Brake line question

**Johnno1969** · 15th January 2012, 10:14 AM

A quick wee question for you all.

I'm putting new brake lines in my IIA, and have read the various threads about the legality, or otherwise, of copper lines. I've been hoping to get copper-plated steel if such a thing is possible.

Went into Repco yesterday. They have 3/16" line there for about $7 a metre. "Steel" they say, but they are a little vague. Certainly looks like steel, with a galvanised appearance to the outer surface. Inside appears to be copper lined.

Might anybody be able to give me some hints here?

Thanks,

John

**JDNSW** · 15th January 2012, 10:18 AM

If it is sold by Repco as brake line, it is almost certainly legal. To check whether it is really steel, take a magnet.

John

**pfillery** · 15th January 2012, 10:18 AM

Why, may I ask, are there problems with fitting copper brake line? Standard LPG line is copper. I thought the only anti-copper rule was exhaust systems - they sound fantastic but aparently emit some noxious gas from the copper so I'm told.

**Johnno1969** · 15th January 2012, 10:26 AM

Originally Posted by JDNSW

If it is sold by Repco as brake line, it is almost certainly legal. To check whether it is really steel, take a magnet.

John

Hey John,

Thanks for that. I'll take along a magnet next Saturday. I guess I was hoping to find something copper-plated to avoid any rust, but then again the originals have lasted 46 years....

Cheers,

John

**trev** · 15th January 2012, 10:50 AM

copper work hardens and fatigues with vibration,also not so good for high hydraulic loading.

Trev.

**Davo** · 15th January 2012, 12:15 PM

Years ago during my first Landy rebuild I got some copper pipe, (apparently for brakes, so I was told), and used that since I'd been reading all about it in English magazines for so long.

It was very easy to work with, and I put extra clamps everywhere so it wouldn't fatigue through vibration.

Well, a few years after that I went to replace the rear brake hose, and as I unscrewed the pipe-to-hose nut the flared pipe end sheared off as soon as I started turning the nut with a spanner! And this was on a single-circuit SIIA brake system.

So I've used steel lines ever since. Really, in almost anywhere in Australia steel brake lines aren't going to rust away too quickly, and with the right tools it's still easy to get a perfect flare.

Try going to a brake specialist for pipe but the Repco stuff sounds okay. There's also somebody on eBay I've gotten pipe from - I think it was Sunbury Clutch or someone like that.

**ade** · 15th January 2012, 02:09 PM

if your worried about rust, do as they do in the uk and give the break lines a light covering of grease

**Blknight.aus** · 16th January 2012, 08:20 AM

or get it electroplated.

**Dave_S** · 16th January 2012, 10:32 AM

Steel brake line is called Bundy Tube. It comes in rolls and can be easily bent to shape (although proper pipe benders make better curves without kinks). You can use your old ones as templates.

You can buy a flaring tool to do the ends, or get a good brake place to do them. I got mine done at Commercial Brake & Clutch Supplies in Salisbury (phone 07 3277 0555). I spoke to Scott - he knows his stuff and is happy to talk.

**blitz** · 16th January 2012, 10:46 AM

If you are going to flare it yourself ensure you get a double flare kit as the plumbing and refrigeration single flares are illegal

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