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I know I’ve always been told never splice a brake line. The internet has a lot of videos of people repairing brake line with double flared compression fitting. Have things changed?
I know I’ve always been told never splice a brake line. The internet has a lot of videos of people repairing brake line with double flared compression fitting. Have things changed?
The brakes are an essential safety item.
I would not ever splice a brake line.
There are pre-flared lengths of brake tubing available.
Easy enough to bend and replace the line.
I think the other way. IF you know how to do use a double flare tool it shouldn't be a problem. I have done it a fair amount of times with no issues. But I would not do it for the first time on the line I want to keep. Practice on some old lines until you get the knack of it. It is a great skill to have especially with these old cars. And keep an eye on it for awhile to make sure it isn't leaking. When done right it works. Just my $.02.
I think the other way. IF you know how to do use a double flare tool it shouldn't be a problem. I have done it a fair amount of times with no issues. But I would not do it for the first time on the line I want to keep. Practice on some old lines until you get the knack of it. It is a great skill to have especially with these old cars. And keep an eye on it for awhile to make sure it isn't leaking. When done right it works. Just my $.02.
Yes he can do that with the tools and knowledge and it would be functional if it was a flare end.
In my mind I picture one of these fittings with bushings to seal. I think that was what he was wanting to do. Maybe I misunderstood.
Street Rat-- that is a compression fitting-- for SURE a big NO-NO on a brake system. Either a double flare (45*) or an AN Flare (37*) on a hydraulic system.
And as said before- it takes some practice to get the flare right. The tubing can crack during the flare operation and not be seen until later. Like when you really need the brakes to work.
I know I’ve always been told never splice a brake line. The internet has a lot of videos of people repairing brake line with double flared compression fitting. Have things changed?
"double flared compression fitting" is what throws everything off
Double flare brake fitting would be fine (if done right etc)
Compression fitting in any way shape or form, not on a brake line
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
there's plenty of splices in a stock system if you count the junction blocks. in the rear system if you count them there are 8 splices so dont worry about another junction. .
the proportioning valve
the junction block that splits the system to each wheel
the left wheel hard line
the left wheel soft line
the left wheel hard line to the caliper
the right wheel hard
the right wheel soft line
the right wheel hard line to the caliper
If you double flare it and add a junction block to splice a line its the same thing. Lets not get over dramatic here. Like its been stated, just practice a few times and you can do it pretty easily. Just get it right and get a good fitting to mate them together. Its a good skill to have. And dont skimp and try and save some time or money on a single flare system, it wont seal as good and brakes are there to keep you and everyone else alive. Think about the pedestrians your going to run over if you screw it up
On the other hand, as long as your system isnt a rusted mess, the lines are not to difficult to replace if you can get under the car. If they are a rusted mess, then maybe you should be replacing them anyways. I just bought a complete prebent stainless system from ebay that was very close to perfect. https://www.ebay.com/itm/1968-Corvet...72.m2749.l2649
There's plenty of splices in a stock system if you count the junction blocks.
If you double flare it and add a junction block to splice a line its the same thing. Let's not get over dramatic here. Like its been stated, just practice a few times and you can do it pretty easily. Just get it right and get a good fitting to mate them together. Its a good skill to have. And dont skimp and try and save some time or money on a single flare system, it wont seal as good and brakes are there to keep you and everyone else alive. Think about the pedestrians your going to run over if you screw it up
Living in the "snow belt", and back when I was younger, and barely had enough money to be able to afford a "good" car, one worth storing in the winter, I had a number of pretty shaky "winter beater" cars. And they all took a bit of work, to keep them running properly. Brake lines and fuel lines were both prone to rusting out, as well as being very important things that needed to be "right". As someone has previously mentioned, for "popular" older cars, pre-bent, made to fit, line kits are available. For the cars that I was driving, no such thing. Therefore, at least on the "front proportioning valve to rear junction block" line, I always had to make up a line from two pieces, using a "double flare union" in the middle of the line. Done properly, I never had an issue. It obviously wasn't "OE pretty", but it did work just fine....
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
those arent compression fittings, they are double lip seal junctions. You guys are amazing really. You think junction splices like this are a bad idea.
No. Junctions like that are the norm. Putting your own flare on a line is the bad idea. I believe the lines are hardened after the flare is done. I have also heard it is not legal to flare a brake line.
Not to beat a dead horse, I Can't ever recall hearing that lines are hardened after they are flared. Don't know that I would anticipate an expense like that from GM. Also, if this was such a dangerous or unlawful practice, I can't imagine any store selling double flare tools. As I said at the begining of this thread, IF you know what you are doing, there should be no problem. But I am just basing this on my experiences over 50 years, and not everyone shares those experiences.
I would splice the rear brake lines for a temporary repair. Since most of the braking is in the front . I would not do it on a single master or the front brakes.
I had a refrigerator fitting on my 71 when I purchased it. It had been there for a long time. It's been replaced.
A properly done repair will work and last, until you can replace the line.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
compression fittings are illegal in some states. Repairing or replacing a brake line with a double flare is not. You can buy brake line by the roll from any autoparts store to repair a brake line
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
you make no sense. A union in a line is a union. the rear end of a corvette has no less than 8 unions. One more is a danger? A fuel leak isnt dangerous? I'm not saying grab some duct tape and go for it. I've been looking at different sights all night and some say to use a compression union to limp home on... That i wouldnt do. but to repair a bad section of line with a union and a flare, its the same thing as the other 8 joints in the line
Last edited by Rescue Rogers; Apr 14, 2019 at 08:07 PM.
Putting your own flare on a line is the bad idea. I believe the lines are hardened after the flare is done. I have also heard it is not legal to flare a brake line.
This is false. You certainly wouldn’t want a flare to be hardened. It would be next to impossible to get it to seal. The most common way to replace a brake line is to use a roll of line, cut to length, bend to match, and make your own flares. I have done this many times on trucks that weigh 3 times as much as a corvette. I think you are thinking of compression fittings, which have a higher probability of failure.
2020 Corvette of the Year Finalist (performance mods)
2019 C3 of Year Winner (performance mods)
2016 C3 of Year Finalist
Stainless steel lines are pretty hard too. They are a pain to bend and seal as well. If the line was hardened you would have to use those copper washer seals on all the unions
Last edited by Rescue Rogers; Apr 14, 2019 at 08:10 PM.
Brake line splice
Not to beat a dead horse, I Can't ever recall hearing that lines are hardened after they are flared. Don't know that I would anticipate an expense like that from GM. Also, if this was such a dangerous or unlawful practice, I can't imagine any store selling double flare tools. As I said at the begining of this thread, IF you know what you are doing, there should be no problem. But I am just basing this on my experiences over 50 years, and not everyone shares those experiences.
