"Master" Brake Line Question.....?
03-26-2006, 07:57 PM
#1
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
"Master" Brake Line Question.....?
At a car show this afternoon, a guy who supposedly was a retired auto designer, pointed out that I had a copper brake line coming out of the master cylinder on my car. (no power brakes). Said I'd better change it to SS before I kill myself. Guess the copper is supposed to deterioate (spelling?) over time and blow out?
Anybody ever heard of this before????
Anybody ever heard of this before????
03-26-2006, 08:01 PM
#2
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the stock ones were just steel and over time they can and will rust shut. I never heard of anyone using brass lines. most people replace them with S.S. steel lines
03-26-2006, 08:05 PM
#3
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
He was emphatic that mine was copper, not brass. Also, not only does it look like copper, there is no "green" residue that would be present if it were brass......
Copper tubing basically lasts forever in plumbing but maybe brake fluid eats at copper where water won't....
I've got no idea. I just don't want to push the brake pedal down and not have any brakes.
Just figured I ask you guys about it....
Copper tubing basically lasts forever in plumbing but maybe brake fluid eats at copper where water won't....
I've got no idea. I just don't want to push the brake pedal down and not have any brakes.
Just figured I ask you guys about it....
03-26-2006, 08:12 PM
#4
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Im sorry i said brass i ment to say copper. but I still never heard of anyone using copper
03-26-2006, 08:13 PM
#6
Race Director
Take a pic and post it up and we can make a better determination as to what you have. There are surprises everyday on these old vettes because Bubba was everywhere over the last 40 years.... I like the SS lines as they don't rust but some have mentioned that they've had problems sealing.. No problems here though over the last two years... Dave
03-26-2006, 08:28 PM
#7
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Originally Posted by Formula Outlaw
At a car show this afternoon, a guy who supposedly was a retired auto designer, pointed out that I had a copper brake line coming out of the master cylinder on my car. (no power brakes). Said I'd better change it to SS before I kill myself. Guess the copper is supposed to deterioate (spelling?) over time and blow out?
Anybody ever heard of this before????
Anybody ever heard of this before????
If your brake line is copper, the man told your right. Copper tubing that would be used for brake lines is soft and subject to flexing from vibration. The vibrations will work harden the copper and cause it to crack. Never use soft copper tubing for brake or fuel lines for this reason.
Put a magnet on it. If it sticks it's steel. If you replace it, I'd recommend steel tube available in the right length and pre-flared from many Corvette vendors.
03-26-2006, 10:11 PM
#9
Burning Brakes
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by stingrayl76
Formula,
Order or fabricate a new steel line ASAP. As MikeM said copper is susceptible to cracking. It should never be used for brake or fuel lines.
Order or fabricate a new steel line ASAP. As MikeM said copper is susceptible to cracking. It should never be used for brake or fuel lines.
Consider it done. Thanks guys.....
03-27-2006, 01:51 AM
#12
Safety Car
Most emphaticallyBrake line pressure will exceed the yield strength of copper tubing causing it to stretch and eventually burst.
High school buddy of mine used copper tubing when he converted his '36 Ford to hydraulic brakes. He was frequently adding brake fluid untill one day we noticed that the lines were about twice their original diameter.
