Brake Tubing Benders

Hello,

Starting to replace the brake hardlines on my '92 Jetta and need to invest in a tubing bender. There are many different brand/designs/price points - any real world experience out there? I don't mind investing in a nice tool - but don't need to spend $100's for one.

Thanks in advance for your help.

I saw a good looking Eastwood one in "the mag" a few weeks back - $29.95. Are you also fabbing the double flared ends? I'd like to hear more about a good tool for that also.

In reply to fifty:

I think I'm going with pre-flared line from the local auto parts store. Sounds like a good flare tool would cost a hefty sum. There's actually thread about flare tools on this forum and yikes the ones everyone swears by cost an arm and a leg!

The tool from Eastwood was actually high on my list.

I used a HF tubing bender. It worked OK for brake lines, but for the 3/8" fuel lines, it didn't work as well. I double flared the ends of the brake lines with a HF flare tool. It worked OK. I'm sure an expensive one would be a lot better, but as long as I tightened the heck out of the thing, started it in straight, etc., it worked for me. That was HF's "better" flare tool, not the bottom of the HF barrel flare tool. This one had the double flare starter thingies with it.

Sears sells a Imperial Tube Bender (Sears Item # 009-50509) for $29.95 that is pretty nice. It bends 3/8, 5/16, 1/4 and 3/16 inch tubing. It will also make 180 degree bends in a fairly tight radius. It handles mild steel tubing fine but I really don't think its made for stainless steel tubing although I have mades a couple SS bends with it. If this was a tool I would be using a lot there are much better one out there with bigger price tags.

I have a Parker Hannifin 37 degree (AN Flare) Flaring Tool that works very well in mild steel about $70.00 on line.

We are supposed to be cheap around here no? How anal do you want to be with this? As far as a tube BENDER, I found that a socket held in a vice made a nice anvil to bend brake line around; just mark where you want the bend to be and wrap it around the socket. The different size sockets can be matched to whatever radius you want.

Have a look near the bottom of this page to see how the socket based bends came out on my bugeye project.

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2203663/9

If you want to talk flare tools, then spend about $100 bucks on one i you want a real tool. Most auto parts places will also lend them with a deposit. Quality of what they lend is all over the place.

Fun job when it is all done.

Picked up a Snap On double flaring kit on eBay for $20 last week