I want to break down and buy a flaring tool setup. I seem to do a few complete brake line replacements every year. Are you able to get the correct flares and they seal? I can buy 50 foot of line for $25. With that I can make any length I need. I just did our Malibu and spent $75 on adapters and lines. Because the stock flare on lines is not the same as Chevy uses!
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There are two different flare styles used on brake lines: Double flare and bubble flare. Combine with two different thread TYPE options: Metric and SAE and you have four "standard" brake tube styles. Any good parts man should be able to look at your line ends and get you the correct style saving many adapters. But there is still one challenge, fitting SIZE. There are at least four SAE threads and probably close to double that in Metric options.
A flaring tool is a worthwhile investment for even one brake job. Cutting lines to the correct length eliminates those ugly long and short corners trying to make a line fit. You can generally reuse the existing tube nuts, but all the sizes and threads are readily available if you prefer or need to go new.
A cheap double flare tool can be had for less then $50. It's what I use for my infrequent jobs. Heavy duty mechanical and hydraulic benders are available, your budget is the limit
I want to break down and buy a flaring tool setup. I seem to do a few complete brake line replacements every year. Are you able to get the correct flares and they seal? I can buy 50 foot of line for $25. With that I can make any length I need. I just did our Malibu and spent $75 on adapters and lines. Because the stock flare on lines is not the same as Chevy uses!
Do it! Insted of waiting for your next brake line failure you can take care of it beforehand much easier and more willing.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2COR517
There are two different flare styles used on brake lines: Double flare and bubble flare. Combine with two different thread TYPE options: Metric and SAE and you have four "standard" brake tube styles. Any good parts man should be able to look at your line ends and get you the correct style saving many adapters. But there is still one challenge, fitting SIZE. There are at least four SAE threads and probably close to double that in Metric options.
A flaring tool is a worthwhile investment for even one brake job. Cutting lines to the correct length eliminates those ugly long and short corners trying to make a line fit. You can generally reuse the existing tube nuts, but all the sizes and threads are readily available if you prefer or need to go new.
A cheap double flare tool can be had for less then $50. It's what I use for my infrequent jobs. Heavy duty mechanical and hydraulic benders are available, your budget is the limit
I recently redid the brake lines on my Silverado. I wanted to buy just stock parts, even if it meant using adapters to connect mismatched parts. I gave up on the idea after spending 2 days searching for parts to mix and match. In the end I bought 25' of brake line and a double flair tool. The flairs aren't perfect, but there are no leaks so far.
If I had to do it again I wouldn't waste time looking for replacement parts. I would just buy a spool of line and flair the ends. Also, I was able to get the original lines out without destroying the connectors. That saved a few dollars and kept me from having to match off the shelf parts with what was on the truck.
I opted for Snap-On after screwing around with the cheaper $20-$40 junks. Snap-On was around $120 but well worth it. No chance of the line slipping by, or cracking the line when flaring like the cheaper units.
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Big money for that tool but worth every penny! It has dies to make almost any kind of metal tube end. Trans, fuel and brake.If You do a lot of brake lines it pays for itself real fast.
Big money for that tool but worth every penny! It has dies to make almost any kind of metal tube end. Trans, fuel and brake.If You do a lot of brake lines it pays for itself real fast.
I have the same one. Works great every time and never had a bad flare with it. Fixing brake lines is easy with the right tools. We use the nickel plated brake line. Bends easier than standard line and is rust resistant. Cost a bit more though. We buy it by the spool.
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Thanks man ! I really needed this a few months back. I would have spent the $300 for it in an instant, as I couldn't get anyone to make me a new PS hose for my truck. I would have been able to easily adapt / make a new one....
FWIW, if you have money and want really nice pre-fab (complete sets, bent, flared, etc) lines there are companies that make them for popular vehicles like the Silverado. I checked and it was like $350 for a set, I decided I'd rather just pay someone less to do it with bulk material. Shortly after that I bought a flare tool...
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Past: 8.5' Diamond on 12' stake body dump 15,000lb upgraded F350, for state highways...and lack of experience.
Present: Snowbear on 2002 GMC 1500 and ancient Ariens, for personal use only.
FWIW, if you have money and want really nice pre-fab (complete sets, bent, flared, etc) lines there are companies that make them for popular vehicles like the Silverado. I checked and it was like $350 for a set, I decided I'd rather just pay someone less to do it with bulk material. Shortly after that I bought a flare tool...
Cost about a 100 to do it yourself and I know a few people that did not like the way stainless lines fit and threw a few of them in the dumpster.
The tool I bought is an OTC 4503. Coincidentally, this good Youtube instructional video uses the same tool and was very helpful for me. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4fmF9mm3hsM
The video did fail to warn me about one thing: You have to really eyeball the tool's longitudinal alignment. My first two practice flares were a little off-center. I realized it and my third was acceptable, then my production flares were 100% perfect...they looked OEM.
I got mine from Advance Auto Parts using a coupon code to knock the price way down.
That was one of the ones I was thinking of in my post.
I had no idea they had coverage for my 1980 LeSabre. Set of brake lines is $155 steel or $179 stainless...not too terrible if I need to do the whole job I guess. $200-250 for a modern GM pickup. That's getting up into a range where I might as well pay somebody to do it with bulk material, then I'm not spending days laying in the dirt trying to figure out how to snake a pre-formed line between a dozen tight spots.
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Past: 8.5' Diamond on 12' stake body dump 15,000lb upgraded F350, for state highways...and lack of experience.
Present: Snowbear on 2002 GMC 1500 and ancient Ariens, for personal use only.
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