wire to get your shape first and then use that to shape you brake lines too. it'll help a lot until you get the hang of it.. Still didn't look that bad for being under the bed where on one can see it but me and you...

[Kim57]

Looks good. With a little more practice they'll be just what you want.
Kim

[bajabob]

A friend let me borrow his bender (its a 180 unit) I like it a little more than I like mine (mine is only a 90' unit). Like I have done a whole bunch !!!! lol...

http://www.newmantools.com/imperial/tb1.html

[bajabob]

Kinda of the level of work I am shooting for..... (aka 49 nobucks build)

[bajabob]

did some work yesterday, think we got one wheel done !!!!!! couple of different, attempts...

even got the flares done....

[Kim57]

Looks good.
Kim

[parkwood]

Here are a couple shots of a Model A frame i did some brake lines on..

[bajabob]

very nice work, exactly the quality I am trying for.

[bajabob]

Here's what I did over the holiday.... hope it measures up...

[OrrieG]

Looks good to me. After you have driven for a while make sure to take a look to make sure the lines are not moving around or rubbing.

[Spackle100]

Looks great! How'd the flaring go?

[Kim57]

Looks good bajabob.
Kim

[parkwood]

Got to give you an A+ on them lines... you keep that up and you'll have to carry mirrors around to show them off...

[bajabob]

orrie
thanks for the reminder, my idea was to put two rubber clamps off the bolts on the third member to hold it in place securely, just need to stop and pick some up....

spackle
Unknown on the flare job.... we did a couple of practice ones on the scrap pieces... when I asked my buddy to look at our flare work, he said it looked ok, "your'll know if you did it right if it doesn't leak" !!!

[bajabob]

thanks parkwood
on the Napco, it has an ol school lift so most of the suspension will be visible, so I kinda want it to at least not look like dodo....
thanks again for the help and encouragement...

[bajabob]

Not a lot of work done lately, sort of got side tracked by work, but now I need to get going.... Here's some of the latest.

[bajabob]

A few more of the work done. Braided steel lines are from a connection at Wilwood Brakes... top quality stuff and peoples too..

[bajabob]

Did not like the last line completed for the rear brakes into the master cylinder (got in a hurry to get it done).... Looked at it for a few hours and then could not stand it.... she came out and got replaced.... much better...

its the rear line out of the master cylinder...

[1project2many]

Looks very nice. I enjoy seeing well bent tubing as I respect the time it takes to do a good job.

You've already got most of the lines bent so a couple of these suggestions are too late. But for future reference you can buy DOT approved lines with a high copper / nickel content that are very corrosion resistant but also very easy to bend and flare. S U R & R is the most common source that I know of. Also, buy brake tubing in 25 or 50 foot rolls to avoid using a million expensive fittings that detract from the aesthetic appeal of those nicely bent lines. And take the time to order and replace any spiral coating found on brake lines. It's called spiral armor and a little bit in the right places can set your lines apart from others by a mile.

One tip I can't overemphasize is to torque the fittings multiple times before pressurizing the system. Tighten then release... tighten then release, at least three times. Each time you'll notice the fittings torque up with the wrenches in a different spot. This is because the fittings are "taking a set" or conforming to each other. This is especially important on flare ends you have made yourself or on fittings made overseas with questionable quality control practices. I've been bending custom tubing for 20 years and I can't tell you how many times I've seen guys with fittings that "just won't stop leaking" because they don't know to do this. One giant overtorque does not produce the same results. This is simple, quick, and almost guaranteed to make formed fittings tight and leak free.

Keep up the good work.

[Wvgearhead]

I went with a 25' roll of the poly coated 3/16 from advance for 25 bucks. I used a cheap double flaring tool from hf. I picked up tube bending plyers from eastwood for a couple bucks. Could see spending couple hundred bucks on tools with such a limited use. I'm happy with the results. With a little patients and as little as $50 in tools, just about anybody can pull it off. Also, check you nearest swedgelok dealer for clamps. I picked up stainless rubber lined tube clamps for $0.20 a piece.

[mr48chev]

Originally Posted by jocko

it's green.

I've never had any luck with that green stuff. I don't like the way it bends and haven't had much luck flaring it either.

I'd say that the most important thing is that a guy needs to invest in a quality double flare tool. I'm trying to convince myself that I need one of the hydraulic ones that we see advertised even though it would take a chunk out of my annual performance bonus if I get one next go around. The 20.00 hardware store ones aren't worth taking home and my old faithful SnapOn one is flat worn out from over 40 years of use. It doesn't like to grip the green tubing from Autozone or O'Reilly's worth a hoot.

[mr48chev]

That's some nice looking work on those lines Bajabob. That whole chassis shows a lot of attention to the details.