Brake Pipe bending tool?

Mon Dec 14, 2009 9:26 pm

What tools are you guys using to bend new brake pipes. I'm looking on the bay but all seem standard. Anyone using one that they can recomend? Also the flaring tools?

Mon Dec 14, 2009 9:28 pm

ive got a snap on flaring tool and just tend to bend the pipe by hand i suppose you could use something like a paint tin to bend it around to get a better curve

Mon Dec 14, 2009 9:30 pm

i bought a cheap brake line tool kit from a local motor factors for under £20 for the flaring tool kit with half a dozen different bore flares and about the same for the bending tool.

Mon Dec 14, 2009 10:10 pm

One of the best tools is a socket held vertically in a bench vice
You can change radius of bend by varying socket sizes etc also
if you are duplicating a complex pipe like the rear ones a trick is
to cable tie the pipe to the old one and follow the pattern along its
length bend by bend cliupping it along the way
hope this helps

Mon Dec 14, 2009 10:43 pm

Magic. Good tips chaps. The one I'm worried about is the 180 degree bend above the rear sub frame!

Thanks

Tue Dec 15, 2009 6:12 am

If you use kunifer pipe you will be suprised at just how easily it bends to shape.

Tue Dec 15, 2009 9:06 am

I have a pipe bending tool, but rarely use it - it doesn't bend at a tight enough radius for the pipe in question, in any case.
You don't need to bend quite as tightly as the original in this position, especially if you make your own pipes, and make them slightly longer.

Tue Dec 15, 2009 7:37 pm

I will be using stealership brake pipes for that OE look. Will be picking them up tomorrow. What is kunifer pipe?

Tue Dec 15, 2009 10:11 pm

scott180gtb wrote: What is kunifer pipe?

Unfortunately, the OE look is a sort of rust colour after a while!
Kunifer is a copper/nickel alloy. Stiffer than pure copper, doesn't work harden, and most importantly, doesn't rust!

Wed Dec 16, 2009 4:02 pm

Brian, I think the Kunifer stuff look's out of place under the bonnet. Plus i like to put a little grease on my pipe!

Wed Dec 16, 2009 8:38 pm

Apart from the extreme outer ends of the front brake pipes, into the wheel arches, rusting isn't a problem with the pipes under the bonnet. It's the ones under the car and around the rear beam that give the trouble, and personally, I'm not too fussed if the underside looks completely OE or not!