Many European made cars have copper/nickel alloy brake lines.
Replacement brake lines are sold as straight pieces, even as OEM
parts. The copper/nickel are sold in different length rolls for the DIY
customers.
Thomas
svgkm@halley.ca.essd.northgrum.com wrote:
> 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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