I'm replacing all the brake lines on my GTA. I noticed that all the original lines are bubble flared instead of a standard double flare. The problem is, a local shop rents out a tool for double flaring, but not a bubble flare tool.

Does it matter if I replace the lines with a standard double flare? Will this cause me any problems?

 

yes it matters. snap on makes the tool you need and i'd guess imperial does too. you could buy preflared lines or use adapters too.

 

The guy at my local shop said bubble flare tools are ridiculously expensive... that true?

 

Ok, never mind what I said in the last post... I just called another local shop that I deal with quite a bit, and he said he'd flare them for me, or even lend me the tool, which means I should be ok... as long as I can find all the correct fittings and line!

 

The fittings will all be metric thread, and should be a blue color instead of the common brass color. You could probably splice together all the lines using off-the-shelf parts from CTC. The only difference is that some of the fittings on the master and prop valve use different size and thread pitch on the inverted nuts.

 

You can check online, too. http://www.eastwoodco.com has an ISO flare tool for sale, I think it's $60. I think http://www.toolparadise.com has one, but I'm not sure of the credibility of that website- anyone know?

Oooh- yes, they do, (I just searched the website), and it's even made by OTC! Go to http://www.toolparadise.com and put in "OTC4504" into the search box... they want $20.

 

The problem with CTC tho... is most of the times the guys aren't the brightest... it was an auto parts guy from CTC that told me that a bubble flaring tool is like $3000 (no I didn't type that wrong, he really did tell me $3000)

But thanks for the info guys.... I really appreciate it... I've never been much of a mechanic, but between fiddling around with my car and reading the forums every day at my lunch break at work, I'm certainly learning a lot... and everyone on here is usually pretty helpful.

 

in the future for anyone else reading this thread who doesnt have a shop friend that owns the tool:

most aftermarket parts are pipe thread with standard flare adapters... like like locks and prop valves.

you can buy a piece of bubble flare line, and cut off one end.. slide a tube nut on, and double flare it.