I need to double-flare one end of a 1/4 inch steel brake line. My first attempt using an Autozone loaner was a disaster. I couldn't get the tool to hold onto the tube tight enough. It just kept pushing it down on the first flare. So far I haven't found any shop that wil do it for me. Is there any tricks to this?

It's really pretty simple, if you have a quality flaring tool - the one you borrowed probaby has the gripper teeth inside the jaws pretty well worn down. The best flaring tools (single, double, SAE 45 and AN 37) are made by Imperial-Eastman - I've had them for years, and they really do the job. Try this link:

http://www.gateway-supply.com/IMPER009.HTM


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JohnZ
CRG
'69 Z28 Fathom Green

If this is possible, use hydraulic-service steel tubing instead of the stock, thin wall stuff. That can be single flared and be as strong as a thin-wall, double flare connection.

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1969 Base Camaro
Vortec 355, Perf. RPM, Demon Carb., TH-400
All sheetmetal is NOS GM
See my NEW webpage at: http://www.geocities.com/compuboy007/

Thanks for the tips. The tool I borrowed looked brand new, the guy didn't think they had loaned that one out yet. It was a metric but it had one hole for 1/4" so we thought it would work. I may try another tool if I can't find a shop that will do it for me. I've also contacted that place in Ohio for a quote on an Eastman.

This may be a stupid question, but is there such a thing as metric brake lines?
I thought that metric stuff was 1/4 5/16 etc but with metric threads.
I'm concerned about this because I have an awesome snap-on flare set that works great, and I need to convert all my brake lines to metric fittings for my ZR1/Z28 brake conversion.

You may need to put the tubing clamp partially into the jaws of a bench vise to keep the tubing from sliding. Maybe a couple of C-clamps on the clamp, instead.

Try using a box end wrench to crank down the wing nuts.

I used a big set of channel locks to tighten the wing nuts. Next try I put it in my vice which did hold it but the first flare was all screwed up.
Fortunately I found a truck repair place today that did it in a big hydralic press in a couple seconds for $2.50. If I ever do this conversion again I know just where to go. I told him what I was doing it for and he said I've done a lot of those. Forget the $65 set of lines from D&R.
Whooohooo

At least in Calif. - vehicle code requires "brake line tubing" to be "double -flared" at all terminations.
Don't know if there are any excemptions - but I couldn't find them.