Fuel/Brake Line Tubing STRAIGHTENER

[CamarosRus]

Have you had any experience using one of those tools/devices that starighten out new brake lines that have been bent 180 degrees inside of a box for shipping....

I may buy one if I cant borrow yours

Thanks in advance

Chuck Sharin
Auburn,WA

[Too Many Projects]

I lay those on a 4 ft piece of 1x4 board and SLOWLY, GENTLY push the ends down and work it all by hand. The mild steel is very pliable, but if you bend it quickly and go too far, it can work harden and be less agreeable to bend back. I, also, have a hand bender with the correct size wheel for the tubing that I use for any sign it will kink at the tightest curve at the center. Patience and care will get it as straight as it's going to be.

If you bought the stainless version, good luck with any method you use, as they don't bend easy and, in my experience, refuse to cooperate with getting very straight.

[olredalert]

Originally Posted by Too Many Projects

I lay those on a 4 ft piece of 1x4 board and SLOWLY, GENTLY push the ends down and work it all by hand. The mild steel is very pliable, but if you bend it quickly and go too far, it can work harden and be less agreeable to bend back. I, also, have a hand bender with the correct size wheel for the tubing that I use for any sign it will kink at the tightest curve at the center. Patience and care will get it as straight as it's going to be.

If you bought the stainless version, good luck with any method you use, as they don't bend easy and, in my experience, refuse to cooperate with getting very straight.

----With the small chance of any of our cars being in any bad weather it really surprises me that guys order stainless! The known problems with leaks alone would be enough for me not to go stainless....Bill S

[Too Many Projects]

Some of us are like Magpies... we like SHINY LOL. I did it once and won't ever again. I do have a hydraulic flare tool that shapes the stainless ends for a better seal.

[Lynn]

Guess I am in the minority here.
I purchased stainless for my Z/28. Did not have one leak.
Still look as good as the day they were installed.

[CamarosRus]

I did buy STAINLESS....as Im restoring a trailer queen /show car and "thought" the mild steel would tarnish...........

I'll have to check with my 2nd Gen LEGENDS Friends to see if anyone has had success with STAINLESS before I bail out and buy the Mild Steel from THE RIGHT STUFF !!!!!!

Evidently no one here has used one of those roller devices for straightening ...Hmmm!!

[Lynn]

I think Mitch has. That's what he meant by this: " I, also, have a hand bender with the correct size wheel for the tubing that I use for any sign it will kink at the tightest curve at the center. Patience and care will get it as straight as it's going to be."

For what it is worth, I did the same thing Mitch did to straighten out my SS brake line that came to me bent so it could fit in the shipping box. Just used the wheel as a caution, as I never saw any sign of it kinking.

My car will not be judged during my lifetime. So, I didn't bother to check on whether there would be deductions for SS brake and fuel lines.

[all_about_cars]

I have a straightener I've used for several years and wouldn't be without it. That's the only way to go with the coils of tubing whether mild steel,stainless or nicopp which is my favorite to work with. Nicopp is available in all sizes bends and flares easily and won't rust.

[L16pilot]

I've used stainless brake and fuel lines on several cars without issue. As mentioned, take your time un-bending and put a light coating of lithium grease between the flare and the nut. Once I started doing this, I haven't had any leaks. I'm on the east coast so even though my cars do not see bad weather, the humidity causes the hte zinc plating to oxidize.

[ban617]

I believe JEG’S sells a tube straightener ..