Brake line flares

[SHOZ123]

I have the double flare kit and if I use it without going to the complete double flare the look of the actual completed flare is close to the OEM stuff. I think the OEM flares are actually bubble flares?

Anyway if I do the half double flare the diameter of the finished flare is smaller due to the die that is used of the 3/16" line. Is this sufficient to make a good seal?

If I get the stem on the 1/4" die milled down to 3/16" then that die would be very close to the OEM flare diameter.

Well I guess I could just get a bubble flare kit. Summit has them for the cheap I see.

 

[bacernate]

I bought mine at napa for about 45 bucks. Most late model cars use bubble flares around the master cylinder and abs pumps, usually double flares at the ends by the brake hoses.

 

[SHOZ123]

I've got all the lines off the '96 and in the garage. They are all bubble flares. FWIW

$22 for the OTC bubble flare kit at Summit.

I should add the fittings are two different sizes. 8 and 10mm with the same thread pitch. The hex size is all the same though.

 

[Ict_Lx]

I've got all the lines off the '96 and in the garage. They are all bubble flares. FWIW

$22 for the OTC bubble flare kit at Summit.

I should add the fittings are two different sizes. 8 and 10mm with the same thread pitch. The hex size is all the same though.

Do you know the thread pitch for the fittings? I will be tackling this project in a couple weeks. I don't know the condition of my original fittings so I may as well replace them. I'm using that same theory on a lot of the stuff on the 98'. Rust rust everywhere...

 

[SHOZ123]

No I don't. But the old fittings should be reusable. As long as you use a flare nut wrench and apply a little bit of heat to the fitting before you take it off. I've not had a problem taking the brake fittings off doing this.

I'm guessing a .75 pitch but have heard they are unobtainium.

 

[Ict_Lx]

I was just planning on cutting the line and removing before the flare...guess I'll see how it goes. I need to get on summit and get the bubble flare kit.

 

[RStalveyARFF]

Paul, I don't know how many brake lines you're doing, but for $75 you can buy the front to rear main lines from Ford. I would assume you can do the same for the individual pieces. My dealer keeps 3 on hand at any given point.

 

[SHOZ123]

I plan on replacing all of them for the most part. I already have a 25' coil of plastic coated line.

 

[1995mtxsho]

The trick to the Bubble flare is to use a double flaring tool, but differently than you would to make a doble flare.

On the clamp bar there is a side that the holes are bevelled and on the other they are not. You would use the NON-bevelled side.

Also, to get the correct diameter bubble flare, you would use the die as you would a double flare to measure the protrusion of the line in the clamp, for the bubble flare you would double that length.

The kit I used (from AutoZone) had a step in the die that you make flush with the protruded end of the line and I just doubled the protrusion to make the bubble the correct diameter.

I just ran new lines from the Block in front to the proportioning valve in back using this meathod on my 99 SLO. Works perfectly, the first time, every time.

EDIT: Also, in the front on the block, there are indeed two different diameter flare nuts. They are metric, but the bubble diameter is the same for both.

 

[SHOZ123]

The double flare set I have, from Harbor Freight, will not let the you make the bubble bigger than the die that fits the line. It is about half the size of the OEM flare.

 

[1995mtxsho]

The double flare set I have, from Harbor Freight, will not let the you make the bubble bigger than the die that fits the line. It is about half the size of the OEM flare.

Ok two things are happening that limits the size of your flares.
1. You dont have a long enough area to crush to allow for a larger flare.
2. The bevel in the clamp block will not allow the flare to conform to the 90 degree crush that the fitting reqires, that also reduces the ammount of length that can be expanded to make a larger diameter flare.

If yours looks like this, I know for fact it can be done.

Again, to get the larger diameter bubble flare you have to let the line protrude further than you would if you were making a double flare.



You also NEED to use the NON-bevelled side of the clamp block!

I know this works, I have done it. Try before you doubt.