Bending brake lines tools

Whether you are building a new project or just replacing some worn out parts, brake lines have long been a source of frustration for DIY mechanics. There are two processes that create the headaches- flaring and bending. This article focuses on the task of bending brake lines and fuel lines.

The level of complexity depends on the length of line you are working with. Short lines are much easier to work with than long lines. Regardless, the process is the same. There are four types of hard line used for braking systems: steel, soft steel, stainless steel, and nickel-copper alloy. Steel — The most common type of hard line is galvanized mild steel.

This is what the factory uses for all of the brake lines. Steel is affordable, durable and easy to come by. The drawbacks are that steel rusts, and it is hard to bend. The rust is the biggest issue here. Brake fluid is extremely hygroscopic, meaning it absorbs water. Even though the system is sealed, there is still moisture available at the top of the reservoir. As the brake fluid ages, it becomes more and more saturated with water. Water and steel equals rust.

The absence of oxygen slows down the process, but not completely. This is what leads to ruined brake calipers and wheel cylinders. To fight this, the steel is galvanized. The issue of bending the brake lines can be overcome with bending tools, since steel tubing is not readily bent by hand. Soft steel — The more exotic tubing options are costly, whereas steel is cheap.

To protect against corrosion the steel is coated with Polyvinyl Fluoride PVF , which is a plastic coating, that is baked and cured to the steel line. Stainless steel — For the ultimate in hard lines, stainless steel is the solution. Stainless steel lines are impervious to rust, so they last forever. Great, problem solved. Hold on there buddy, stainless lines have a few drawbacks — namely, the cost. Stainless steel lines are expensive, three to four times more than regular steel lines.

Stainless steel hard lines are not too difficult to bend, but flaring them is. You need a really good flaring tool to make good quality double flares with stainless steel tubing.

For this very reason, we have put together a set of eleven different brake line benders that are fairly versatile in terms of application, features, and usage. Hopefully, you will be able to find your perfect fit in the midst of all these tools as well!

The Eastwood Brake Line forming tool is a three in one lean machine that you can use to adjust, alight, and bend your hard lines with a simple flick of the wrist.

Regardless of whether you are working on decreasing the radius of the bend or installing new hard lines, this will come in handy in any situation. The jagged jaws on the end of this tool allow you to grip hard lines with ease by working as pliers to make the chore less strenuous. Additionally, there are vinyl grips at the ends allow for a firm grip that is easier on your hands, especially if you are going to be using the brake line bender for an extended period of time because it prevents your hands from getting cramped up.

The best part is that you can use this brake line bender without having to worry about leaving imprints or kinks on the surface you are working on. This is a common concern with most standard pliers but not this one. View Features on Amazon. As our very first pick on this list, this brake line bender has proven itself a favorite among buyers all over the place, and we think you will agree as well once you get a hold of it! The Imperial Tool tube bender is truly in a league of its own, as evident by the name.

With quick action indexing levers forming the main components of the bender, it also has two separate stage handles that meet halfway during the bending process. The aforementioned features allow you to use the bender all the way up to degrees with minimal effort, which is both fitting in terms of functionality and reducing the effort or the strain that you have to put yourself through if you were doing the task by hand.

It offers a good range of bending radius that is more or less compatible with most tubing sizes in the market. The handles do not cross over either, which gives you a lot more control over the bending process, which bodes well for the task at hand.

The design of the tube bender is fairly compact as well, so you can use it in confined spaces as well.

Besides, there are cushion grips on the handles that provide the bender a lot more stability while it is in use. Overall you cannot really go wrong with the Imperial tube bender because it has all the fixings that make it a crowd favorite in our books and hopefully yours as well!

In case you were looking for something a bit more versatile in terms of application, the Flexzion is a pretty good bet. It allows you to bend tubing up to 90 degrees using only a fraction of the time and effort. With two precise open side design slips on either side, you have much more control over the bending process, so you end up with significantly more accurate bends.

The hook grips are fairly wide set and are designed ergonomically for optimal efficiency. It does come with a scale of sorts too, which is calibrated to indicate the degree to which you are bending a certain hard line. For short radius bends, you can even go as high as degrees and track your progress by looking at the markings.

As long as the shoe fits, the Flexion is a pretty handy tool to have around, especially if you tend to work with soft metal tubing on a regular basis. It can make up to degree bends in most metal tubing that has been manufactured from aluminum, steel, copper, and brass. The design is ergonomic with wide-set handles that make the bender very easy to handle. Having such a long lever definitely takes the strain off of your wrist as you set to work.

The whole thing itself is fairly lightweight and hence easy to carry anywhere. If you want a good two-in-one deal, then the Automotive Brake Line Pliers are the ones for you. The tube cutter components can be used to cut through several types of tubing. The tube cutter will work really well for softer metal tubing. However, it can be used for stainless steel, copper, nickel, aluminum, and well as the regular kind of steel.

For good measure, you can do some more research on the subject, so you get the most suitable tube cutter. For the most part, you are good to go with this automotive tubing bender and cutter, especially if you need it for small scale usage. The Lisle Tubing Bender Pliers has a very minimalistic design that goes a long way in showing how simpler is better. Since it has a pretty compact and slim design, it is easy to handle and takes up very little room.

This makes it ideal for use in tighter spaces that you may not have access to otherwise. The unique design at the head allows you to bend any kind of tubing while leaving it unscathed. The handles of the tubing bender are quite a wide set, about three and a quarter inches, to be exact. This large of a lever significantly reduces the effort you have to put in to bend brakes lines. It offers quite a bit of leverage when it comes to steel tubing as well. Besides reducing the effort it takes, you also get a much grip on the tubing at hand, which is great because it minimizes the strain and the time that it takes to get the job done.

I hope it will help you to take final decision for Best Brake Pipe Bender. Our team scanned reviews before putting any suggestions for the Brake Pipe Bender in this article.

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