Brake Line Flaring Tool?

I'm looking for a double flaring tool for making brake lines. I don't do it often, but it would be a handy item to own. Anything specific that I should look for when shopping for one?

Snap On purchased from FleaBay works wonderfully

Specifically? don't get a cheap one. They don't work worth a darn.

Very strongly agree with that

Ive used a KD 2190. Works pretty well. Beware, most of what you find for sale for $28 seems to be replacement parts.

"I'm king of the world, Ma!"

http://www.mastercool.com/pages/int_hydraulic_tube_expanding.html

I got a kit from Mastercool and it's "cool". Easy to use and produces a flare as good as the factory flare on premade brake lines. Cost is high so for someone who does brake flaring only when something breaks if may not be worth it. Over the past few years I have replumbed 3 different cars but only the last using the Mastercool kit it. Having done so I feel it was money well spent.

Agreed, cheap ones aren't worth the savings. Mine's a Snap-On, but I think Bluepoint sells the same one for far less dough - from what I recall, the Bluepoint one is missing the tubing cutter. Which must be made of solid gold based on the price difference.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mac-Tools-Double-Flaring-Tool-with-Ridgid-Tube-Bender_W0QQitemZ180482595017QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Automotive_Tools?hash=item2a0599d8c9

aussiesmg wrote: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mac-Tools-Double-Flaring-Tool-with-Ridgid-Tube-Bender_W0QQitemZ180482595017QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Automotive_Tools?hash=item2a0599d8c9

I saw that one, but it only has three dies. What size are most automotive lines?

For emphasis, I'll say DON'T go with a cheap brand. I've only found Snap-On ones to work. The others won't hold the line enough to keep it from sliding down in the tool, thus making cool splines on your brake line.

try NAPA. I got a nice one (not made in China) about 10 years ago for 50 or $60. Works wonderful.

Woody wrote:

aussiesmg wrote: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mac-Tools-Double-Flaring-Tool-with-Ridgid-Tube-Bender_W0QQitemZ180482595017QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Automotive_Tools?hash=item2a0599d8c9

I saw that one, but it only has three dies. What size are most automotive lines?

Brake lines are almost universally 3/16" or a metric equivalent that's basically the same. It'll be the smallest die in the set.

Keith wrote:

Woody wrote:

aussiesmg wrote: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Mac-Tools-Double-Flaring-Tool-with-Ridgid-Tube-Bender_W0QQitemZ180482595017QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Automotive_Tools?hash=item2a0599d8c9

I saw that one, but it only has three dies. What size are most automotive lines?

Brake lines are almost universally 3/16" or a metric equivalent that's basically the same. It'll be the smallest die in the set.

I'm looking at the photo in that e-Bay auction and it seems like one hole in the clamp is discolored. It's probably the only one that was ever used. I'm wondering if the tubing was slipping, though.

I'll triple-underscore the importance of not getting a cheap one. I bought a kit from Rigid which is very nice. That said, probably going to use flex hose on the next car.

a401cj wrote: try NAPA. I got a nice one (not made in China) about 10 years ago for 50 or $60. Works wonderful.

+1. That's where I got mine. Works fine.

I've broken one of those NAPA ones in half. Maybe it was two of them. Good thing they have a free loaner program I get much better flares out of the Snap-On set.

Another "don't buy the cheap one" vote.

I had a couple cheapos and all that happened was the flaring tool pushed the tube through the clamp.

Worked fine on copper but was crap for steel.

I bought a good one, over $100, can't remember the name now and it works fantastic.

Considering the damage a poor brake flare can do, it's really not an expensive tool.

Shawn

kb58 wrote: I'll triple-underscore the importance of not getting a cheap one. I bought a kit from Rigid which is very nice. That said, probably going to use flex hose on the next car.

Use as little hose in your brake system as possible. SS braided hose looks cool but it still will expand with pressure while a hard line will not. If you want a soft or spongy pedal then plumb the car all with SS lines.

I had a friend who went to work for a guy racing a GT-1 car back in the 80's. The car had all SS braided hose from the masters to the calipers. Driver was always complaining about a soft pedal. Gee, I wonder why? Replaced the hose with hard line and complaints went away.

jimbbski wrote:

Use as little hose in your brake system as possible. SS braided hose looks cool but it still will expand with pressure while a hard line will not. If you want a soft or spongy pedal then plumb the car all with SS lines. I had a friend who went to work for a guy racing a GT-1 car back in the 80's. The car had all SS braided hose from the masters to the calipers. Driver was always complaining about a soft pedal. Gee, I wonder why? Replaced the hose with hard line and complaints went away.

If I didn't have first-hand experience with this I'd agreed. I was tracking down a soft pedal problem, starting with a system that used flex-line everywhere. After all the easy stuff was checked, the line was replaced with hard-line. Guess what - zero difference in pedal effort.

Along the way, I capped the lines right at the calipers, resulting in a rock-hard pedal WITH the flex-line, but I was a bonehead and replaced them anyway. The problem was ultimately traced to flexing calipers.

I work with guys who worked on various GT-5 cars all the way up to IMSA cars - all of them used flex-line and never had a problem.

Not exactly grassroots but as others have mentioned the cheap tools suck.

Eastwood just put their flare tool on sale, normally $220 now $154

Not canoeing, just passing along a deal I saw today.

http://www.eastwood.com/professional-brake-tubing-flaring-tool.html

If you want to or can use AN fittings the Parker Hannifin 37 degree flaring tool will give a perfect flare every time. The hardened cone not only shapes the tubing but also burnishes the flare. Plus it will flare 8 different sizes of tubes. About $70.00 but can be found on sale for sometime $10.00 less. There are a lot of companies that make adapter fittings. The 37 degree flare is used almost 100% on aircraft.

Yes, the 37 degree tool, mating AN hardware to hardline, will be how the next car's plumbed if it isn't flex-line throughout.

Re: spongy pedal with flex hose: It depends on which flex hose you use. Just because it has braid on the outside doesn't mean it's the same inside.