Making new brake lines

[Langdon]

Hey everyone,
I am going to make new brake lines. Can I use Teflon tape to seal the fittings, or will the brake fluid dissolve it?
Thanks,
Chris

[Marc_01]

How do you make new lines? I have always wondered and assumed there was a cheaper way to make extended brake lines.

[andy d]

ive never needed a thread sealer.just be careful not to cross thread the fittings. replacing brake lines. a small tube bender, a tube cutter, and a good flaring tool are the tools you need.prolly 30$-40$ for the lot. ive acquired the tools over time,i used to just buy pre-fabbed lengths and a buncha unions. the only trouble with that, is that pre-fabbed lines make a sloppy job and that in a panic stop the bends created to make the line fit will try to straighten out and kink. brakes are important and i would advise doing a little research and getting a little background info.

------------------
'88 gwag,pure stock

[Dan Grdovic]

Interesting bit of trivia, I just got done replacing my fuel pump and I had to replace the metal line from the pump up to the filter. I just used a piece of brake line and bent it to fit. Bending requires some skill. Don't attempt to fix a brake line that you kinked. Just start over with a new line. Brakes are kinda important...

[BobBarry]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Langdon:
I am going to make new brake lines. Can I use Teflon tape to seal the fittings, or will the brake fluid dissolve it?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

The lines seal via the flare; if that doesn't seal the connection properly, teflon tape isn't going to help you one bit, whether brake-fluid gets on it or not. Teflon is only useful for a seal in a pipe-thread fitting, where the threads are tapered.

That having been said, I often wrap my flare nuts with teflon tape, as a kind of anti-seize. I've also wrapped my bleeder screws with a couple layers of tape, to reduce the air seeping past when bleeding the brakes.

------------------
Bob Barry<UL TYPE=SQUARE>* '78 Cherokee 4-door
* '88 Grand Wagoneer[/list]http://studentweb.providence.edu/~rbarry/wheels/

[Langdon]

I think the pieces are short enough that i can make them without any unneccesary unions. Thanks guys...

[rhamby]

I would HIGHLY suggest getting a bending tool. They allow for professional looking corner bends, and prevent kinking on tight bends. Mine was $5 at a fun ford weekend swap meet, so you should find one pretty cheep. It has a die for mult. dia. of line. Like Andy said, they can try to move on ya in hard stops, so some good tie wraps can make a big difference.

[jeepbob]

A standard flaring alone will not do the job as the brake lines use a "double" flare. you can buy adaptors for the std tool but they usally do not hold the tube tight enough. Spend the extra money for a double flare kit. The double flare is used as if the steel line is streached far enough to create a good single flare it will crack and leak. The double flare also seal better. Finally never use compression fittings on brake systems as they will fail under the high pressure in the system and they are Illeagle to use for brake systems.

------------------
65 wag. 360/edelbrock rb4/t400/20 t-case/4:10 d27/d44 tracloc/onboard air/onboard 110v power(no inverter)/1999 Lincoln t.c.leather buckets/taurus ctr console/winch/33x12.50/tunes/water proof door pads
soon to have new motor/d44frt/d60r(4:10)welded diff/custom bumpers
see ya in da mud