Who's using copper brake lines?

[Chevy-SS]

Who's using copper-nickel brake lines?

Just started using them for auto repairs. They are frakkin' sweet! They bend real easy, and they don't rust out like steel line. More money than steel lines, but worth it IMHO.

I have not actually flared any of them yet, but I am assuming it is also easier to flare the ends of copper versus steel - am I right on this?

 

[organ]

In before a drug addict steals your brake lines...

 

[Buckgnarly]

Yup, easier to flare and all I ever use now.

 

[DocsMachine]

I just installed some, works great!

It should be noted, however, that it's copper-nickel brake line, or cupro-nickel as it's known. NOT just plain soft copper from Home Despot or something.

Doc.

 

[Fretters]

It should be noted, however, that it's copper-nickel brake line, or cupro-nickel as it's known. NOT just plain soft copper from Home Despot or something.

Why do I get the feeling a copper versus Kunifer debate is about to start.

 

[Chevy-SS]

I just installed some, works great!

It should be noted, however, that it's copper-nickel brake line, or cupro-nickel as it's known. NOT just plain soft copper from Home Despot or something.

Doc.

Yes, copper/nickel technically, 90/10 I think. Anyway, it's beautiful stuff.

 

[Shadowdog500]

Just started using them for auto repairs. They are frakkin' sweet! They bend real easy, and they don't rust out like steel line. More money than steel lines, but worth it IMHO.

I have not actually flared any of them yet, but I am assuming it is also easier to flare the ends of copper versus steel - am I right on this?

The same people that use PVC air lines!!

I'm sure you mean Copper-nickel brake lines, because copper brake lines are illegal.

Chris

 

[ambenz]

...I'm sure you mean Copper-nickel brake lines, because copper brake lines are illegal....

I was wondering myself...seen copper tubing split like a banana peel in cold weather.
I am actually looking into the braided tubing going to the calipers.. figuring I will change out my stock rubber reinforced lines next time I purge the system.
Good luck with that brake line...wonder what the burst rating is on those???

 

[The Toolest Guy]

When making my own lines I have only ever used copper brake lines.
Only time I have used other materials are for vehicles repairs. Usually direct fit OEM parts.

 

[sometoyotaguy]

I've used it on several vehicles, and it's been holding up through Maine winters just fine. A roll will be enough to do two runs to the rear. If you're doing the whole car, you may need two.

Those bending pliers are pretty handy.
http://www.harborfreight.com/tube-bending-pliers-95782.html

 

[OxJaw]

It's all I use anymore, I love the stuff. The stuff flares easily, easy to bend and if you don't get it just right it's easy to tweak it and "make" it fit where you want it. Plus it looks better in places that it can be seen, like on motorcycles and stuff.

 

[MikeF2316]

Some of us have been using them for years...

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=289857&showall=1

http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=287621&showall=1

 

[mrvm]

Replacing rusty brake lines could not be any easier. Flaring, no problem. Cutting, no problem. Bending, no problem. Rather than TPMS they should make this a standard for such an important component in vehicle safety.

 

[spasticone]

Every other chevy truck that leaves our shop is already wearing copper nickel lines. So are all of my vehicles. Awesome stuff.

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

Really awesome stuff! I used SS to plumb my buggy and that was a nightmare to bend and flare. The NiCopp flares like a dream and bends cleanly by hand.

 

[T_R]

They give it to us at work to make lines. I had never used it before working here. Seems to hold up well and easy to install. I always used steel in the past.

 

[T_R]

Replacing rusty brake lines could not be any easier. Flaring, no problem. Cutting, no problem. Bending, no problem. Rather than TPMS they should make this a standard for such an important component in vehicle safety.

Everything new now comes with plastic coated brake lines. They don't rust.

 

[GRX]

Been using nickle/copper for some time now. It's the cat's meow.

 

[DocsMachine]

Everything new now comes with plastic coated brake lines. They don't rust.

-Horsecrap. It takes longer to rust, but they still rust.

