Any recommendations for Metric brake flaring tools?

Hi everyone,

I need to find a metric brake flaring tool to work on my 84 GTI with 4.75mm brake lines and I'm a bit overwhelmed with finding one.

Everything I have read online says that the run of the mill Autozone, Advance Auto, etc. rental ones are utter garbage and so are the other $30-$50 garden variety you can buy at Harbor Freight, etc. I'm prepared to spend up to $100 because I would still come out ahead vs. buying pre-bent lines for my car $ wise, but $200-$400 for a professional grade flaring tool from Snap-On, etc. is just not justifiable to me. I'm not a mechanic so I can't see getting that much use out of it.

So does anyone have any recommendations for Brake Flaring Tools you have bought?

Disclaimer: I sell these, but I've heard nothing but praise from customers.

I have a ~ $70 flaring tool sold by Blue-Point (Snap-On discount brand) that looks similar to the crappy ones from HF. I've used it, it does actually work, although it's a bit of a pain.

I also used a $400 hydraulic tool like the one Eastwood sells, and it's awesome.

Bubble flare, right? I have a cheap OTC kit from amazon that gets the job done, I've done several cars with it. That Cal-Van 154 kit does look like a much nicer to use tool though, and it isn't stupid expensive ($35 on ebay) like a lot of the non conventional bar flaring tools are.

The one I have.

http://www.amazon.com/OTC-4504-Stinger-Bubble-Flaring/dp/B0015PMZMU/ref=sr_1_1?s=automotive&ie=UTF8&qid=1422666547&sr=1-1&keywords=OTC+bubble+flare&pebp=1422666549437&peasin=B0015PMZMU

The cal-van

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Cal-Van-154-Metric-In-Line-Flaring-Tool-Kit-4-75mm-5mm-6mm-in-case-/171631397172?hash=item27f6074934&item=171631397172&pt=Motors_Automotive_Tools&vxp=mtr

You can use a 3/16" flaring tool on metric lines. 4.75mm is 0.1870", 3/16" is 0.1875".

I use a Blue-Point flaring tool. It looks like the cheapies, but it works better.

I think this is the set i have:

http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/item.asp?P65=&tool=all&item_ID=644094&group_ID=675506&store=snapon-store&dir=catalog

I'll echo the Blue-Point comment. I've used the cheap ones and they won't hold the line tight enough to allow the flare to form.

Buy a good tool you buy it once in a life time, buy a cheap unit you fight with it all your life and wish you spent the $$ earlier. Funny thing I bought a MasterCool set two years ago and haven't used it yet...

I've got a matco hydraulic one that works well.

Another "like" for Cal-Van inline flare tool. I bought the master set and its MUCH MUCH BETTER than the old bar-style flare tools I used to rent from the zone.

http://www.amazon.com/Cal-Van-Tools-165-Master-Flaring/dp/B00AOTBVJQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422715493&sr=8-1&keywords=cal-van+flaring+tool

Junkyard_Dog wrote: Disclaimer: I sell these, but I've heard nothing but praise from customers.

This does look like a good solution. Especially after seeing some youtube videos comparing this to the traditional style.

My only concern is the quality of the dies. Some negative reviews were the threading on the dies stripping. If this happens is it possible to buy a replacement die from Cal-van?

Junkyard_Dog wrote: Disclaimer: I sell these, but I've heard nothing but praise from customers.

I have both the metric and SAE kits...Best manual flare tool I have ever used. It holds the tube well and centers the die perfectly, not something I can say about the others I own and have used when making flares on mild steel tubing.

Note: The bubble flare is a bit harder to make than the double inverted in terms of torque applied to the forming bolt. That makes feeling when the die is fully seated and the flare done a little more difficult than with the inverted flare version. If you over torque the bolt, you will strip the threads off the clamp base (ask me how I know). So it is worth stopping and inspecting your progress several times on the first one so you have a feel for the small difference in torque between forming the flare and it being fully formed.

Contradiction wrote: This does look like a good solution. Especially after seeing some youtube videos comparing this to the traditional style. My only concern is the quality of the dies. Some negative reviews were the threading on the dies stripping. If this happens is it possible to buy a replacement die from Cal-van?

They do not sell the individual pieces. Cant hurt to ask though... They really should sell the clamps separately since that seems to be the part that most easily fails with misuse (or perhaps lots of use).

There is a single size product #155 that can be bought but it contains everything but the 2nd and 3rd clamps and dies and sell for maybe $6 less than the #156 kit.

wclark wrote:

Junkyard_Dog wrote: Disclaimer: I sell these, but I've heard nothing but praise from customers.

I have both the metric and SAE kits...Best manual flare tool I have ever used. It holds the tube well and centers the die perfectly, not something I can say about the others I own and have used when making flares on mild steel tubing. Note: The bubble flare is a bit harder to make than the double inverted in terms of torque applied to the forming bolt. That makes feeling when the die is fully seated and the flare done a little more difficult than with the inverted flare version. If you over torque the bolt, you will strip the threads off the clamp base (ask me how I know). So it is worth stopping and inspecting your progress several times on the first one so you have a feel for the small difference in torque between forming the flare and it being fully formed.

Thanks! This is a very helpful bit of advice. I'll probably give it a few practice attempts for sure before I flare my actual line.

I do have one follow up question for you though.

In the video below he's using the 165 kit on what I assume is a double flare die. At the 18 min mark he shows that he's doing 2 steps. One to form it and a second to remove the die and invert it.

Calvan 165 flaring tool demo

On the metric bubble flare die is it just one step to get the bubble flare shape because you are not inverting it?

Bubble flare is a one step operation.

Bought the mastercoool kit. Best tool investment other than new cordless that I've made in years. I no longer dread brake lines or other flaring needs.

Kenny_McCormic wrote: Bubble flare is a one step operation.

That is correct. Single step with the bubble flare. The "final" shape, if I can use that phrase, is created when the flare is tightened into its application.

Here is an image of the making of a double inverted flare.

You may notice that in figure 4 (after removing the die and before driving the anvil/screw down) we have what is basically a bubble flare that is then compressed into a double inverted flare.

^^^^^^ Thanks. That's more or less what I figured it would be. So it's more or less just a matter of making sure I get a good feel for when I'm done forming the flare and avoiding over tightening it.

Well I'm sold on the idea now. I'm going to go ahead and order one. Thanks everyone for the advice! Feeling much less intimidated by doing this now too.

Contradiction wrote:

Junkyard_Dog wrote: Disclaimer: I sell these, but I've heard nothing but praise from customers.

My only concern is the quality of the dies. Some negative reviews were the threading on the dies stripping. If this happens is it possible to buy a replacement die from Cal-van?

If you buy it from me I'll warranty the dies. One of the perks of buying from a truck. Sadly I can only sell in my territory. PM me and I'll see if I can find a dealer in your area.

Dusterbd13 wrote: Bought the mastercoool kit. Best tool investment other than new cordless that I've made in years. I no longer dread brake lines or other flaring needs.

No doubt the best tool out there. Not exactly cheap, but well worth it if you ever plan on flaring anything ever again.

carbon wrote: I've got a matco hydraulic one that works well.

You likely bought a Mastercool in a red box