Need some help flaring brake lines.

[nighthawk15]

Ok, well my ABS controller started leaking so I decided it was time to get rid of my ABS and replace it with a proportioning valve + a line lock. I got a nice kit to do so and have it mostly all put together except for one problem.....I can't get a decent flare for anything. I have no idea why. I've tried 2 different flare tools, one from autozone and one that came with the kit and I always have the little button crawl off to the side on me. If anybody has experience with this stuff and would be up for coming over to help out I would appreciate it and would be very willing to pay. Trying to get out to the drags + the Millwood car show this weekend so this sucks pretty bad.

Here's what I've been doing for prep work:


cut the line with a dremel
put it in the flare tool backwards and file down the end to make it straight.
deburr/get the junk out of the inside with a utility knife
bevel the outside with a file

[ntrcptr90]

I would def get a tubing cutter and find a quality flare tool, those have been the two biggest differences i see there.

[nighthawk15]

Well I borrowed a nice tool from some cool ass guys at a shop down the road from me and it appars to have fixed my problem! If any of ya'll are out at the drags this Friday you'll probably see me assuming i don't have leaks pop up while I'm bleeding the brakes but it appears ok *so far*. I have a black 97 Camaro Z28 with dumped duals and chrome 01-02 Z28 wheels (really gotta upgrade those:rolleyes:).

[Jetblack]

Good job on getting it going. I hate jobs like that. Pulling out hair, cursing until the grass around my car dies....

[nighthawk15]

Oh man I hear ya. This was damn terrible, LOL. Especially the part where I hoped what I had done was "good enough" and put it all together only to find EVERY FITTING LEAKING. Its not even a complicated install. If you know what you're doing it can be done in a couple hours. But if you're just kinda winging it....oh man its a PITA, especially if you're trying to use shitty tools like I was. I spent probably 5 hours combined over a few days practicing flares and I just couldn't get even a passable flare with it. I grabbed the other tool and didn't have to redo a single flare. Not so far anyway. I'll have a second person to help me bleed the brakes tomorrow and well see how it does after I romp on it a little.

[nighthawk15]

ok, the terribleness (is that a word?) of the project goes on. I got the system under some pressure and its leaking again, just not half as bad this time. Just enough to put a droplet under each tube nut. I'm wondering if this could be from the T fittings being deformed from my crooked ass flares the first time around.

[talntid]

Pics of said flares and T's and stuff?

[BlackMagic]

Are you double flaring the ends? What type of tubing are you using?

Prep is very important when flaring the line ends. You need to cut the tubing with a tubing cutter (NOT A DREMEL) and then remove the burrs on the inside and outside of the tube. If your using an aluminum line you will need to double flare, if your using stainless you should single flare.

If you do this right and follow the procedure for flaring you should not have any issues.

[nighthawk15]

Pics of said flares and T's and stuff?

well im going outside now to drain the master cylinder and take it back apart so I'll put some pics up ASAP.

Are you double flaring the ends? What type of tubing are you using?

Prep is very important when flaring the line ends. You need to cut the tubing with a tubing cutter (NOT A DREMEL) and then remove the burrs on the inside and outside of the tube. If your using an aluminum line you will need to double flare, if your using stainless you should single flare.

If you do this right and follow the procedure for flaring you should not have any issues.

My flares the first time around were TERRIBLE. I'm not sure how I ever thought they would seal. So it wouldn't be surprising at all to me if the rendered my T fittings useless.

edit: update. I managed to crank down a bit more on the nuts and it seems to be holding fluid so far. Off to bleed the brakes. W0000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000T!! !!!!!!!!