Copper Brake Pipes

ardvark · 12th August 2020, 15:54

How long will copper brake pipes last?
In years that is.
Reason for asking is that as a MOT advise the are corroded.
If I get the garage to change them I dare say they'd use the cheapest pipes they could get there hands on.

SD1too · 12th August 2020, 16:40

If you have corrosion the pipes will be the original steel.

Simon

ardvark · 12th August 2020, 16:44

If they are replaced with copper, how long will they last?

Mike Trident · 12th August 2020, 16:52

I would go with kunifer brake lines.

T-Cut · 12th August 2020, 17:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by ardvark

If they are replaced with copper, how long will they last?

As long as the car most likely. Kunifer will outlast it.

TC

roverbarmy · 12th August 2020, 18:13

Copper can harden with vibration and fail. I wouldn't use it.

https://www.mmoc.org.uk/Messageboard...ic.php?t=34283

tourer · 12th August 2020, 18:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by T-Cut

As long as the car most likely. Kunifer will outlast it.

TC

Kunifer will probably outlast all of us.

Odd Job · 12th August 2020, 20:33

Copper is used mainly because it's much easier to work with than kunifer.
Yes I agree that kunifer will out last copper, and probably us all too, but that doesn't mean to say that copper will need replacing in a few years.
I had an old Escort that I had for 9 years, I replaced the pipes the first year of having it.
9 years later the pipes where still fine.
The rest of the car wasn't though!

Oh, and the car was my daily driver, no garage to keep it in, open to all that mother nature threw at it!

SCP440 · 12th August 2020, 20:39

I have just replaced all the lines on a Friends BMW with copper, yes Kunifer would last longer but I suspect the car will be scrap in a few years time and all she really needed was another years MOT.

Just make sure if you use copper you secure it every 6 to 8 inches with a P clip.

Old steel pipes will often do another year coated in grease or some other preservative but as in the case of the BMW as soon as I started cleaning them brake fluid started escaping.

Having had a metal brake pipe fail on a car a few years ago and nearly not being able to stop I wont take a chance, if they are rusty replace. Yes it might cost a few hundred quid in labour but better that than crashing or potentially getting killed or killing someone else.

Odd Job · 12th August 2020, 21:00

I totally agree.

I've had all the pipes replaced on my ZT last year for the MOT.
A well secured pipe not flapping or vibrating should not break.
If someone had been bending then straightening the pipe before fitting, and then it was in a place that could flex because it wasn't secured then yes I can understand it fatigue fracturing.

12th August 2020, 15:54	#1
ardvark Al 75 CDTI Tourer Auto Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Studley Posts: 1,457 Thanks: 1 Thanked 69 Times in 48 Posts	Copper Brake Pipes How long will copper brake pipes last? In years that is. Reason for asking is that as a MOT advise the are corroded. If I get the garage to change them I dare say they'd use the cheapest pipes they could get there hands on. __________________ ARDVARK

12th August 2020, 16:40	#2
SD1too Doesn't do things by halves Rover 75 2.5 Connoisseur Auto (1999) Dealer launch model. Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Former Middlesex Posts: 20,337 Thanks: 1,587 Thanked 3,749 Times in 3,181 Posts	If you have corrosion the pipes will be the original steel. Simon __________________ "Whatever is rightly done, however humble, is noble." Sir Henry Royce.

12th August 2020, 16:44	#3
ardvark Al 75 CDTI Tourer Auto Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Studley Posts: 1,457 Thanks: 1 Thanked 69 Times in 48 Posts	If they are replaced with copper, how long will they last? __________________ ARDVARK

12th August 2020, 16:52	#4
Mike Trident Posted a thing or two Rover 75 CDTi Saloon & Citroen C1 Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Oakenshaw, Near Bradford Posts: 1,622 Thanks: 385 Thanked 552 Times in 328 Posts	I would go with kunifer brake lines. __________________ Rover 75 2.0 CDTi (131Ps) Conn SE Saloon. (Manual) 160 Remap, cruise control, electric window blind, temp gauge, Real walnut / ZT interior, FBH with GSM control. BORN Tuesday, 5th October 2004 @ 12:35:52 This vehicle was the 104,679th 75 to run off the production line, out of 112,381 This vehicle was the 3,318th 75 CDT Connoisseur SE (135) to be made out of 4,744 This vehicle was the 12,440th 75 in Starlight Silver (code: MBB) to be made out of 14,280 Starlight Silver 75s

12th August 2020, 18:13	#6
roverbarmy This is my second home Roverless + 1.7D Sportage Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: East Norfolk Posts: 7,048 Thanks: 729 Thanked 2,021 Times in 1,449 Posts	Copper can harden with vibration and fail. I wouldn't use it. https://www.mmoc.org.uk/Messageboard...ic.php?t=34283 __________________ Oil in my veins! Last edited by roverbarmy; 12th August 2020 at 18:27..

12th August 2020, 20:33	#8
Odd Job Gets stuck in MG ZT 2.0 cdti Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Derby Posts: 909 Thanks: 298 Thanked 191 Times in 149 Posts	Copper is used mainly because it's much easier to work with than kunifer. Yes I agree that kunifer will out last copper, and probably us all too, but that doesn't mean to say that copper will need replacing in a few years. I had an old Escort that I had for 9 years, I replaced the pipes the first year of having it. 9 years later the pipes where still fine. The rest of the car wasn't though! Oh, and the car was my daily driver, no garage to keep it in, open to all that mother nature threw at it! __________________ ….And the latest thing to break is..... ### MG STANDS FOR "MY GREMLIN" !!!

12th August 2020, 20:39	#9
SCP440 I really should get out more....... MG ZT-T 260 Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Witney Posts: 2,504 Thanks: 6 Thanked 910 Times in 571 Posts	I have just replaced all the lines on a Friends BMW with copper, yes Kunifer would last longer but I suspect the car will be scrap in a few years time and all she really needed was another years MOT. Just make sure if you use copper you secure it every 6 to 8 inches with a P clip. Old steel pipes will often do another year coated in grease or some other preservative but as in the case of the BMW as soon as I started cleaning them brake fluid started escaping. Having had a metal brake pipe fail on a car a few years ago and nearly not being able to stop I wont take a chance, if they are rusty replace. Yes it might cost a few hundred quid in labour but better that than crashing or potentially getting killed or killing someone else.

12th August 2020, 21:00	#10
Odd Job Gets stuck in MG ZT 2.0 cdti Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Derby Posts: 909 Thanks: 298 Thanked 191 Times in 149 Posts	I totally agree. I've had all the pipes replaced on my ZT last year for the MOT. A well secured pipe not flapping or vibrating should not break. If someone had been bending then straightening the pipe before fitting, and then it was in a place that could flex because it wasn't secured then yes I can understand it fatigue fracturing. __________________ ….And the latest thing to break is..... ### MG STANDS FOR "MY GREMLIN" !!!

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