Has anyone tried copper-nickel brake line?

[Geeshik]

I stumbled upon it tonight while looking for stainless brake line to repair my line on my Escort. I've heard that Volvo has used copper nickel (AKA CuNiFer) alloy lines on their cars since 1974 and that many Volvo mechanics have never had to replace a brake line. It doesn't break as easy as plain copper line, and while it isn't quite as tough as steel, it offers incredible corrosion resistance and is plenty tough for daily drivers, but not recommended for racing applications. Around here, we can get a 25 foot length for about $50.

How much is stainless line in comparison? No one carries it locally that I know of. Thoughts???

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

I just could not justify the cost of some fancy brake line. i can get 52" lengths of regular 3/16" tubing for about 5 bucks a length. Say they last 10 years atleast...pretty cheap.

 

[Geeshik]

Do they not salt the roads in Canada??? Steel lines last a while, but 10 years is pushing it here... I used to work on school buses with hydraulic brake lines and about every 2 years, they would need a main section of line replaced because it would start to leak or break. And did I mention that I hate working on brake lines? It seems worth it to me if it means i'd never have to worry about it again. Especially if it improves safety and helps you sleep a little better at night.

 

[martin]

Unless every other part is made of the same material there will be corrosion damage somewhere.

 

[pwrranger88]

i used it on my truck and it lasted for about a year before it rusted through

 

[Sasquatch_Ryda]

My 91 has the origional hard brake lines on it since 1991. The only one that was replaced is the one that goes from the drivers side front flex line to the passenger side. It got caught on something wheeling and tore it off a couple years ago.

 

[TRX501RYAN]

Just redid all my break lines when i did my lift, the hard line from the front to rear was pretty rough looking, and it had been replaced once, the front, i could not tell weather they were replaced, but i bought 25ft roll and had enough to do everything, i bought some stuff from napa, 25$ for the roll, and it has some type of black silicon type coatiing on it that is suppose to help against corrosion so i tried it, we will see how it lasts.

 

[AllanD]

when I did the massive overhaul of my Ranger I replaced all the hardlines
with stainless steel line.
They are all still shiny.

Even the one that runs along the frame behind the fuel tank that always rusted out.

summit sells 3/16" stainless hardline.
They sell it in a 25foot coil

They sell the nuts seperatly.

I hope you can cut and flare it yourself...

As for Cu-Ni line?

Not only no, hell no.

The line Volvo (and Saab) use isn't Cu-Ni it Cu & Ni PLATED
and it does seem to improve the situation, but saab takes the same stuff and coats it with plastic in addition to the plating.


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