greetings again fellow HAMBers!. I know this has been discussed before but the quality of many products we buy changes often. Have any of you guys used the annealed stainless brake line to make your own lines lately and were you satisfied with the quality and if so where did you get it ? Also what type of flaring tool have you guys used on stainless? Will my old " traditional!" Snap on screwing U clamp ( for want of a better description) double flaring tool do the job?.....thanks for any info!
I really dig the nickel copper stuff they sell now. It’s so easy to work with. It has a coating on it, but I think it could be polished if you want a different look.
PLUS 1 on the NiCop lines. It is so much better than stainless. I use it for fuel also and it is DOT approved. NAPA sells it in bulk and some stores have a machine that will make straight lengths from a coil.
I used stainless line from inline tube and the good flaring tool from Eastwoodon my entire project. Inline claimed it could be double flared because of the anealing process they use. Never again! Even though the flaring tool looked like it made perfect flares every time I had nunerous leaks. I can only attribute this to invisble hairline cracks. Replaced all my lines with the standard stuff you can get from NAPA. Double flared all my connections with the Eastwood tool and WALA no leaks!
i was a factory tech on volvo cars from 77 to91 they use a version of copper nickle brake lines and never had to replace a rusted out line even on cars with 400,000 miles
I switched to NiCop and have never looked back! Great product, looks great, D.O.T. approved, it bends and flares very nicely and does not rust or corrode.
I've plumbed several cars with bright annealed stainless from Inline Tube. I never believed it could be double flared and used single 37 degree flare and AN fittings. Everything worked well and looks good. I am however a convert to the copper/nickel line now.
I've used 3/16 stainless annealed tubing on many 100's of customer chassis with good results. I use a good Rigid flaring tool which is obtainable from Speedway. Don't buy the cheap one. I use quality number 3 AN fittings. One tip don't cut it with a tube cutter, it hardens the end and makes it difficult to flare, cut it with a small cutoff wheel, file the end clean and clean out the inside with the pointed end of the file. Also I don't recommend trying to double flare it. I buy my tube in 6 ft lengths from Inline Tube.
Thanks for all of the replies guys!....looks like a LOT of you guys like the nickel copper!....I think that's what I will try.
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