How to Flare a Brake Line Repair

Brake lines contain the heavy loads that the master cylinder places on the brake caliper. High temperatures, vibration, age and impact can damage the copper and rubber brake lines and cause the lines to fail. Broken brake lines are easy to replace and repair. Damaged or broken copper tubing may have to be cut off and reflared for installation on the caliper. Copper flaring tools are used to flare the tubing so it will form a good seal on the caliper nipple.

Instructions

1

Cut the tubing off just above the damage. Ensure that the cut is square and clean before attempting to flare it. Slide the flare nut onto the tubing, up and out of the way.

2

Open up the flare clamp and clamp the tubing in the appropriately sized hole. Allow the tubing to protrude about 5/16 of an inch into the beveled portion of the clamp.

3

Install the flare cone over the hole in which the tubing is clamped. Tighten the flare cone screw until the cone bottoms out in the clamp with the copper forced into a flare shape.

4

Remove the flaring cone and clamp from the tubing. Slide the flare nut down to the flare's end and install it on the caliper. Tighten the nut firmly with a flare nut wrench.