Brake flares

[Matt_H]

I've just bought the tools to make myself up brake lines but not sure which kind of flares to use, and am not sure if I'm doing them right or not.

Some lines I had made for me by safari had a single flare on ends with male nuts, and double flares on ends with female nuts.

I can seem to do the double flare ok, but when it comes to single flare the top part of mine seem a lot flatter than the ones made for me by safari engineering

The picture shows the safari one where the bubble bit is much bigger, and my home made one


Am I doing something wrong?

Also a firend made me a pipe up and put a double flare on the end with the male nuts - is this a problem?

Thanks again for your help!
Matthew

[Hangover]

Looks like your tool isn't gripping the pipe correctly,what make tool have you aquired?
Kev

[Dr Neil]

usually the male nuts have only a single flare but it obviously depends on what it's going in to.if you look down the middle of what your fixing the pipe to and you can see something sticking up in the centre then you need to put a double flare on the pipe, but if you can see it just tapering away then a single flare should be used.
It looks like the flare you have done is part way between a male and a female,maybe you are using the wrong end, it also lokks lioke the pipe has slipped when putting the end on.

[Guy90]

It looks like the flare you have done is part way between a male and a female

Wow. An androgeous brake pipe :lol:  :lol:

Guy

[Wanderer]

The one labled homemade appears to be a double flare where the pipe may have slipped.
The safari one doesn't look as good as I'd expect. It looks like the pipe was too long as it was flared.

I'd do quite a few practice flares until you get used to it.

Ed

[Dr Neil]

where do you come from Matt? if you are local to me maybe i can make some up for you :idea:

[Matt_H]

The tool I used I got from ebay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=3872116284&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT

Clamp the pipe in with the same thickness as the bottom rung of the anvil thingy poking out, then using a thing that looks like a two pronged puller you screw it in on top of the anvil bit.  I'm screwing it until it goes no further, then it comes out like in the picture.

Help!

Matthew

[Matt_H]

I can't see how the top could possibly be domed outwards, the anvil part bit is shapped almost flat with a slight indentation towards the middle pin part....

oh and I'm in basingstoke.

Matthew

[Matt_H]

hmm, I've tried it with more poking out and with less poking out, but can;t seem to get anything near resembling the safari one or like in the instructions that came with it.. I must be doign something really basic wrong.

[oakeedokee]

I bought a Sealy pipe flarer and had no end of trouble getting a decent flare. In the end I took it back to the shop in disgust, got a refund and bought a flarer from these guys at Automec - an excellent, really easy to use piece of kit, but a bit more expesive than the Sealy (or Silly) item. They also sell complete brake pipe sets, ready flared. All you have to do is bend the pipe. Just let them know what vehicle it is and they'll make you up a set.
http://www.automec.co.uk/cgi/enter.html

[Guy90]

I bought a Sealy pipe flarer and had no end of trouble getting a decent flare. In the end I took it back to the shop in disgust, got a refund and bought a flarer from these guys at Automec - an excellent, really easy to use piece of kit, but a bit more expesive than the Sealy (or Silly) item. They also sell complete brake pipe sets, ready flared. All you have to do is bend the pipe. Just let them know what vehicle it is and they'll make you up a set.
http://www.automec.co.uk/cgi/enter.html

I used them when doing the 90. They were very good and quick :lol:  :lol:

Guy

[wheels244]

Matt

I wouldn't worry too much about the look of the made end - apart from spinning a bit in the vice it looks ok. I had the same concerns when I had to replace EVERY brake pipe on an Escort ( thanks MOT bloke !). I did the lot without one leak. Try joining one, I think you'll get a pleasant surprise.

Rob

[hobbit]

Not long after getting my 88, the rear brakes lost their fluid through the T piece splitter on the back axle, look what I found when I dismantled the union to see why it leaked out  :shock:

The other end of the pipe wasn't much better, the pics were too blurred but the other end had a crooked flare and a a flap of metal on the inside limiting the flow of fluid to about a quarter

[muddysteve]

if you want a quick lesson in gettting a decent flare out of a sealy kit mate give me a buzz and i'll show you

Steve

[Hangover]

The tool I used I got from ebay http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=3872116284&ssPageName=STRK:MEWN:IT

I would suggest you invest in a Sykes Pickavant brake flarer,you can either get one that goes in a vice or one which does the flares on the vehicle,they can be found on Ebay.Nearly all garages/motor factors use these tools as they give a quick and  professional job,a bit more of an investment money wise but you will never have to buy another.
Kev

[gnasha]

i also got 1 of these cheaper kits of ebay the only prob there was no instuctions on how to use but some practise later i was getting there hardest part is knowing how much to have sticking out of clamp

[Matt_H]

thanks for all the info guys and girls.. I did acouple more practise ones and spoke to some more friends and it seems like the tool is to blame.

I made another test one and actually bolted it to a spare caliper and the end does round out a lot better.  Not sure how much torque I put on it but reasonably tight with a standard 11 mm spanner, not FT though!  

The thickness of the edge wasn't as much as a professional one but good enough not to leak for now - when I have more money I'll invest in a more professional tool..

I know I know £100 is nothing when talking of ones life or safety!

A friend of mine uses a tool as found on the left on this website http://www.integerspin.co.uk/brakeflare.htm and it works brilliantly well and makes excellent ends, has anyone seen one of these anywhere, I think they are an old design.