Hard Brake Line Question

[Falamon]

Morning all. My turd failed an MOT on corroded brake hoses.

Swapped one side without issue, but the other nut just rounded even with a brake spanner

I'll now need to get some hard brake line and replace that and the hose , I was wondering if anyone has any advice as to the best place to get it?

BMW have pre-flared tubing which i don't think is pre-bent (i've been told i'll possibly need to bend it myself) , but will be 2 workings days (from birmingham to surrey?!) to get the part and I was hoping to attempt to fix it this weekend/this afternoon.

Alternatively I can get a roll of 25foot piping, and then need to buy a flaring kit and a bender which isn't ideal as i've not yet done flaring on brake pipe.

Are there any other places that carry pre-ended pipe that anyone knows?

Thanks for any advice!
Also,

[Brianmoooore]

Your best bet is to approach a mechanic at a local small garage. Perhaps where you get MOT tests done?
Either take them the parts and just get them to flare the ends, or they probably have what you need 'in stock'. The ends you need must be M10 short, otherwise they won't fit the fixing clips.

[Falamon]

Brian what size piping do I need? 3/16"?

[Falamon]

Answered my own question, yes it's 3/16".

Will these unions be the right ones? http://www.halfords.com/motoring/auto-p ... -male#tab1

they look pretty spot on to the M10 short...

[daimlerman]

Answered my own question, yes it's 3/16".

Will these unions be the right ones? http://www.halfords.com/motoring/auto-p ... -male#tab1

they look pretty spot on to the M10 short...

Correct fitting,but bloody expensive!
A motor factor such as GSF or Unipart will want about 25p for each fitting.
The spring clips that Brian refered to are about the same price,I bought my last handful from my local GSF.

[Falamon]

I literally work opposie Euro's and they had none unfortunately Time's of the essence so I'll have to suck up the cost, alas.


Which spring clips, sorry I missed that?

[daimlerman]

The flexi/hard line joint passes through a bracket,and all three items are held together with the spring clip.Well worth replacing,as the cost is low and nice new shiney bits are easier to work with and make the MoT man

Suprised that your ECP failed to have brake line unions,but try them for the 'spring retaining clips',as I would be very suprised if Halfords have them!

[Falamon]

That's a good idea. I've just tracked down the M10 unions from DCS in Leatherhead for 17p each... Think i'll leave it from halfords now!

Sorry I know exactly which springs you mean, yes mine are a bit corroded so i'll see if they can supply me some.

Got a flare tool being delivered tomorrow, first time flaring piping, so i'll be patient and hopefully it'll come good.

[Falamon]

Sorry, ignore me. It will fit! Didn't get much sleep last night and i'm a bit all over the place

[daimlerman]

Choose a place on the hard line where the pipe has a straight run to make a join to the kunifer,it's easier to get a flaring tool in to the steel pipe.You will need a double-ended female joining fitting and two male(like the join to flexi)fittings.
May save you fighting to get the 'other' end of the steel pipe out!
The steel pipe is much harder to get a decent flare on,remember to slide the fitting on,the correct way round,BEFORE flaring the bloody pipe!

[Falamon]

I was planning on changing the entire section up to the reservoir underside as i'll slowly change all the hard lines now i think.

Is it M10 on both ends, the one to the hose and the one to the reservoir?

I actually wonder if this kit is the right one now - http://www.halfords.com/motoring/garage ... g-tool-kit as i've been reading around and there's talk of SAE and DIN and i'm not sure this will work now

I've bought a roll of Kunifer so should be ok I hope!

[daimlerman]

M10 both ends.

If you cannot unbolt the master cylinder end(fitting rounds off)you still have the option of joining the pipe,so if you have the bits to hand...

That tool will do the job,but it needs plenty of room around it to work properly.

[Brianmoooore]

There's a far better design of tool available than that. There was a thread on it a month or so ago.

[Falamon]

The tool arrived and did a pretty good job. Took the finished pipe to the garage and asked them to check the flares looked ok, one end was spot on, the other was ever so slightly off on one side, so the guy nipped the end off and re-flared it in seconds.

Fitting tonight, feeling confident it'll go ok.

Quick question- I know i'll lose the fluid in the pipe i'm cutting off, but will it keep on draining when I remove the 11mm nut from the main master cyclinder/reservoir, or will it stay put?

I'll bleed all 4 corners but wondered wether i would be better off draining the whole system down the pipe i'm taking off, or if I don't need to?

[Brianmoooore]

It will drain at the rate of a fast drip. Never a good idea to let the system drain right out (especially if you have ABS), as the air that gets in has to be removed -better not to get it in there in the first place,but if you're going right back to the master it isn't going to make much difference.
You can slow down the rate of drips by removing the brake fluid reservoir cap, filling the fluid to the brim, stretching a bit of cling film over the neck, and screwing on the clutch reservoir cap. This seals the air vent, and if air can't get in, fluid can't get out.

[capnmchl]

^ Or keep the brake pedal slightly depressed by using a length of wood between the seat and the pedal.

[Falamon]

UPDATE - So the hard line's done! It was less problematic than I thought, I over measured the pipe so it's a little long, but I've made it fit without protruding in the bay much.

The only problem now is that I have air in the system, and the nearside front bleed nipple (same side as the corroded hoses) is rusted to the point I couldn't get it undone! All other corners are bled. (I think I need to replace my nearisde rear calliper but that's for another day...)

The car's going back through for MOT today, i'm going to get the garage to get the nipple out and replace it for me and hopefully they can bleed that side.

Thanks for all the advice