Brake lines - splice in sections, or make up whole new ones?

[Ben Lessani]

No idea off the top of my head.

When I'm working on the car, I just remove anything that is in my way

[antogoof]

i just done all mine mate, just take your time and make sure you put the nuts on before flaring the pipe.

i did the about 3 times cause i was rushing, make sure the flares are right or you will have to do it again cause it WILL leak.

invest in at least 1 11mm brake pipe spanner cause you will only have a whole load of heartache with normal spanners or a socket.

watch out for the little springs which join the hoses and the steel pipes, they break easily and as far as i know then its a trip to the scrappers, although you may be able to get them from the dealers.

i rinsed mine out when they were done with brake cleaner, and gave em a quick coat of hammerite smooth to make em last.

im only an amateur at cars and it int hard just take your time and good luck.

[fishnchipsx2]

Small query...

The flares my tool are making a slightly different to the flares on my old lines.

It is a double-flaring tool, but I am only doing the first half of the flaring process, so it produces a bubble-like flare.

However, the flare isn't quite the shame shape.  Whereas the original VW ones have a conical tip, my ones have a flatter tip.





I quickly made up a double-flare to check, and it seems to sit inside nicely.   However, there's less contact surface area, so I just want to double-check on here: will it still still give a satisfactory seal???

Here's a diagram of how they sit:




Cheers... 

[AudiA8Quattro]

The male flange you made should be fine, it is better to double flare it, to stop it cracking.
The shape will change when its compressed into the female flange.

[fishnchipsx2]

Nice one, I was thinking it'll shape itself into the female flange when done-up.

But surely double-flaring it will turn it into a female flange, such that it won't fit into my braided lines/compensator? Or are you just speaking generally? 

[AudiA8Quattro]

All the guides i have read suggest to do it that way. It won't turn into a female flange, it will just make the male flange stronger.
The best way to do it is to just make loads up, practice is everything.
As you said the male flange will shape itself when compressed into the female flange.

[fishnchipsx2]

Ok... I will pop off a flexi when I get the chance, I guess that's the best way to check if a double flare will fit... unless Ben can share some 1st-hand experience? 

[Ben Lessani]

I just (single) bubble flared mine - that's the VW way

[fishnchipsx2]

Cheers Ben (yet again), that's what I've gathered from reading.

http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=5rW-ppyB_ugC&pg=PA91&lpg=PA90&dq=bubble+vs+double+flaring&source=bl&ots=fbpBkjpEup&sig=Eqrz5HmzyBKAPJq3vox5f04NkRE&hl=en&ei=CTP7SqrpOcqe4QbF--2MAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=6&ved=0CBQQ6AEwBTge#v=onepage&q=&f=false.

Figure 4-15 shows it pretty well. 

I would think that cracked flares are more associated with steel lines than copper anyway...

[fishnchipsx2]

All finished - took a while at first, but by the end, the process of taking off old line, making up new one and putting it on took no time at all. 

Bled out the rears, adjusted the bias valve (stretched spring) whilst I was at it, and got the o/s handbrake working with a little penetrating oil.

Took it for a little test drive round the car park, and was very pleased to find that it stops!

Thanks for the help everyone, big thumbs-up.