Bending Brake Lines

I purchased a set of straight brake lines that already have the proper fittings and ends prepared. I'm just wondering what everyone has used to bend lines properly as I've never done it and want to do it correctly.

I also would like to try to avoid spending a ton of money for a tool that I'm going to use once or twice. Can I find a proper line bending tool that won't break the bank but will do a good job without crimping anything?

 

Fill them with fine sand , plug each end and shape them like balloon animals if need be. Works every time.
Pete

 

I bought a tubing bender at home depot. ~$12. I was bending fuel line. If I were you I would by a spare straight length of the same tubing and practice on it for a minute before you ruin your double-flared brake lines.

 

The quality bending tools are the easiest to make good bends with. The cheaper tools work ok - if you keep the tubibg tight over the drum, the bend won't kink. Seems that keeping the tube in tension while it's bending is the secret.

Try putting a big dowel in your vise and bending over that. Pull hard on both ends of the tubing while you bend.

Brake tubibg is cheap - I'd suggest you buy a couple extra pieces and practive making bends.

 

You could fine one at Auto Zone for $5 they work well, but their a little harder to make the 90% turns. I bought one from the local parts store for $31. They look and work like a pair of pliers.

 

Steve, that looks handy. Have you used this tool?

 

Tim, the bending tool I have looks and works like pliers, but unlike the one Steve posted mine has three rollers. It works very well without much hand torque needed.

 

I used a $5-10 one that a bought at a local discount auto parts store when I redid all of mine.

It worked fine. For a one time or seldomly used tool I would not recommend anything more.

 

I agree.....get the tool it's not expensive and you will use it again down the trail.....

 

Thanks for the input everyone. I'm def. going to by some stock to practice with first.

 

You will do fine....it is perty easy....just take your time...

 

I use what is probably the cheapest one out there!!! It's basically just a drum, with a little hook on one side. Hook it over the line and bend around the drum as far as you need.

It was cheap (free) and isn't the best in the world, but I've done a BUNCH of brake lines with it and have never had a real problem.

That said - I'm drooling over the one from Eastwood!!!!

 

How does this one look? Handles 3/16 lines which is what I need....

 

Not sure, send it to me and I'll evaluate it on my lines...

really looks like a good tool...

 

I didn't know there was such a thing