Sure, it lasts forever down there in SoCal and ElPaso, but anywhere it rains, or worse, snows and they sand the roads, trust me, it rusts. I just patched up a '94 Dodge truck, that's only been up here for about four years, whose rear brake line rusted completely through and burst.

Besides, as we all know, brake fluid absorbs moisture, and thus brake lines can- and do- rust from the inside as well. This, for example, came from inside the system on my Cutlass:

Any coating eventually chips or flakes, and rust starts at that point. Its better to have the metal itself to be rustproof, rather than hope a coating lasts.

Doc.

 

[T_R]

-Horsecrap. It takes longer to rust, but they still rust.

Sure, it lasts forever down there in SoCal and ElPaso, but anywhere it rains, or worse, snows and they sand the roads, trust me, it rusts. I just patched up a '94 Dodge truck, that's only been up here for about four years, whose rear brake line rusted completely through and burst.

Besides, as we all know, brake fluid absorbs moisture, and thus brake lines can- and do- rust from the inside as well. This, for example, came from inside the system on my Cutlass:

Any coating eventually chips or flakes, and rust starts at that point. Its better to have the metal itself to be rustproof, rather than hope a coating lasts.

Doc.

I'm in Maine we have 6 months of snow and salt and gravel roads. I've never seen a PVF coated line fail.

 

[dlcwent]

The same people that use PVC air lines!!

I'm sure you mean Copper-nickel brake lines, because copper brake lines are illegal.

Chris

Thanks Shadowdog for pointing that out. Someone out there will use plain copper lines. A big no no. Although we're going to get someone telling us that they've use copper with no problems. And put it together with compression unions.

 

[gungatim]

I've replaced cupri-nickel lines on Volvos before due to them rotting out, just like regular lines...yes they are nice and easy to use, but don't expect them to be a miracle cure...just check out some old Volvos at junk yards and you'll see what I mean...

 

[Shadowdog500]

Thanks Shadowdog for pointing that out. Someone out there will use plain copper lines. A big no no. Although we're going to get someone telling us that they've use copper with no problems. And put it together with compression unions.

You mean like Scotty does!

Chris

 

[Professur]

The 1/4" nicopp line is over $80/25' roll up here. Paid it anyways. Could have saved a whole lot of money on the expensive benders and flare tools. Flares a hair harder than soft plumbing copper but not by much ... and doesn't collapse like anything else ... steel or soft copper. The Europeans have been using this stuff OEM for years ... how is it we're still putting steel on new cars???

 

[Buckgnarly]

You mean like Scotty does!

Chris

And no jackstands, just dump the brake fluid on the ground....

 

[Lippyp]

Kunifer is actually Copper/Nickel/Iron (Cu = copper Ni = Nickel Fe = Iron Change the C for a K and add an R and you have the trade name. It's what I'll be replumbing my truck with soon.

 

[Fordguy1964]

Just got done running all new lines on my 64 Fairlane restoration. Sure it is not what the factory used originally but they also didn't have the 4 wheel disc brakes that I have now either. Much easier to bend than the original steel. Was easy to duplicate the factory bends and look except for the slight copper color versus the silver steel or later rusty steel look. I will never use anything else. The fact that I have had to replace steel brake lines somewhat regularly where I have never replaced a NiCop line ever is enough to make me never look back.

 

[dlcwent]

You mean like Scotty does!

Chris

QUOTE]

Who is Scotty?

 

[srmofo]

Everything new now comes with plastic coated brake lines. They don't rust.

Until the plastic looses its tight bond and water gets between the metal and plastic and rots it at an accelerated rate.

 

[GRX]

Until the plastic looses its tight bond and water gets between the metal and plastic and rots it at an accelerated rate.

As when road debris nicks through the coating.

