My van has failed its MOT today on a corroded brake line. It is around 6
foot long, and is rather tortuous in its path, so much so, that I'm not
sure if it is possible to replace it without dismantling anything that
is bolted on that side of the van.
A thought occured, could braided flexible lines, as used on motorcycles,
be used in place of this length of copper pipe?

If not, what is the best course of action to replace the pipe?
Take old one off, get a pattern made?
Cut it, if needed into 2 or 3 bits, then have joints at the breaks to
get it in place when re-fitting?
Or go and buy a flaring kit, and bender and DIY in situ by cutting out
the corroded 3 foot of the pipe?

Thanks for any thoughts.
Alan. 

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A.Lee wrote:
> My van has failed its MOT today on a corroded brake line. It is around 6
> foot long, and is rather tortuous in its path, so much so, that I'm not
> sure if it is possible to replace it without dismantling anything that
> is bolted on that side of the van.
> A thought occured, could braided flexible lines, as used on motorcycles,
> be used in place of this length of copper pipe?
> 
> If not, what is the best course of action to replace the pipe?
> Take old one off, get a pattern made?
> Cut it, if needed into 2 or 3 bits, then have joints at the breaks to
> get it in place when re-fitting?
> Or go and buy a flaring kit, and bender and DIY in situ by cutting out
> the corroded 3 foot of the pipe?
> 
> Thanks for any thoughts.
> Alan. 
> 
wire brush it.

Invariably 99% of failures i've had with 'corroded' brake pipes pass 
after you have brushed the 'corrosion' off...

On Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:13:17 -0000, A.Lee <alan@darkroom.+.com> wrote:

> My van has failed its MOT today on a corroded brake line. It is around 6
> foot long, and is rather tortuous in its path, so much so, that I'm not
> sure if it is possible to replace it without dismantling anything that
> is bolted on that side of the van.
> A thought occured, could braided flexible lines, as used on motorcycles,
> be used in place of this length of copper pipe?
>

Yes, but it'll be expensive & springier

> If not, what is the best course of action to replace the pipe?
> Take old one off, get a pattern made?
> Cut it, if needed into 2 or 3 bits, then have joints at the breaks to
> get it in place when re-fitting?
> Or go and buy a flaring kit, and bender and DIY in situ by cutting out
> the corroded 3 foot of the pipe?
>

That's how I do it.

> Thanks for any thoughts.
> Alan.
>

Conor wrote:
> In article , Miike G says...
> 
>> Cupro-nickel brake pipes, such as Kunifer, also don't corrode, and don't 
>> suffer from age hardening or cracking.
>> Mike. .
> 
> And Cupro Nickel are commonly referred to as copper due to their 
> colour.....

Kunifer I have no problem using. Copper I would never use.

-- 
Pete M - OMF#9

'62 Rover P4 100
'61 Rover P5 3 litre
'78 Escort 1300 Sport
'99 Audi A6 V6 Quattro Avant


"It's an Alfa, it will go wrong, it will piss you off, why should your 
Alfa experience be different from everyone else's.
Now get back out there and swear at it before something else breaks."