Any tips on making tight bends in brake line? The tool I have wont make a tight enough radius.

i need a very tight 90 degree bend right at the retaining nut off the master cylinder.

 

Quality tools is the only answer, there is a tool that uses a screw clamp, way better than most hand helds, forget the ones that depend on the plier architecture, do a search for Laser Brake Pipe Bender/Straightener Tool ... you will need to practice some to figure out which side of the wheels to place the pipe to get the bend in the appropriate place - or you will put it in the wrong place which is really annoying when you have just made 10 other bends in the same pipe - it work hardens so you don't get a second shot unless you can temper it again.

 

I have run into a snag with my Aston DB7 master cylinder conversion, the lines exit the opposite side from original set up, going to need a very tight bend to clear the air box clips.

may have to resort to banjo bolts.

 

Banjo bolts are not for high pressure applications .....

 

Why not have some Goodridge flexibles made up with the ends you need?
https://www.goodridge.co.uk/
Scoll down to custom hose assemblies.

 

banjo bolts are used on many master cylinders. Wilwood has them on a few, are these different?

 

Well i made a tool. Worked great. Apart from the fact that it scratches the line, must have been a rough edge i didnt notice.



however the airbox clip is a problem, i will have to move it over.

 

Nice work, very neat job that!

 

thanks. Im not happy with one of them. Going to have a think about a possible better routing.

 

You can get bending pliers at Princess Auto on sale for $12: https://www.princessauto.com/en/4-in...t/PA0009308941

 

Banjo connections are used on plenty of brake calipers. The Jaguar X-Type uses banjos.

 

Well the lines are done. Tied into existing fittings, looks sort of factory.

one of the airbox clips is pretty close to the line but i think its ok.

 

I can’t tell from photos… are those green coated steel, or NiCop? The easiest way to get a good radius is NiCop tube. The sell it at AutoZone among other places. Not cheap, lasts forever.

 

Its NiCop. Was able to get very tight bends with my home made tool.

edit…

actually I just re-read the packaging, its actually polyvinyl coated steel.

 

Great job, Nick! It looks really neat and tidy!

Sorry to join your thread late, but for future readers, I have had good success using the coil-spring style pipe bending aids along with either the plier or screw-pressure type tubing benders. The coil spring helps protect the tubing from kinking and reduces marking on the finish:




These spring-type bending aids come in inexpensive kits like this one:



These Lisle bending pliers are good for very tight bends:



And this Lisle screw-pressure bender works great with cunifer tubing:



If you use the coil spring protectors, you can generally do pretty tight bends even with the standard plier-style benders:



You do need to plan your bends so that you can remove the coil spring prior to installing the last fitting and forming the last flare.

Cheers,

Don