Single Flared Brake Line

[RangerFabWorks]

Uncle gump. I agree a double flare is Better. But a single flare is adequate if you are careful and know what you’re doing. Single flares is what car manufacturers did for years and years.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I will agree with one thing you said... "double flare is better"

That is the reason the auto manufactures have been using it for the last 6... 7 decades.

What was the last year a vehicle rolled off an assembly line with a single flared brake line?

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I will agree with one thing you said... "double flare is better"

That is the reason the auto manufactures have been using it for the last 6... 7 decades.

What was the last year a vehicle rolled off an assembly line with a single flared brake line?

My 77 LTD II had single flare IIRC. Unless it had been changed already once.

 

[Uncle Gump]

no way...

 

[rusty ol ranger]

Rusty... love you man

But this is one of the dumbest things I've seen you post... sorry

I will stick with my statement..

A single flare on a brake line is an accident waiting to happen. I will modify it to say that it is not a matter of if it will fail but a matter of when it will fail. Chances are... it will happen at the worst possible moment in time.

Ill be honest with you, ive had brakes fail so often it dont even bother me anymore.

Last one i had blow was on my 77. Rear one over the axle. I just downshifted to get it stopped anf was extra careful till i got it the 15 mi back to the shop where i pinched off the broke line and ran it another 4 months.

If your careful and attentive enough and willing to make a sacrifice if need be youd be surprised what you can get away with.

Not that im condoneing it, and rest assured that if it came down to me or someone else in a bad situation due to my own stupidity, i would do the honorable thing and take the tree.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

no way...

Yep.

I almost wanna say my 77 F250 was to.

 

[Uncle Gump]

I can't seem to find a date... but my guess is there wasn't any single flared brake lines pre WWII.

Not just no way... But no f---ing way.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I agree with gump. I've worked on vehicle brakes lines from the 60's up. All had double flares. They also had separated front and rear brake systems, except for my 54 truck.

Because of the separated front and rear there will still be usable brakes if the line blows out. And being the front is what will be left there will be about 70% braking power left. That is why I feel that he has time to wait to do it right.
He also has the e-brakes to use if needed.

 

[JOLENE_THE_RANGER]

ARrmy Navy fittings (AN) are single flare. they work amazingly. if youve got a single flare going into a fitting intended for a double flare, id roll with it carefully till you can change it preferrably sooner rather than later. keep in mind if that line lets go you will have 0 breaking front and rear.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

ARrmy Navy fittings (AN) are single flare. they work amazingly. if youve got a single flare going into a fitting intended for a double flare, id roll with it carefully till you can change it preferrably sooner rather than later. keep in mind if that line lets go you will have 0 breaking front and rear.

Why would there be 0 braking front and rear? That is not how I understand the system to work. Plus I have personal experience with blown brake lines, the pedal sinks but there is still brakes at the bottom of the pedal travel.There are 2 seperate brake systems packaged in the master cylinder, a front and a rear. Or has that changed since cast iron masters?
Now if you were talking about my 54, I would agree that you would lose all braking except for e-brakes.

 

[adsm08]

Well, the question is moot now.

Dogs got me up at 0400 this morning, and I was awake, so I decided to use my extra hour today to go make a new line.

 

[19Walt93]

Since you're a technician and know better if you have an accident caused by that flare leaking you could be held liable and a lawyer would crucify you. I'd fix it properly as soon as you can just to CYA. For decades I would advise customers about repairs they needed to do in the future and they'd usually get them done eventually. On my own vehicles if I know something isn't 100% and decide to wait it always bites me in the a$$ or fails when I don't have time to deal with it. Copper should never be used for brake lines and wouldn't pass inspection in NH or Vt.

 

[19Walt93]

Fords had double flare brake lines in the 70's, I was there.

 

[adsm08]

Copper should never be used for brake lines and wouldn't pass inspection in NH or Vt.

It's not straight copper. Its a nickel copper alloy, and it is DOT rated for use in brake systems. I use it on everything.

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

Since you're a technician and know better if you have an accident caused by that flare leaking you could be held liable and a lawyer would crucify you. I'd fix it properly as soon as you can just to CYA. For decades I would advise customers about repairs they needed to do in the future and they'd usually get them done eventually. On my own vehicles if I know something isn't 100% and decide to wait it always bites me in the a$$ or fails when I don't have time to deal with it. Copper should never be used for brake lines and wouldn't pass inspection in NH or Vt.

Good point on liability.

The person talking about copper was talking about nickle/copper. Its been out for awhile. Never used it (can't afford it) but hear its very easy to work with.