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RE: TR6 Copper Brake Lines

To: "'Chris Bullock'" <Chris.Bullock@vtxix.slg.eds.com>, "Triumph List (E-mail)" <triumphs@autox.team.net>
Subject: RE: TR6 Copper Brake Lines
From: Davies William-qswi646 <QSWI646@email.mot.com>
Date: Tue, 8 Feb 2000 16:31:03 -0000 charset="ISO-8859-1"
> I have heard that copper brake lines are not good to use, 
> considering the
> hydraulic pressure exerted, and that copper-nickel is better. 
>  Can anyone
> shed some light on this matter for me?  Unfortunately, I have already
> purchased the brake line set and fuel line set (PI systems run under
> pressure from the pump in the boot to the engine), but would 
> rather not
> install them if they'll only fail in the short term.

Chris,
        Copper brake lines are certainly NOT a good idea, but the problems
are more long term than short term. The kind of vibration which brake lines
get exposed to will cause copper to work harden, making it hard and brittle,
and hence likely to break. This is not an overnight phenomenon, but I no
longer fit them to my vehicles - I did use them before I knew better!
CuNiFer pipes are a much safer idea, and actually look much more appropriate
where they are visible, being a subdued metallic brown in colour. 
        Here in the UK, Copper pipes are supposedly an MOT failure point,
though I have never known a vehicle to actually fail for this. Also, several
companies still produce and market Copper pipe sets here (I would be
interested to hear from anyone who has access to an MOT testers handbook and
can tell me what the rules really are). Make sure that whatever you fit is
actually legal where you will be using the car,
        Cheers,
                Bill.

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   /                  \     William Davies 
  /                    \    Total Triumph Enthusiast 
 __ __________________ __ 
/  \  ______  ______  /  \  1959 Herald 948 Coupé Y128
\__/  \     ||     /  \__/  1959 Herald 948 Coupé 
|    A \____||____/ A    |  1959 Herald 948 Saloon
| =  H              H  = |  1960 Herald 948 Saloon Export 
=====U==============U=====  1961 Herald 'S'
\________________________/  1964 Herald 1200 Saloon 
 | |                  | |   1970 Spitfire MkIII
 |_|                  |_|   1973 Spitfire MkIV
                            1959 Standard Atlas Pickup

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