This material is a big improvement over steel lines. I don’t think I’m ever going back.
I bought a 25′ reel of 3/16″ from an Amazon seller, along with a ten-pack of 10mm (VW) flare nut fittings. I know, I know, should have bought 11mm (BMW) fittings instead. No big deal either way, it’s easy enough to swap them out. Once you bend a line for this new material you will never go back to steel. I suspect these lines will be far more resistant to corrosion, although that remains to be seen.
On to the pictures!
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- Here’s the replacement line
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- Don’t forget the proper flare nuts, these are BMW 10mm double-bubble types.
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- E30 rear brake caliper with new stainless hose.
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- I carefully removed the old line from the semi-trailing arm.
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- Here’s my crude flaring tool, these are cheap to rent.
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- More tools you’ll need. The bender is necessary for steel.
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- Rotary tubing cutter makes pretty short work of the 3/16″ ilne.
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- Almost there!
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- Be sure to file it smooth and ream if necessary. The flaring tool must have a clear line.
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- Don’t forget to slide the nuts on before you flare the line!
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- Line properly clamped into the bar, forming die in place, creating the bubble flare.
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- Here’s the new ‘double-bubble’ flare.
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- The line is now installed, with a new braided stainless hose.
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- Here’s a view from the rear of the car. You can see the new line snaking along the suspension arm.
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- One down, two or three more to go.
