Thread: To double flare or not????

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Well, in the latest issue of Street Rodder magazine, an article on working with SS tubing this guy is double flaring SS tubing 37* and I thought that was kinda curious because I never heard/seen of this before.

Originally Posted by Hidebinder

Well, in the latest issue of Street Rodder magazine, an article on working with SS tubing this guy is double flaring SS tubing 37* and I thought that was kinda curious because I never heard/seen of this before.

Street Rodder Magazine is NOT always correct. It is written by humans and we make errors. Also, there are some folks who think they know more then design engineers, will try to do it incorrectly. SS is not made to double flare. It is too hard and will split if you try to double it over on itself. You need to use AN style fittings (or specialty fittings like Swage-lok or Parker). CS brake tubing is made to double flare and to use standard automotive fittings. But, it too will split if compressed too tightly at the bend.

An inexpensinve & safe alternative to steel brake lines are coppernickel.

This is NOT copper, and it don't bend heat (or what you call it) which is the big problem and the reason that copper is not allowed as brake fluid pipes.

Coppernickel can easily be double flared.

It would almost be cheaper to go with the stainless and Swagelok vs. using CuNi.

Here in Norway I pay 29$ for 5 meters (197") with 3/16" coppernicel pipe.

There are a lot of options for tubing fittings.You can use a Parker fitting that has a back-up piece that slides over the tube before you flare which reinforces it. I prefer either a Swagelock or Parker ferrule style fitting. They will both excede the required pressure ratings of a brake system and require no flaring. Also when purchasing tubing, make sure that the wall thickness is that which will excede the pressures found in the brake system.