congo181 · Sep 9, 2021

Some of the brake pipes on my ‘87 110 need replacing.
Should I:
A) buy individual made-up pipes as required
B) buy an Automec pipe set
C) buy a set of brake pipe tools and make my own.

C) would be my preferred option but how much do I need to spend to get Tools that are going to work.

110tim · Sep 9, 2021

when I did mine many years ago I used a Sealey brake pipe flaring tool and cupro nickle pipe, was easy enough to do, put some anti seize paste on the fittings but keep it out of the pipework, you will need to know whether the set up is metric or imperial if you are going to change the cap nuts

congo181 · Sep 9, 2021

110tim said:
when I did mine many years ago I used a Sealey brake pipe flaring tool and cupro nickle pipe, was easy enough to do, put some anti seize paste on the fittings but keep it out of the pipework, you will need to know whether the set up is metric or imperial if you are going to change the cap nuts

Thanks Tim. I’ll look at the sealer kit. The Halfords looks kind of Ok too.
How would I find out if it’s metric or imperial? I thought that all the defender pipes were 3/16” with metric fittings but…

Flossie · Sep 9, 2021

An excellent tool is a shade under £40.
Fittings are, M10x1.
Pipe 3/16".
I can't for the life of me remember what the flare tool is called so I'll go search..

Flossie · Sep 9, 2021

flat · Sep 9, 2021

Flossie said:
An excellent tool is a shade under £40.
Fittings are, M10x1.
Pipe 3/16".
I can't for the life of me remember what the flare tool is called so I'll go search..

I think it’s called a ‘brake pipe flaring tool’

Make your own from cupronickel, also think about buying The straightening tool then you can dress the straight bits so they look really neat

congo181 · Sep 9, 2021

Flossie said:
An excellent tool is a shade under £40.
Fittings are, M10x1.
Pipe 3/16".
I can't for the life of me remember what the flare tool is called so I'll go search..

Thanks

Flossie said:
An excellent tool is a shade under £40.
Fittings are, M10x1.
Pipe 3/16".
I can't for the life of me remember what the flare tool is called so I'll go search..

Thanks Flossie

lynall · Sep 10, 2021

Make your own, it is a great skill to have
Always worth having 3/8 and metric fittings as you never what the previous owners gave been up to!
If old fittings are good I quite happily use them again.

dag019 · Sep 10, 2021

Definitly make your own. once you have the tools and some fitting and pipe on the shelf a potentially show stopping breakdown or broken pipe become and 20min job to rectify. Several times I have had pipes break trying to remove calipers (wheel bearing changes etc) and once I have the jack slip when removing the fuel tank on the 110 and crush the pipe on the rear axle. All would have been expensive and time consuming vehicle off the road instances, but instead just became an annoyance and 20min extra work.

Flossie · Sep 10, 2021

dag019 said:
Definitly make your own. once you have the tools and some fitting and pipe on the shelf a potentially show stopping breakdown or broken pipe become and 20min job to rectify. Several times I have had pipes break trying to remove calipers (wheel bearing changes etc) and once I have the jack slip when removing the fuel tank on the 110 and crush the pipe on the rear axle. All would have been expensive and time consuming vehicle off the road instances, but instead just became an annoyance and 20min extra work.

This^^^^^^
My 110 is my only transport, it's happened to me at least 6 times over the years, long walk to my nearest motor factors then a long walk back @ £15 a pipe soon woke me up but cheap and good flaring tools weren't easily available then.

dag019 · Sep 10, 2021

Flossie said:
This^^^^^^
My 110 is my only transport, it's happened to me at least 6 times over the years, long walk to my nearest motor factors then a long walk back @ £15 a pipe soon woke me up but cheap and good flaring tools weren't easily available then.

That is the same with me. 110 was my daily drive and I could not afford it to be off the road.

tottot · Sep 10, 2021

Been making my own brake pipes up for many years, one of the first diy jobs I learned. Get yourself a kit as above. Do not worry about making perfect bends in your new tube just ensure the ends are fitted correctly. The fine thread is easy to cross thread, put in by hand a couple of turns and even with a spanner little effort is needed to turn them in the rest of the way. Also make sure you have pipe secured to the axle/chassis

mick the builder · Sep 11, 2021

Flossie said:
View attachment 247657

That's the one I got. Cheap and simple. Came in handy when the wife's car failed mot on corroded brake pipes. Paid for itself. I also got a bending tool just to satisfy my ocd

congo181 · Sep 14, 2021

My pipe tool arrives today so I thought I’d give it a go. Sadly it doesn’t seem to be any good as the pipe clamp hole is not in the centre of the swager.
The formed end is always poorly made. Bah.

steve2286w · Sep 14, 2021

That’s**** send it back , I got one of these off the widow of mechanic who lived next door amongst other tools , it’s so easy just clamp in vice and gives good results , maybe not the quickest but it’s almost meditation doing it , I originally bought copper pipe but that goes a funny colour so recently bought copper nickel and replaced the earlier ones , used brass fittings too so,they don’t rust in place

Tenebreaux · Sep 14, 2021

This is the flare tool I have. Quality is excellent.

Amazon product

tottot · Sep 14, 2021

Just purchased a Draper 51762 DP brake flair set, the same as my old worn out one after 20 plus years use.

congo181 · Sep 14, 2021

tottot said:
Just purchased a Draper 51762 DP brake flair set, the same as my old worn out one after 20 plus years use.

Only suitable for soft copper and aluminium though. Kunifer is quite a lot harder than straight copper.

Tenebreaux · Sep 14, 2021

tottot said:
Just purchased a Draper 51762 DP brake flair set, the same as my old worn out one after 20 plus years use.

I have one of those anvil types, much prefer the handheld one.

lynall · Sep 15, 2021

steve2286w said:
That’s**** send it back , I got one of these off the widow of mechanic who lived next door amongst other tools , it’s so easy just clamp in vice and gives good results , maybe not the quickest but it’s almost meditation doing it , I originally bought copper pipe but that goes a funny colour so recently bought copper nickel and replaced the earlier ones , used brass fittings too so,they don’t rust in place

Copper brake pipes are banned in some countries, you want Kunifer.

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