I did some looking into the copper brake line issue after I posed the question,
and I think
that one of the big hangups for copper is the fact that copper is hardened by
cold working.
Any repeated flexing, or even rubbing against a harder surface (say, a frame
rail) is
likely to result in a hard spot, which, as the stress input continued, would be
liable to
crack. There is some debate, from what I've seen, over stainless steel lines,
too, because
the stainless mat'l is harder to form. Since my Roadster and I have always
lived in
California, we haven't had to worry about corrosion from road salt, high
humidity, etc. -
all that nasty stuff that makes automobile ownership in much of the rest of the
country
such an adventure, so mild steel coated mild steel brake lines ar OK.
Gary McCormick
San Jose, CA
Pamela Pepoy wrote:
> Howdy,
> Soft material, vibrations = metal fatigue, woo, woo, whoopee...no brakes.
> Could be exciting...once. Or, soft material rubs on harder material...same
>conclusion.
>
> Guy
>
> svgkm@halley.ca.essd.northgrum.com wrote:
>
> > Anyone know WHY copper brake lines are illegal? I'm guessing it's a
>strength issue.
> >
> > Gary McCormick
> > San Jose, CA
> >
> > datsunmike wrote:
> >
> > > Leigh,
> > >
> > > Copper lines are illegal in the US. But don't tell anyone as I run copper
> > > lines.
> > >
> > > Mike
> > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > From: shifty <shifty@best.com>
> > > To: roadsters <datsun-roadsters@autox.team.net>
> > > Sent: Saturday, October 14, 2000 1:06 AM
> > > Subject: copper brake lines?
> > >
> > > > I've been reading Practical Classics again (there is a roadster picture
>in
> > > > the Oct issue - kind of hard to find!).
> > > >
> > > > They tout the virtues of copper brake lines "to prevent corrosion".
>Seems
> > > > like steel lines would be better. I just bent some steel lines and they
> > > > weren't that hard to do. Is there an advantage to copper?
> > > >
> > > > Leigh Brooks
> > > > BADROC
> > > >
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