Technical Copper-nickel brake lines

Doing brake lines and a transmission vacuum modulator line too -- when I asked for 40 inches of steel line to do the vacuum modulator they said they don't have steel - they just have the copper nickel. cut the fittings off and bent up my modulator line -- that stuff bends so easy ! I'm concerned that it might not be safe for brake line. Should I use what the local stores stock for brake line or hunt for the silver steel stuff that I used on past projects before this copper nickel stuff showed up on the scene ?

 

Bends easy, flares easy and doesn't rust. I can't think of any reason why I would ever go back to steel lines.

To answer your question, I use it for brake and fuel lines and will use it for trans cooler lines when I need to.

 

Use the nickel copper. Do some reading. it's better than steel.

 

NiCopp is rated for brake lines. I use it exclusively. I also use it for fuel lines. It flares and bends easily, and in my mind looks better than SS.

 

I’m replacing the tin coated steel lines for the third time on my old (not by HAMB standards) Chevy pickup. As I replace lines, I’m no longer using the steel crap. Everything will eventually be the CUNi stuff.

It’s pretty much all that’s sold here now.

 

Nickel Copper and Copper Nickel are TWO DIFFERENT materials.
NiCu has more nickel than copper and is harder. Looks a lot like stainless.
CuNi is more pliable than steel and more resistant to rust than steel. Brake lines of CuNi are a + all around.IMHO
6sally6

 

Copper nickel was introduced by Volvo and was exclusive to them for a long time. It’s all I use since I discovered it

 

Being in Minnesota over the winter for years, I lost the steel lines on my '99 F150 twice (one rear line and a year later the front) to rust. I replaced them with copper-nickel and would never go back. I think it looks better, too.

 

Thanks everybody -- I was just concerned it was too easy to bend and therefore might be too easy to split under pressure. I've always heard never use copper for brake or fuel line -- but until I started running these lines had never heard of copper-nickel -- always used steel in the past and now its hard to find, where the copper-nickel is in all the parts stores.

 

It does work harden reeeeaaaaal easy so make sure you get your bends right 1st time.

also use a proper pipe cutter at the ends not a cut off wheel, else you’ll have flares splitting all over

 

Can this stuff be annealed and re-worked?

 

I guess so, but it’s so cheap why bother

 

Been using it at the auto shop for brake line repairs for years, no complaints, easy and fast repairs. I also have it on my coupe.

 

I purchase it by the roll. Fittings are readily available so fabricating custom brake, fuel, vacuum, or transmission lines is no problem.

 

The stuff is amazing especially in the rust belt.. another handy thing is a Cal Van Tools inline flaring tool. You can flare lines easy with it if you have to tie into another line

 

Copper nickel is actually the best line you can use for all of your brake lines, fuel lines and everything else on your build. More durable than stainless because it won’t stress harden and crack like stainless will also if you rub it with a scotchbrite pad it looks really nice.
If you want to see the proper use of ni-cop for all sizes take a look at my build thread and see how I did it on
my 26 RPU.

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/26-t-roadster-pick-up-build-thread.460009/

 

Thanks for posting the link! Now I have something to binge on. I don't know how I missed this before... just getting old, I guess.

 

I used it with great success on two builds.
Available in different (12-60”) straight stick lengths with end nuts at Advanced Auto Parts
Very little waste, just bend and cut to length needed, re-flair one end and you’re done.
Except when you forget to put the nut back on!

Here are a couple 3/16” brake lines for my 41 pickup. M/cyl up and over to the frame RPV’s.

 

I used it on my brake lines, no issues. Be careful with the flares, they distort easily. Used on fuel lines too ! Good stuff

 

That's the only Brake and Fule lines that are approved in Europe!

 

I bought the Imperial Tubing benders one for each size of tubing I used for my project.
I also decided to buy the Eastwood Tubing flaring kit, by far the easiest and best tubing flaring tool I’ve ever used.
Makes flawless double flares easily.

 

Too bad they aren’t used by American Auto Manufacturers!

 

Yes Euro for a looong time. No negatives that I've ever heard...

Now the semi-retired teacher has a request... call it by it's proper name: CuNiFer. If you remember the periodic table this will make sense!

 

Works for me.

 

These have been used for over 40 years in the UK in the aftermarket. They need more clips to stop whiping and vibration causing fatigue issues but otherwise a great solution. There are technical reasons car makers use steel but I'm not going into that now.

 

Right! For anyone who doesn't know, the lines are copper,nickle,steel. Not just copper/nickle.

 

I agree with using copper nickel brake line material, but I only use the material from "Fed-Hill"
http://www.fedhillusa.com/#:~:text=...ositions that conventional brake lines cannot.
I would NOT use the "straight length" material from the franchise auto parts stores, it is made in China. There is a difference.
Tom

 

I don’t use anything else. Anywhere a hard line is used, this stuff is GREAT!

 

was a volvo master tech for 25-30 years we had cars with 400-500 thousand miles with original lines the only one i ever changed were due to the brass fitting rounding off trying to loosen it

 

They should make the whole cars out of this stuff!