Brake line repair

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

Wes P

Wes P

Junior Member
Joined
Dec 5, 2019
Posts
28
Reaction score
17
Location
Texas
First Name
Wes
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
C20
Engine Size
406
Does anyone else have feedback about using compression fittings to join brake lines in the middle? Is it a common repair? Is anyone using one on their own vehicle?
 
AuroraGirl

AuroraGirl

Full Access Member
Joined
Sep 8, 2019
Posts
9,206
Reaction score
6,186
Location
Northern Wisconsin
First Name
Taylor
Truck Year
1978, 1980
Truck Model
K10, K25
Engine Size
400(?), 350
Just because of the shock of Pressure in brake lines, vibration, etc, i would be cautious with using compression fittings. I would, in my own personal car, trust it if i went back and made sure was still tight, and use thread locker
 
R

Ricko1966

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 11, 2017
Posts
4,055
Reaction score
5,891
Location
kansas
First Name
Rick
Truck Year
1975
Truck Model
c20
Engine Size
350
IDK if you are still messing with this but you should be able to buy 2 premade lines and join them with the correct coupler if you can't buy a premade line long enough.If you can get close but to long put a bend in the line or even a loop you can make it pretzel shaped if you want as long as your flares and fittings are right. Over the years I've been many rear brakelines repaired with compression fittings.Can't say I'd recommend it but seen it done many times.I definitely wouldn't try it on a front line or a disc line.
 
Wes P

Wes P

Junior Member
Joined
Dec 5, 2019
Posts
28
Reaction score
17
Location
Texas
First Name
Wes
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
C20
Engine Size
406
Fixed. Thank you all very much for sharing your experience and ideas. Summary and notes:
  1. Compression fittings are not safe for on-highway vehicles and are illegal in some states. Better suited for low-speed off-highway vehicles.
  2. Auto parts store flaring tools are crap. Don't bother.
  3. I made a new line (inverted/double flare) using Titan tool 51535 for 3/16" lines. The tube-positioning hard stop supplied with this tool should not be used. You need to adjust the end position of the tube exactly on center with the line in the casting. Use plenty of the supplied grease on the dies.
  4. When making a new brake line, I highly recommend to use new threaded fittings.
  5. It is absolutely necessary to tighten, loosen, tighten fittings to "seat" the flares. Fittings will thread farther in each time they are tightened on a new flare. Being gentle, it could take 8-10 cycles for the "tight" position to stop changing, for the "seating" process to complete. I recommend this procedure when replacing any part of any flare joint/seal.
  6. I used a small mount of anti-seize on the fittings as recommended here (on threads, tube, and flare sealing surface). I think this helped and, IMO, is a must-have for serviceability.
Take good care,
Wes
 
Last edited:
Wes P

Wes P

Junior Member
Joined
Dec 5, 2019
Posts
28
Reaction score
17
Location
Texas
First Name
Wes
Truck Year
1985
Truck Model
C20
Engine Size
406
PS. The $200 vise-mount cam-lever flaring tool from TGR (Amazon) was missing a die so I returned it and went with the simplest solution: Titan 51535
 
Blue Ox

Blue Ox

Turning Diesel Fuel Into Fun
Joined
Mar 27, 2018
Posts
4,873
Reaction score
10,771
Location
LI-NY
First Name
Derek
Truck Year
MCMLXXXV
Truck Model
K20HD
Engine Size
6.2L
Great that you got it worked out. Thanks for the thorough follow-up.
 
H

HOTFOOT

Full Access Member
Joined
Feb 29, 2020
Posts
449
Reaction score
877
Location
northwest ct
First Name
michael
Truck Year
1980
Truck Model
gmc k3500 srw
Engine Size
400
Wes P said:
You are using compression fittings mid-way on brake lines in your own vehicle? If so, for how long have they been working for you?

You are the second person to recommend this to me. I saw this as a risk, adding 2 additional points with potential to leak, so I didn't try it.
Click to expand...
compression fittings are not DOT approved
 
SquareRoot

SquareRoot

Full Access Member
Joined
Mar 18, 2017
Posts
3,694
Reaction score
6,682
Location
Arizona
First Name
Mike
Truck Year
85
Truck Model
K20
Engine Size
350
Wes P said:
You are using compression fittings mid-way on brake lines in your own vehicle? If so, for how long have they been working for you?
Click to expand...


When he quits posting, well know they are no longer working. :mfr_omg:
 
highdesertrange

highdesertrange

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 19, 2013
Posts
1,066
Reaction score
211
Location
kalifornia
First Name
mike
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
k30
Engine Size
454
well you guys beat me to it. Compression fittings are illegal. highdesertranger
 
TubeTruck

TubeTruck

I'm from Boston. Deal with it.
Joined
Sep 4, 2019
Posts
1,417
Reaction score
2,160
Location
East TN
First Name
Denis
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
Suburban K10
Engine Size
LQ9
I carry compression fittings to use in a pinch to get me home, but never for a permanent fix. I have the Rigid flare kit but I do like that Eastwood kit. I might have to upgrade at some point.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

J
Fuel Line Repair at TBI
Replies
11
Views
744
MidneightReider
MidneightReider
S
3/16” brake line to rear?
Replies
7
Views
1K
sqhead
S
3
Brake shoe placement?
2
Replies
15
Views
833
87gmcburb
87gmcburb
G
Do I need a return fuel line with a calibrated 454?
Replies
3
Views
726
Ricko1966
R
C
Brake upgrade using GM parts bin...
Replies
5
Views
987
crooney1189
C

Latest posts

Forum statistics

Threads
42,071
Posts
908,421
Members
33,547
Latest member
Cheify
Top