Brake pipes , 4x4

[tomlad]

Blown a pipe on hilux surf , obviously shxt out fluid .not fully studied yet , i presume rusted thru , prob have to change afew
Do i want copper pipe or copper, blend ,nickle ?
Should be able to make up lines my self
Cheers

 

[Lincs Lass]

My garage put both rear pipes on in copper, that's what the originals were on a landcruiser 19yr old

 

[Mursal]

Copper wont rust as you know, the ends need flaring, so you'll need a tool.
If you get your hands on a tool, study the old end and just form the same shape on the new pipe.
Better flaring tools, make a double overlapping flare to it tightens better, the cheaper ones, only do a single flare.

You local independent will make a pipe up for you if you take the old one off, sometimes easier said than done. Be gentle with the end of the pipe your leaving behind (using again) as the loosening of the burst pipe can do damage. Vice grips on the nut, sometimes loosens it in the old fitting, sometimes not. Very time consuming if it goes against you.

Edit:
Try and stop / slow down the leak as soon as possible as the brake cylinders dont like to be dry for to long, put a plug (clean rag) in the pipes while you make a mew one up ........

 

[Landy Nick]

Use the cupro nickel brake pipe, which most motor factors stock and is harder then pure copper.
I'm sure somewhere I read pure copper pipe is illegal to use.

Personally the flaring on copper never looks great and this could fail here under high pressure, also copper is more susceptible to damage damage by stones getting flung up under the car.

 

[tomlad]

Cheers people's
I'll have a chat at my motor factors, ek brakes.
My flaring tool is a machine mart set , never bin overly happy with it. Get wot i pay for eh .
Not studied it yet , im hoping the pipes not going behind the fuel tank........

 

[itsalwaysme]

Cheers people's
I'll have a chat at my motor factors, ek brakes.
My flaring tool is a machine mart set , never bin overly happy with it. Get wot i pay for eh .
Not studied it yet , im hoping the pipes not going behind the fuel tank........

I find the Kunifer (cupro/nickel) the best (have used loads of it over 30 yrs of vehicle repairs) easy to flare and shape, but not too soft like the copper stuff, cheap flaring tool should flare it ok

 

[colhonk]

As above, Kunifer. Think plain copper can start to get a bit brittle with age and flexing.

 

[Cowcalf]

do some Mercedes use stainless brake piping ?

 

[tinman]

how much is a new oem pipe?

pipe failed the mot on wifes car last year and a new genuine one was 80 or 90 quid and that ran from the bulkhead to the rear wheel with about a hundred bends in it, i can bend and flair my own pipes here but for that money i didnt even bother tbh, the genuine pipe came with a plastic sheath on it too.
i think landy nick could be right there, cupro nickel would pass the mustard but i dont think copper will.
if an autofactors cant tell you if copper is legal or not an mot center would id say.

 

[Mursal]

But some OEM pipes wont fit without stripping half the underneath, the in house pipe can be formed after installation, if necessary.

 

[tomlad]

Went to eks yesterday
Copper was available 3 /16 th
Cupro was about twice price
I bought 25 ft cupro .. £16.50
De clutter workshop, truck in , have a good look go from there eh
Cheers

 

[roscoe erf]

yet another old wives tale copper brake pipes are not illegal in the uk god bless the internet

 

[rob h]

Always use copper mot garage always passes them.