Morris Minor Owners Club

Hi folks

I am currently replacing the entire braking system, as it is of indeterminate age, and beginning to display signs of unreliability. I have bought a copper pipe kit, but am aware that copper can fracture under prolonged use without adequate support. I plan on using the original steel tabs to hold the pipe in place, with a sleeve of polyurethane windscreen washer tube around the pipes to protect the copper from the steel.

The one area that concerns me slightly however is inside the chassis leg. There will be over 1 foot of unsupported pipe here, is this a potential problem area?

What does the team think?

Dom.

Sleeve it where it enters the leg and it should be fine. copper only work hardens where it flexes or moves. It shouldn't really move about here.

I fitted a rubber bung where it enters the leg.

I found the problem with the copper pipes that came on my car was that they fractured where the end had been formed on the pipe - one literally came away in my hand ! Hopefully the pipe is Kunifer which is by far the best material for brake pipes.

Copper needs to be clipped every 300mm to be safe. I would use Kunifer for the brake line that runs inside the chassis leg.

Aye - but if the forming of the end has over-worked the copper and it has not been annealed afterwards - then it's only a matter of time, no matter how much 'clipping'!

So why are the brake suppliers are allowed to sell copper pipe if in your opinion it is not FFP. I agree Kunifer is the prefered choice but a bit less scare mongering might be called for here. We have been using high quality Armtec copper pipe for over 14 years now and not experience any of the problems that you describe

I simply relate my personal experience on this matter. I replaced them all with kunifer - no further probs.

I've never had one fail during use there either, but I've only owned Mogs for 25 years or so, so I guess it might happen yet...

I understand this BM , but calling for the pipe to be annealed, fractures and over working the copper, seems quite extreme, and might well unsettle folk who are about to have this work done or who have just had it done.
Quite a few folk here regard what is said on this forum as gospel.

And I believe in telling it as it is - so my firm recommendation is for Kunifer and NOT copper! It doesn't cost any more - and it works!

Thanks for your help chaps - I decided after reading these messages, and others on different forums, to use kunifer after all. My supplier kindly agreed to take back the copper kit. I found a site for a manufacturer of kunifer kits, and it cost just £2 more than the copper kit from a major supplier! Their website is as follows:-
http://www.stevsonmotors.co.uk/brakepipekits.htm

Dom.

Thanks for the contact - noted. Kunifer pipes can be made at home - I have a roll of the stuff - they are slightly more difficult to make the ends, but certainly possible with the simple Draper kit, although the instructions with the kit have to be thrown away and then just use common sense, and a wee drop of brake fluid on the end to act as lubricant while forming the end.

I'm now in the process of fitting and bending these kunifer pipes. I've noticed that it doesn't take much bending for them to start hardening. Would it be wise to anneal them, so that they remain soft for working? If so, what is the best way to do this please? What sort of temperature - allow to cool naturally or quench in water?
Cheers chaps.

No - if kunifer they will be fine. But of course - don't 'work' them unnecessarily. I really don't know if you can anneal kunifer - don't think it work hardens significantly either.

Edit - Am I losing the place - or has some of this thread been 'deleted' ?

No, not lost - it all seems to be there still!
Thanks for the advice BM

Dom

Not that I'm aware of, no.

Ok - must be confused again !