 

[T_R]

New cars and trucks have been coming with the PVF lines for a while now. If one was going to fail I would have seen it. I'm in Maine where sometimes we have 6 months of snow and salt a year and even better yet I live 4 miles from the ocean and work in a shop 2 blocks from the ocean. Everything rusts here and fast. 3-4 year old trucks with rust holes isn't unheard of. Plow trucks are notorious for rotting out brake lines since they are in salt all winter and the typically around here parked on dirt all summer. If anything was going have a PVF line fail it would be a plow truck here. I've never seen one go bad.

 

[Shadowdog500]

You mean like Scotty does!

Chris

QUOTE]

Who is Scotty?

A YouTube mechanic with a ton of subscribers.

Here is a link to his rusty brake line fix where he uses a compression fitting. He uses invisible jack stands so you have to squint real hard to see them.

Chris

 

[WhiffySpark]

New cars and trucks have been coming with the PVF lines for a while now. If one was going to fail I would have seen it. I'm in Maine where sometimes we have 6 months of snow and salt a year and even better yet I live 4 miles from the ocean and work in a shop 2 blocks from the ocean. Everything rusts here and fast. 3-4 year old trucks with rust holes isn't unheard of. Plow trucks are notorious for rotting out brake lines since they are in salt all winter and the typically around here parked on dirt all summer. If anything was going have a PVF line fail it would be a plow truck here. I've never seen one go bad.

I have. Especially at the end of the run where it turns with no coating.

I just had to replace one two weeks ago

 

[Chevy-SS]

A YouTube mechanic with a ton of subscribers.

Here is a link to his rusty brake line fix where he uses a compression fitting. He uses invisible jack stands so you have to squint real hard to see them.

Chris

I freely admit to using compression fittings for brake repairs. Have done so many times over the past 40 years and never once had a problem. I am extra careful to make sure the line is properly positioned into the fitting, and then I tighten very securely. Like I said, compression fittings have always worked like a charm for me.

However, I can easily see where a novice could screw up a compression fitting repair. The flare fittings are definitely more idiot proof IMHO........

-

 

[Shadowdog500]

I freely admit to using compression fittings for brake repairs. Have done so many times over the past 40 years and never once had a problem. I am extra careful to make sure the line is properly positioned into the fitting, and then I tighten very securely. Like I said, compression fittings have always worked like a charm for me.

However, I can easily see where a novice could screw up a compression fitting repair. The flare fittings are definitely more idiot proof IMHO........

-

I don't know about Rhode Island, but In A lot of states the car will fail inspection if they find them on the car.

A double flair coupler is not that much more difficult to do. Why not use them?


Chris

 

[TheEquineFencer]

Why do I get the feeling a copper versus Kunifer debate is about to start.

...and then the fight started...

 

[Chevy-SS]

I don't know about Rhode Island, but In A lot of states the car will fail inspection if they find them on the car.

A double flair coupler is not that much more difficult to do. Why not use them?

Chris

No argument from me that flared fittings are 'better'. However, compression fittings have served me 100%, with never an issue.

But now that I am utilizing copper-nickel, I will definitely start flaring all the time (as they're easier to flare than steel). JMHO........

 

[Professur]

I have. Especially at the end of the run where it turns with no coating.

I just had to replace one two weeks ago

I had to replace a MC line, before I got my Eastwood flare tool. Coated steel. Could not get a decent flare to save my life. Said Eff this ... bent it up and took it to a local shop that has BRAKES in big letters on the outside. Asked them to flare it. What they handed me back .... They'd chewed up the plastic coat ... but then filed down the teeth marks. I was stunned. I showed it to the guy and he says "That's fine, we do that all the time." I was torn between hitting him and calling Transport Quebec to have an inspector shut them down. Finally did neither and just got out before my temper got the better of me.

 

[GRX]

Same here. In my state a brake system will fail a safety inspection if compression fittings are found. In some jurisdictions they are illegal to sell at all.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Everything new now comes with plastic coated brake lines. They don't rust.

-Horsecrap. It takes longer to rust, but they still rust.

Concur. But they hold up well for 10-15 years.