Brake Line Bending/Flaring Tools

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So, I'm going to need to start getting back on my Dart to get it on the road. Does anyone know if the general parts store sell decent brake line benders and flaring tools? NAPA or Autozone perhaps? I have to redo a couple of lines my friend made for the front as I had to front mount my calipers. It didn't seem too hard as I saw my friend make the lines. Measure, bend, cut, flare...

Thank you!

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Normally I agree with Goody, but the cheap one from auto zone worked for me so far.

A few years ago I was working on a brake job at work and lost one of the inserts you use to put the initial "bubble" into the tubing. You know how there's 4-5 sizes and I was missing the one I needed all of a sudden.

Went to Autozone on a Sunday and rented there flaring kit. It was only like 10-15 bucks deposit and the guy said if I didn't return it then I owned it for like 15 bucks or something like that, plus the rental cost. Less than 30 dollars total. So I never took it back, not worth my time. Have used it quite a few times since too and it does a fine job.

I replace a rotted, rusted section on one of my F-450s earlier this week and used that cheapy flaring tool. The truck is 2000 model so it took 15 years for it to happen. The cheap tool put a double wall flare on the original 2000 steel line and also on the end of the custom made replacement un coated steel line.
The parts counter guy said they are selling tons of brake line this time of year because of the salt.

The one(flaring tool) I got from Snap On 25 years ago is a Imperial Eastman, the best in the business. I wore that one out really. Still have it, just missing one of those inserts and never have remembered to order one from the Snap On guy that I see at work.
Plus that one now is in a service truck and gets used for single wall flares in copper tubing as a back up tool. We use a one piece flaring clamping tool now. Retired it to greener pastures. lol

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Purchase the Mastercool part # 71475-PRC flaring kit.I have used all the lesser brands and designs for flaring and nothing compares to this kit,it usually runs around $300.00 dollars on amazon and will make a perfect double or bubble flare every time.set even includes dies for A/C and fuel lines and tubing cutter.
As far as bending the lines what I do is if you have the original lines to use as a template, make your first bend in the new line after the first flare and then proceed to tie wrap the lines together after each proceeding bend in the line you make.Works like a charm.

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$300!

The lines in my car should be fairly short. One of them is only going from the distribution block to the front of the UCA. Another is just a short section going to the other caliper. I may be removing my line-lock, just for simplicity as I don't want to deal with wiring right now, and replacing it with a short piece of line.

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My friend and I actually had that problem with the cheap flaring tools. We had some coated brake lines (from an Autozone or O'Reilly) we used and for whatever reason the flaring tool couldn't get a good grip onto it to flare it so we had to borrow one of my friend's tools to get the job done. But later on we decided to swap over to the non-coated lines as that also improved flaring and bending capabilities.

So NAPA should have a "quality" kind. I'd like to get a start on this tomorrow so maybe I'll drive on down in the morning.

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It's very important that you use the clamp the right way. Always close/tighten the wing nut closest to the tube your flaring 1st and leave the other side open more. Tighten the one wing nut fully that's closest to the tube and then use the "long" side to tighten last that has the leverage and most times not all the way or you will dent the steel line.

Hope that makes sense because I promise you it works and that's how you should use a tube clamp.

I did get some steel line recently that has some coating on it, gater gripe or some crap. I have not tried flaring that stuff yet. Steel line lasted 16 years, I'm good with that in a salty work environment. Don't need or want grater grip or what ever it is but that is what got delivered so I thought I'd try it?
I used regular steel line this week that was in stock here. It's replacement for my stock is that gater grip stuff.

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I prefer this style brake tube bender than any other.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/p...JwXFBoCZ07w_wcB

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I prefer this style brake tube bender than any other.

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/p...JwXFBoCZ07w_wcB

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I have this one as well. It won't make the tight bends like the pliers. Why not buy pre-bent? Pure and simple, cost. You can buy the tools and material for less than the cost of one set. Then you own the tools and have the skill to do your own. Buy the line by the roll, $15/25ft.

http://www.speedwaymotors.com/3-16-Inch-Steel-Brake-Line-25-Ft-Roll,1990.html

I find it easy to make a template out of tig welding rod (or coat hanger). If you don't like your work, pitch it and make another. Won't take long until you are good at it. Any body can buy it, a Hot Rodder builds it.
Doug

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I agree!!! Go pre bent..If you never made those type double flares you will mess up a lot of tubing.. Like I said in my earlier post,, go pre bent.. And if you do, and you get the stainless steel be sure to put some extra torque on tighten them, or they will seep out fluid. I bought stainless and it looks great!!

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What are you guys using to cut the tubing? A Dremel?

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