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Tool recommendations...

Discussion in 'Technical Q&A' started by Peter, Jul 28, 2008.

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  1. Peter

    Peter F1 Veteran
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    Dec 21, 2000
    6,441
    B.C., Canada
    #1 Peter, Jul 28, 2008
    As I continue with my suspension/brake rebuild project, I am at the point now where I am going to install new brake pipes... Pipes made from scratch (bulk tubing cut to length). I bought the correct type of tubing - plated steel - in the correct diameter. Quite some time ago I bought a tube-flaring tool, but when I tried it now, it doesn't flare worth a crap. It is from KD Tools, an American company, but, as I suspect, this is more than likely made off-shore...

    Can anyone suggest an excellent-quality flaring tool that will properly make the required double (a.k.a. inverted) flare needed for these brake pipes?

    Thanks
     
  2. robertgarven

    robertgarven F1 Veteran
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    Feb 24, 2002
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    Robert Garven
    #2 robertgarven, Jul 28, 2008
    Peter I got some ones from TR that were pre made just had to bend them they wwere cheap and worked great. They were for the short ones to the calipers though.

    Rob
     
  3. rokodude

    rokodude Karting

    Dec 3, 2007
    70
    Overton Nevada
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    Michael J Greco
    #3 rokodude, Jul 28, 2008
    Are you doing a single flair or double?I hane a Mac tool,and it works great.


    (I think you need to double flair it)
     
  4. Peter

    Peter F1 Veteran
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    #4 Peter, Jul 28, 2008
    I got those already (it seems that they are the only ones available, the other lines seem to be NLA).
     
  5. Peter

    Peter F1 Veteran
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    #5 Peter, Jul 28, 2008
    Yes, they use double flares. Thanks for the Mac suggestion, I'll look into it...
     
  6. robertgarven

    robertgarven F1 Veteran
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    Robert Garven
    #6 robertgarven, Jul 28, 2008
    sounds like your getting close...... ;-0
     
  7. Artvonne

    Artvonne F1 Veteran

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    #7 Artvonne, Jul 29, 2008
    Wouldnt stainless steel line be a better choice?
     
  8. Peter

    Peter F1 Veteran
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    #8 Peter, Jul 29, 2008
    It would be in respects to corrosion resistance, but it's harder to flare than regular steel... And considering it has been hard so far to find a tool that'll properly flare even steel tubing, I think I would be giving myself more problems by using it!

    I must correct myself as I believe I have been mis-identifying the type of flare these brake pipes use. It appears that double flare is the kind commonly found on domestic cars. What the Ferrari (and other european cars) uses is called a "bubble" (DIN) flare, which looks kind-of like a mushroom head.
     
  9. tbakowsky

    tbakowsky Two Time F1 World Champ
    Consultant Professional Ferrari Technician

    Sep 18, 2002
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    Tom
    #9 tbakowsky, Jul 29, 2008
    Get the Snap-on kit..expensive but worth every dime.
     
  10. Buck_nekid

    Buck_nekid Rookie

    Nov 5, 2005
    24
    West Virginia
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    Jack
    #10 Buck_nekid, Jul 30, 2008
    [LURKER MODE]

    Long time lurker, I only post when I see something I can really comment one, so with that said.

    Mastercool. There is no other name when it comes to flaring tools, very pricey. Link to tools. If this is a one time use deal, the pricing would put these into the not even considered category. For anyone who will do any amount of lines these tools are worth it. These are the Ferrari's of the flaring tools (with the price also.) Just thought I would post in case anyone would ever need such a tool. I think these can be bought from most tool trucks (re-badged) Mac, Snap-on, Cornwell, etc.

    *Not connected to them in anyway*

    [/LURKER MODE]
     
  11. maurice70

    maurice70 F1 Rookie

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    maurice T
    #11 maurice70, Jul 30, 2008
    Peter I had mine made up a brake shop.They had the flare all I did was bring in my old lines.Unless you are going to be doing alot of flaring I cant justify buying the tool
     
  12. vincenzo

    vincenzo F1 Rookie

    Nov 2, 2003
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    #12 vincenzo, Jul 30, 2008
    Why is it harder to flare? It is my understanding that stainless is typically a softer type of steel.
    Rgds,
    Vince
     
  13. Skidkid

    Skidkid F1 Veteran
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    #13 Skidkid, Jul 30, 2008
    Stainless tends to be harder than standard steel but softer than high carbon steel. Stainless has chromium content to give it corrosion resistance.
     
  14. tomberlin

    tomberlin Formula Junior
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    #14 tomberlin, Jul 30, 2008
    The Mastercool tools look great. Any idea how much?
    Tom B.
     
  15. chrismorse

    chrismorse Formula 3

    Feb 16, 2004
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    chris morse
    #15 chrismorse, Jul 30, 2008
    Last edited by a moderator: Sep 7, 2017
    Hi Guys,

    I recently finished bending a fair amount of steel line, cutting and doing the bubble flares. I used the Napa "Bubble Flaring Tool Kit" part Number 3482. I don't remember the price and their website is too obtuse to quickly reference it but it wasn't heavy $, it did the job. I bought most of the tubing, already flared, then cut what i wanted and did the flaring. No leaks.

    Here are a couple of photos of the finished work :)
    Best,
    Chris
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  16. Peter

    Peter F1 Veteran
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    #16 Peter, Jul 30, 2008
    That Mastercool tool looks identical to the one offered in the Snap-On tools catalogue (as Tom suggested). Very trick. I like how it is very compact, but yes, it is pricey... The Canadian online Snap-On store listed that kit at $620Cdn.

    Maurice, I don't trust alot of shops.

    Chris, what does the NAPA kit comprise of? The KD kit I bought was a simple bar-clamp with various sized holes drilled down the center which clamps the tube. There is a countersink machined on one side for the double flare to swage into. The flaring part is a simple taper point which is screwed down into the end of the tubing.

    The problem with it was nothing lined up properly, causing the flares I made on sample pieces to be off-center and not really bubbled/domed enough (even with a lot of tightening force). Real junk.

    As for price and amount of use, I don't care, as long as it gets the job done and done right, that's what counts.

    When I tore apart the brake calipers, I went out and bought the set of special RIBE bits to remove the bolts. Pricey, yes, but it is the correct tool for them and it just made the job so much easier (that's what counts even more! I hate struggling at stuff, I don't need that kind of stress).

    Besides, it may take a while, but I'd like to build up a collection of cars, so more than likely, I'll need these tools again in the future! :)
     

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