Morris Minor Owners Club

Just getting my Wolesley 9 inch brakes together and I'm going to replace the rusty steel brake pipes with copper ones. Can you please recommend a good tool (and give me a steer as to where I can get it) that forms the end of the pipe into the right shape? Thanks in advance, MikeN.

Well done getting these brakes Mike - you won't regret it! Don't use copper - too soft - you want Kunifer (copper/nickel/iron). I have a Draper pipe flaring tool and it works just fine. BUT - it is necessary to completely ignore the instructions that come with the beast - and just follow your nose. You also want one of the little pipe cutting things - to get a nice even end on the pipe - Pound City have them!There was a long thread on one of the Mini forums recently - lad couldn't get it to work for him - eventually he ignored the instructions and it worked !! Mine came from tool store, but probably Machine Mart etc - or just ask Draper!

Yeah, when I said copper I meant the alloy - couldn't thing of the name or the mix. Thanks for the tool advice. (I've painted the brakes Flame Red by the way, so anyone crawling under car will be struck by the difference!) Regards, MikeN.
Hang on though, its not a flare on the end , but rather a fold producing a sort of hollow button. Are we on the same wavelength?

Something like this Mike & BMC?

Draper

Lee

Just make sure it is a double flare, or it won't work properly.
John

A certain company from Rochdale whose name is synonymous with cold weather make two types. The cheaper one is rubbish, the expensive one is superb, but expensive!
Dave

Mine came from Machine Mart, and works OK. Comes with the pipe cutter too.

There are two types of flare depending what your are connecting to. The single flare looks like a button, then the double pushes it back on itself to look like a bell (ish)

It' s different ends for different applications. Look at the ones that come off, and copy them. And be sure to buy new fittings, re-using old ones is false economy!

Hello Mike,

if this is a one off, Automec do copper pipe kits for most cars so you can just buy that. If you prefer to have the versatility then just buy the materials. My flaring kit is made by Oakes which Automec supply and I've had it for years. It is an excellent tool and does both 3\16" and 1\4" which are the two sizes you may need.
Incidentally I have used nothing but pure copper pipe and brass fittings on all my cars for over twenty years, that and Silicone brake fluid.

Alec

For a one off pipe - the Minor spares people will sell a one off ( or a complete kit ), and nearly every local spares shop will be able to make a pipe for you.
I have never had my own flaring tool, as it doesn't save a lot of ££ compared to buying a complete kit, although for one off pipes (e.g. for LHD conversions done overnight ) I borrow a flaring tool and make my own.

Hello Ray,

certainly the reason I have one is not cost, but that I can make up a pipe at whatever time I need one, more relevant all those years ago when shops were shut on Sundays etc.

Alec

Exactly - very very handy tool to have for emergencies. Trubble is - others coming running to get pipes made up when they have their own emergency!! Copper pipe is said to work harden and crack if subject to vibration. Certainly a copper pipe I had on the front of my car (came with it) just snapped off when I tried to undo it. Kunifer is not expensive, doesn't rust and doesn't work harden. I bought several 6' coils of the stuff at an autojumble last year for £1 per coil! New fittings were 20p each.
beware if doing the rear brakes Mike - the rear axle connections are 3/8" whitworth thread, not the 3/8" unf of the front parts. Mix them up and it's a right kerfuffle.

Hello BMCE,

yes you are quite right, copper work hardens very quickly and does require about twice as many clips as steel pipe when installing it.

Alec

Thanks for all your help.
Have found a flaring tool up in the garage roof bought long ago and never used when I was hunting for something else! (Does this sort of thing happen to anyone else?) Anyway, your advice has helped me sort out my ideas and pointed me along the right path. Now to get on with it. Regards, MikeN.

Oh I know when I 'should' have a tool or a spare part from years back - trubble is finding it !!

Thanks for all your help.
Have found a flaring tool up in the garage roof bought long ago and never used when I was hunting for something else! (Does this sort of thing happen to anyone else?)

I only usually find parts / stuff I need after I've bought them again