The V8 Owners Forum -

I'm replacing all the brake pipes on my SD1. After one split during the MOT brake test. Bought a kit from Automec, which comes coiled. I do have a flaring tool and bender, but the bender has a fixed approx 20mm radius, and most of the bends on the original steel pipes are 10mm And was intending bending the new to match the old off the car, as access on it pretty difficult. So what tools make this the easiest? Hands are getting a bit arthritic and not as strong as once.

This may work

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152534805048 ... _nEALw_wcB

r2d2hp wrote: ↑

Thu Jul 15, 2021 11:34 am

This may work

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152534805048 ... _nEALw_wcB

Thanks - I'd found that and ordered it on spec. It does seem to do what I want so far, and good value. I'll report back after finishing the whole job.

What are the originals made from ?

10mm radius sounds pretty tight ?

They're steel and original. The size I gave only approximate. But the pipe bender I already have is the one sold by Vehicle Wiring products, and the bend it makes approx twice as large as those on the original pipes. The die on that measures at 49mm diameter at very nearly the centre of the tube. The AB Tools one from Ebay produces a bend pretty close to the originals.

Spent most of the afternoon bending up the new, using the old as a template. All of the new are considerably too long, and oddly all by about 100mm. That might be easy to lose on a pipe running across the car, but the shortest pipe is only some 230mm.

Another question. All of the Automec pipes are too long. By at least 100mm. So I'm cutting them to fit. A real PITA.

My flaring tool came from Vehicle Wring Products. It works well, but it's not easy to set the correct amount of 'spare' above the clamp to form a 'doughnut' flare. Using the gauge supplied would be easier with three hands. So wondered if there was an easier to use type?

https://www.vehiclewiringproducts.co.uk ... aring-tool

Unless you're trying to flare them on the car:



Expensive, but always does the job. Every other type just seems to want to f*ck me about.

DaveEFI wrote: ↑

Wed Jul 21, 2021 9:45 am

Another question. All of the Automec pipes are too long. By at least 100mm. So I'm cutting them to fit. A real PITA.

My flaring tool came from Vehicle Wring Products. It works well, but it's not easy to set the correct amount of 'spare' above the clamp to form a 'doughnut' flare. Using the gauge supplied would be easier with three hands. So wondered if there was an easier to use type?

https://www.vehiclewiringproducts.co.uk ... aring-tool

I think there was another thread here recently about brake pipes ?

I have that same tool....it's just mediocre really. Plus it damages the pipe where it clamps

As per the post above, the vise mounted Sykes style tool is about as easy and good as you get. However not so handy if you wish to use it on the vehicle.

The Sykes Flaremaster 2 is the portable version ( which I also have )