kunifer brake pipes

[surfergirl]

Hi there,
Just been looking into kunifer brake pipes on the internet, as there was a post a while back about copper cracking in use, which made me think I should replace pipes with Kunifer as pipes need replacing on the van.
What most sites seem to say is that copper pipes that are sold now have a nickle content and are only called copper so as not to be sold as steel pipes. Kunifer or Cunifer seems to be a brand name.
Im going to email a few spares sites to see what they say, in the meantime what do other members think?
Also what about stainless steel pipes?

[Alec]

Hello Surfergirl,

try Automec who specialise in brake line components and kits. http://www.automec.co.uk/

Alec

[bmcecosse]

Yes - I think most 'copper' pipes are indeed kunifer these days - but always wise to ask the supplier. I imagine flaring stainless pipes will be a nightmare - and anyway - stainless and mild steel together give an electrolytic cell - and the mild steel rots away. Stainless is also likely to have stress cracking problems too - i've certainly never heard of it being used for car brake pipes.

[Alec]

Hello BMCE,

Automec, who I mentioned, sell both pure copper and Kunifer brake pipe and kits, the former being 20 gauge wall and the latter 22 gauge. It's well worth using the brass unions on these lines. For a one off the kits are the way to go.

I certainly wouldn't consider using stainless steel as it is hard to work with (I regularly use it in my work).

Alec

[Chris Edgar]

I believe that Kunifer is an alloy of copper/nickel/iron & that's how the name is derived.
I imagine that pure copper, although very malleable & ductile may be too soft & liable to be squashed flat very easily.

I made up a set of kunifer pipes back in the 80's for my Standard Ensign, very easy to work with & lasts indefinitely.

[hotrodder13]

my dads hotrod had stainless on before he changed it all for braided, they were on the car for 10 + years with no problems but when you take it off it destroys the ends of the pipe