Rear brake pipes - the full monty

[catflem]

I'm going to have to replace the rear brake pipe and hose (passenger side) on my 1999 tdi from the abs pump all the way through to the caliper.

Having never made up[ brake pipes from scratch I've had a quick search of the forum and would be grateful if you could confirm the following parts are what is needed.

I intend to buy a 25ft length of brake pipe from Halfords

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/s...egoryId_255228

I'll also need the unions to connect the pipe to the rear flexi hose and caliper - but I believe I have to re-use the union from the car for the abs pump......... luckily its the only union that wasn't completely rounded off !

http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/s...atalogId=10151

I also intend to pick up a rear brake hose from Eurocarparts
http://www.eurocarparts.com/ecp/c/Vo...82902d1&000030


Presumably these should all be compatible with each other, and apart from the abs union everything else is standard.

Cheers

[hjdlatd]

You will of course also need a brake pipe flaring kit.

[catflem]

Originally Posted by hjdlatd

You will of course also need a brake pipe flaring kit.

Yep, got that covered - I'll be loaning one from a mate.

[Galaxie390]

Hi,

Make sure you double flare the pipe. Sounds obvious, but I've seen some not bother to do this.......I won't be getting in those cars !

Cheers,

Rich

[catflem]

Thanks for the heads up Rich - I'll be doing plenty of reading up on the techniques involved, and will be practicing on the old pipe before I start on the new pipe.

I went to my mates house to pick up his brake flaring kit, only to find that he's lost the 3/8ths die !. So I popped along to my local car spares shop and as I was about to buy myself a new kit I casually mentioned my mates missing die........ when lo and behold, they had a spare die available :-).

[timpy]

Use a good quality brake pipe spanner. I did some rear pipes and flexi on my 850, needed to as RHR caliper connection wouldn't undo. I ended up rounding it off, then chewed up the connection on the flexi before I got a proper spanner, I ended up with a snap-on brake spanner second hand from e-bay that did the rest no problem. I think it was 11mm rather than 3/8 though but it was perfect

Tha caliper connection I chewed up I never got undone even off the car, fortunately the caliper was scrap anyway.

I got my brake pipes made up at a local motor factors with flares and fittings. Took the old ones in and they used them for length, but I bent them to shape.

Good luck with it.

What's a double flare by the way and how do you spot it? The ones I fitted had ends made identical to the ones that came off which I deemed to be good enough. They were also properly de-burred, I have seen replacement pipes with sharp bits around the opening after flaring.

[catflem]

Originally Posted by timpy

Use a good quality brake pipe spanner. I did some rear pipes and flexi on my 850, needed to as RHR caliper connection wouldn't undo. I ended up rounding it off, then chewed up the connection on the flexi before I got a proper spanner, I ended up with a snap-on brake spanner second hand from e-bay that did the rest no problem. I think it was 11mm rather than 3/8 though but it was perfect

Tha caliper connection I chewed up I never got undone even off the car, fortunately the caliper was scrap anyway.

I got my brake pipes made up at a local motor factors with flares and fittings. Took the old ones in and they used them for length, but I bent them to shape.

Good luck with it.

What's a double flare by the way and how do you spot it? The ones I fitted had ends made identical to the ones that came off which I deemed to be good enough. They were also properly de-burred, I have seen replacement pipes with sharp bits around the opening after flaring.

Every joint was completely fubarred (someone had obviously had a pop at it before) so I've had to go back all the way to the abs union as that was the only one that was undoable even with a flared brake spanner.

The nearest car factors who are able to make up brake lines are 45 miles away and want £3.50 per foot !. As its the rear break line that would work out at about £35 to £40 - so I thought sod em, I'll do it myself.

I've assembled most of the bits and pieces needed, I'm just awaiting the arrival of the flexible hose today before I venture out and set about it.

There's a handy video on You tube I'll be following - I will be using some lube though (on the pipe I hasten to add :-) ). He explains how to do a double flare.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNePrGR1D-s

[weedeno belfast]

euro carparts have all the stuff you will need and should be a more competive price (if halfords stuff is cheaper tell him) they will drop prices to get custom just a hint always cheak the uinions screw in to each end and get copper pipe not kuinfer it is a bi*** to bend copper is easy and just give them a coat of black to stop the pipes from goin that god awful green coulour gd luck and take your time you will be fine