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SS brake lines?

Posted: Tue Jan 29, 2019 11:02 pm
by LMJ20
I have access to all kinds of stainless steel hard line and nice benders. I’m wondering what issues I might run into trying to run stainless hard lines for my brakes? One issue I can see is that it’s nearly impossible to flare this stuff. Can I use swagelock fittings?

Re: SS break lines?

Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2019 3:24 am
by tgreese
$25 for a 25' roll of 3/16" Nicopp on eBay. Seems foolish to make your job so much more difficult by using stainless.

Even Amazon has it now - https://www.amazon.com/Roll-Copper-Nick ... +line+3+16

Are Swageloks DOT approved? Doubtful. You'd be taking on both risk and liability to substitute for the flare fittings.

Re: SS break lines?

Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2019 7:51 am
by Stuka
Yeah, main issue with stainless is that its not very malleable. So typically requires better tools to flare, and bend. There are tools that will do it, as its not uncommon to use stainless in the hotrod world.

I am not sure if swageloks are considered "safe" to use for brakes or not. A google search shows some people are using them, but thats kind of anecdotal.

Re: SS break lines?

Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2019 5:42 pm
by LMJ20
Reason I’m considering it is because I get the tubing free. I have no problem bending the material. Heck, I can write my name with the benders I have. The swegloks I use are rated for 11,000psi.
Cruzing around the internet last night I found these. And they come in 1/2” also, so now I’m considering running my fuel lines like this to. Image


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Re: SS brake lines?

Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2019 6:40 pm
by Cecil14
By the time you buy fittings, are you really saving much over getting a roll of nicopp and flaring it properly? Honestly the last time I looked, the tubing itself was by far the cheapest part of the equation.


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Re: SS brake lines?

Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2019 12:43 pm
by babywag
Unless ALL the fittings/adapters you will need are free as well I wouldn't bother w/ stainless.
If you are building a show truck sure go for it, but if it's a driver skip the hassle/expense.

Re: SS brake lines?

Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2019 2:09 pm
by derf
Yeah, some of the most expensive projects I've had are a result of someone giving me something for free.

Sometimes free just ain't worth it.

Re: SS brake lines?

Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2019 12:13 am
by az chip
If you can write your name in stainless tubing (cursive?) why ask us? Just do it. I can bend a 90 in stainless. It won't work after, but I can.

Re: SS brake lines?

Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2019 2:32 am
by LMJ20
az chip wrote:If you can write your name in stainless tubing (cursive?) why ask us? Just do it. I can bend a 90 in stainless. It won't work after, but I can.
ImageImageImageImage
I’ll probably play around with it once I pull the cab here in a few weeks. If it proves to be more of a pain than it’s worth I’ll just go with regular old ugly brake line


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Re: SS brake lines?

Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2019 9:55 am
by babywag
I'm all for free stuff, but it generally winds up costing you more time and $ by the time it's done.
Pretty sure full stainless ready to install line kits are available for these for couple hundred bucks.

Re: SS brake lines?

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2019 12:50 pm
by sonoraed
I use stainless all the time for hydraulic lines (power steering mostly) there are different alloy's so good to know what you have, I use a flare station with 4000 lbs of pressure so no problem flaring but need to watch for splits in the flare and a double flare is not possible at least with equipment I have, Cheers

Re: SS brake lines?

Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2019 5:38 pm
by SJTD
No double flaring in rockets, how about aircraft?

Does your machine flare by pushing in a die like the small hand held ones? Ones I'm familiar with have a cone shaped die that spins. The axis it spins on is offset from the center of the tube.

Re: SS break lines?

Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2019 7:16 pm
by Phils67
tgreese wrote:$25 for a 25' roll of 3/16" Nicopp on eBay. Seems foolish to make your job so much more difficult by using stainless.
I love that stuff. My brake, clutch and fuel lines are made out it. Super easy to work with and holds up great over time.

As far as flaring stainless, check out the flaring tool by MasterCool. I have made stainless line for customers using that and had good success.

Re: SS brake lines?

Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2019 9:59 pm
by sonoraed
SJTD wrote:No double flaring in rockets, how about aircraft?

Does your machine flare by pushing in a die like the small hand held ones? Ones I'm familiar with have a cone shaped die that spins. The axis it spins on is offset from the center of the tube.
Yes works just like a handheld tube flare just a lot more pressure (tubesnhoses machine),double flares no problem with aluminum/copper/steel but SS can be brittle and crack or split also some SS tubing has a welded seam which has to be checked after flare for imperfections,
also use a handheld hydraulic flaring tool(for on the vehicle repair)and it also could do the job, all depends on the softness of the tubing you have,check out inlinetube.com they specialize in brake lines.
Last job I did on my airplane that involved tubing was to install an aux tank and all the tubing is aluminum and single flare,hope this helps,cheers

Re: SS brake lines?

Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2019 11:26 pm
by SJTD
Oops. Got that backerds.

The axis the machine spins on is concentric with the tube. It's the cone that's off center. These could flare 2" x 1/8" wall tubing.