Can braided,flexible brake lines replace copper pipe?

wire brush it.

Invariably 99% of failures i've had with 'corroded' brake pipes pass after you have brushed the 'corrosion' off...

Yes, but it'll be expensive & springier

That's how I do it.

And you feel safe with that? Surface corrosion is a sign of real corrosion, and it only takes a pinhole...

I've often removed brake pipes with apparent surface corrosion which have fallen apart in my hands afterwards!

Perfectly acceptable. But if it's original pipe it's probably steel; flaring that in situ is not easy. You'll need a good quality flaring tool; the cheap ones from Machine Mart etc will manage copper but not steel.

If its good enough for a picky MOT tester, its good enough for me - he sees 1000 x as many as me. I've never had a 'corroded brake pipe' fail any subsequent MOT, nor fail in any shape or form either.

Copper brakepipes don't corrode.....

Yes, steel ones.

Re: Can braided,flexible brake lines replace copper pipe?

copper pipes will not corrode

What's the green stuff at the joints then?

Which is almost all OEM ones

Good point, I did pay real money for this kit.

I wouldn't recommend anyone to fit copper brake pipes. IMO thy are potentially dangerous Copper pipes can age harden and fracture, especially if subjected to vibration.. Cupro-nickel brake pipes, such as Kunifer, also don't corrode, and don't suffer from age hardening or cracking. Mike. .

Oxidisation. They don't rust like steel ones.

Shouldn't be.

And Cupro Nickel are commonly referred to as copper due to their colour.....

What shouldn't be?

Mftrs still using steel brake pipes.

A bit anecdotal... I've just sold a Capri. 24 years old still on the original brake pipes. This feat was achieved by liberally coating them in grease.

Kunifer I have no problem using. Copper I would never use.

Only by those who don't know the difference. Anyone who does would never confuse copper with Cupro-nickel. The colours are totally different.

As copper brake piping is still being sold, it's important IMO to point out that Cupro-nickel is a nuch more suitable material for brake pipes, and the two materials shouldn't be confused. Mike.

In message , Conor writes

Umm, no. Copper oxide is generally black AFAIK, the green stuff is evidence of exposure to something corrosive or an electrolytic reaction.

Rust is oxidized steel.

It depends which copper oxide it is, copper roofs generally go green.

In message , Duncan Wood writes

Minor correction, rust is oxidised iron, my mistake...

That's usually copper carbonate, not an oxide, it's created by exposure to CO2 dissolved in rainwater (carbonic acid) but the stuff you see on most modern buildings has been 'helped' to form by the application of various chemicals so the composition of the green stuff may vary.