Re: IML: Latest attempt at making brake lines

["Frederick Joslin" <fljoslin@xxxxxxxx>]

Hi Joe:

I have made a few of the double flair fittings with success, although it is not easy and you never know ahead of time if an individual fitting will come out acceptably.

 

I purchased a tool from JC Whitney about 10 years ago which is probably like the one you have and seems to work OK. I put the tool into a vice to hold it and then really crank on the wing nut that holds the brake tubing in the tool using a big adjustable wrench. You can't really get this too tight. Prior to tightening to hold the tubing in, you set the height of the tubing out of the tool according to the die you are using. Then put the die into the brake tubing and crank down slowly until the die is flush with the tool. You have just created the first flair. Remove the die and then use the cone to put the second flair on. Note that in this process you are asking the steel tubing to flow. I put a little oil on the tubing prior to each step and crank down a little, leave for a couple of minutes come back and repeat. The squareness and "burlessness" of the cut end of the tubing is very important.

 

I recently replaced the brake lines on my 69 LeBaron and, except for one fitting, used all pre fabricated lines available at almost any auto store. They are available from about 8" to 60" in approximately 10" increments and in various finishes. You can also wrap these brake lines with steel protective wire if you want to simulate OEM and which if you do correctly allows you to bend the tubing by hand without a tubing bender.       

----- Original Message -----
From: "Joe Strickland"
To: "Brooks Harkey" , "Doug Norton" , "Imperial Mail List"
Subject: IML: Latest attempt at making brake lines
Date: Mon, 19 Nov 2007 11:16:00 -0600

To the Group, Brooks and Doug;

I bought another "Performance Tool" double-flare tool from an auto parts store in Pilot Point, TX.  It was identical to the one I sent back to the company for warranty repair.  I never heard one squeak from them.  Anyway, today I decided to make one more attempt.  I followed the instructions that came with the tool plus ones I found on the internet.  I had only marginally better luck than the first two attempts.  I could not get the tool to make the end of the tubing "bell shaped".  I made more than one attempt.  It appears that even with the holding bars tightened as much as they will go, it simply will not hold the tubing still while using the flaring piece and adapter to create the bell shape.  Finally I decided to go ahead and try finishing the end.  It just split open.

My conclusion is that at least with this type tool, I will never have any success in making brake lines.  In fact, I don't think I could even make a fuel line either.  I think I will take the tool back and see if I can get a refund or credit to my charge card.

I did find information on one website in the UK that showed a completely different type of double flare tool.  It had a longer section of the tool to grip the tubing.  That type would probably be successful, but I haven't seen one like that for sale here in the US.

I will be ordering a set of brake lines from Classic Tube and be done with it.

Joe

Fred Joslin