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Going to make a new set of brake lines for the 46 2 ton.

I have my dad's flaring set and I have made steel lines before. My question is there any problems when using stainless steel tubing stock to make SS brake lines?

Thank you, Jeffrey

It's just plain no fun to work with, and requires a very good flare tool. I've done it and it's not worth the effort.

Much better all around is copper nickel brake line, real easy to flare, bend, and extremely corrosion resistant.
It is now available at most auto parts stores and good prices can be found on eBay for example search for part number CNC425.

Grigg

Never heard of copper nickel brake lines. I'll google that.
Thanks, Jeffrey

Grigg,

Is there any negative regarding the Cu-Ni tubing (except that it does not look like steel)?

I have small rolls of at least three different outer diameters - it is a nice material to work with.

Interesting. I need to replace all the old steel brake lines on my project, and was considering stainless as well. I had never heard of copper nickel brake lines before. I guess if it's good enough for Audi, Porsche, Aston Martin and Volvo, it's good enough for my project too.

Thanks for the tip Grigg!

It has been used in Europe for many years and it stands up to their salted roads. I wouldn't consider stainless any more. I learned in school that we were supposed to be the new world and Europe the old world, but it seems like Europe is always a couple of decades ahead of us in technology.

Tim,
No negative that I can think of. I've been using it for fuel, oil, air, brake fluid, and pretty much anywhere I would have previously used a plain steel line or stainless steel line.
The color is a little off what you would expect to see on our trucks, I choose not to worry about that at all. Stainless would look wrong too...

It sure is easy to work with.

Grigg

Thanks to Grigg. I went online to research. I found out that they even have a plastic/poly coated steel line but did not like that stuff.

Then I went to my parts man and ordered a 50' x 1/4" roll of nickel copper line. I'll be making new lines Wednesday. Jeffrey

Make certain you are getting the correct copper nickel. I asked a shop to get me in copper nickel. They got me pure copper and it was only after I made all the lines and fitted and bled them that I noticed a CU mark on the line, looked up the type and they were pure copper, which will eventually work harden and crack, rarely, and after a very long time. So I had to start again.

The Cu-Ni certainly flares and bends easily. The only negative aspect I can think of is the materials flexibility. In heavy brush, the lower tubing applications (as along the rear axle) may catch and tear more easily than the more rigid steel or stainless steel. I just installed some Cu-Ni on an old beater firewood hauler...I will monitor for product durability.

Thanks, Paul,

Good observation. My limited knowledge is with A-D trucks - the brake line that crosses the rear axle is along the top of the rear axle housing, and is mostly inside frame rails elsewhere (except for rubber flex-lines to front wheels/dums).

so what diameter is the brake line and how much trouble is it to bend as in replacing all of the lines?

Thanks

Diameter depends on truck model, measure what it came with. Commonly 1/4" and 3/16", sometimes 5/16".

Not much trouble to bend, much can be done with bare hands, tighter bends will be easier with an appropriately sized tube bender.

It's not a hard job if you can get the old lines out without cutting them up (to use as patterns), it's a easy Saturday project.

Mike B

Sounds good. I did get the lines off and actually kept them.