Stainless Brake Lines

[amcordo]

Hello,

I'm looking for some brake lines for my S3 that are rust-resistant. I don't want to fabricate them myself; I'd rather go with the a kit like our host offers, except I don't think that's made from a metal that won't turn to splinters in a decade of salty conditions. (Les or whoever feel free to let me know if you use an alloy that wont).

Does anyone know of a source for a S3, 109 brake line kit that fits my aspirations?

[disco2hse]

I would imagine that solid stainless steel pipes would be prone to working hardening and stress fracturing

This is the same reason copper is not allowed in this country.

[amcordo]

It doesn't have to be stainless steel - any alloy is fine with me, I just want to avoid what I've discovered happened to all of the ten year old brake lines that were on the machine.

[SafeAirOne]

CuNifer lines are the way to go. Copper/Nickel alloy. Mine have been installed for...at least the 9 years I've owned my 109 and for some time before that. I drive it 5 days a week in the NH winter. All the lines are still perfect.

Federal Hill sells the stuff. So does NAPA, but FedHill will rent you a great flaring tool with the correct flaring apparatus for the old Rovers.

[Apis Mellifera]

I'll second Kunifer brake pipes. When I re-framed my SIII, I bought a kit from Trevor. Easy. I've also fabbed Kunifer pipes for the last MG I restored. Easy to work too. I'll never use anything else. Don't use copper or stainless. Stainless is especially pron to work hardening.

[SafeAirOne]

I wonder if our hosts sell the alloy brake lines. I don't remember seeing them, but I never specifically looked, either.

[I Leak Oil]

Stainless lines are fine but expensive and too shiny for a rover. CuNiFe lines are easy to work with and you can get the tubing at NAPA. They will cost less and will last plenty long enough. No special flaring needed either.

[Apis Mellifera]

He said he doesn't want to fab the pipes which is why I didn't recommend stainless. Unless he's buying pre-bent (not sure I've seen a kit for a Series), any kit you buy will need to be uncoiled and shaped. The more stainless is bent, to more it resists bending, if that's a concern, OP. Trevor is the only place I could find a LHD S3 Kunifer brake pipe kit. It's made by Automec and he has a kit for virtually every iteration of Series trucks, including a S3 109.

[TedW]

He said he doesn't want to fab the pipes which is why I didn't recommend stainless. Unless he's buying pre-bent (not sure I've seen a kit for a Series), any kit you buy will need to be uncoiled and shaped. The more stainless is bent, to more it resists bending, if that's a concern, OP. Trevor is the only place I could find a LHD S3 Kunifer brake pipe kit. It's made by Automec and he has a kit for virtually every iteration of Series trucks, including a S3 109.

The Automec kit is terrific, in my view. Every piece is precut, flared and labeled. One caveat: I did notice that some pieces were too long, and needed to be cut (and flared) to fit properly.

Ted

[I Leak Oil]

I haven't bought a pre-made pipe yet that isn't too long or too short to fit nicely. Some haven't even had the correct flare on them.