Double Flare on Stainless Brake Lines??

Anonymous-0 · Nov 13, 2008

I'm looking to replace some brake lines on my '51 International L-110 1/2-ton pickup, and after my experience with rotted lines this week,I'm considering going to stainless steel lines.

Conventional wisdom used to be that you couldn't double-flare stainless steel lines, because they were too brittle. Yet lately I've seen the "go-fast" parts places selling 20-foot coils of stainless steel brake line, and the companion item they sell is a stainless inverted flare [double-flare] fitting.

So have the rules changed? Can you safely double-flare stainless tubing? Or am I imagining things? I did a Google search, and found a CAR CRAFT Magazine article online about double-flaring brake lines...it says "stainless" in the title, but nowhere else, so I'm not 100% sure they were actually double-flaring stainless steel lines.

Anyone who's been there, done that...I'd appreciate any advice you can offer.

Goose · Nov 13, 2008

Why not just buy tubes cut the right lengths already flaired on both ends and a tubing bender?

Mike M · Nov 13, 2008

I was googling brake lines awhile back and found some line being sold that wasn't stainless but was not to rust either. Some kinda other alloy ? and the ad showed it bent like a pretzle as it was to bend easy and not kink.

I always wondered with the government mandates of all the saftey equipment like air bags,seat belts and anti-lock brakes why they didn't mandate the best saftey item of all brake lines that won't rust out !

Anonymous-0 · Nov 13, 2008

I have a tubing bender...but it's hard to find the specific lengths of tube I need. For example, 20-1/2", 41-5/8", and 45-1/2" simply aren't standard lengths.

KIP in MX · Nov 13, 2008

We deal with a lot of stainless hydraulic and turbine fuel tubing and I can´t recall ever seeing any double flared. As you say, it´s too brittle. Anything we use that has over 1000 PSI has MS type fittings with no flare on the tube.

Anonymous-0 · Nov 13, 2008

The racers and street rodders are using an aluminum alloy tubing but I'd check to make sure it's legal on a over the road vehicle. You can cut and reflare on steel brake lines you buy if have a good double flare tool set or put a extra bend in to get the length to work. Just google aluminum alloy brake tubing and several to check out.
brake tubing

John - OH · Nov 13, 2008

The stainless can be double flared no problem. I used it on my Chevelle and my brother has used it on several trucks. Only way to go on brake lines in my opinion. The line used came from Summit.

Wild Bill · Nov 13, 2008

put an extra bend in them somewhere, the do not have to be exactly the same length

Anonymous-0 · Nov 13, 2008

Thanks for the reply.

This was the article that got me wondering whether they were actually double-flaring stainless or not:
CAR CRAFT article

LouNY · Nov 14, 2008

depending on the stainless 304/316, it can be flared. You do have to be carefull, a lot of stainless steel tubing is Welded Seam it is very difficult to flare without splitting, seamless 316 SS tubing will flare or bubble flare, it is a pain, you will have to use a lubricant on your flaring tools (nickle anti sieze works good). Do NOT use a tubing cutter to cut SS tubing if you are going to flare it, a fine tooth hacksaw or cut off wheel should be used (clean the tubing well after cutting). A tubing cutter work hardens the tubing, SS tubing becomes unworkable when that happens.
Lou

JDemaris · Nov 14, 2008

Plain steel brakes lines were basically eliminated in Europe and a nickel-copper-steel mix is used. It flares fine and virtually lasts forever. Just not real easy to buy rolls of it in the USA. I've been using it for years with zero problems. Standard plain or gavlvanized steel lines in my area usually last two winters and rot out.
Volvo in Sweden started the change over with their nickel-copper lines called "cunnifer."

Read the following if interested:

http://www.copper.org/applications/automotive/hydraulic_brake_tube.html

guido · Nov 14, 2008

Hello Buzzman 72.
Go with 316 stainless and double flare it.
Make sure it is seamless tubing?
guido.

Double Flare on Stainless Brake Lines??

Anonymous-0

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