[Healeys] Copper brake lines, was 100 BN2 almost done....

Barrie Robinson barrie at look.ca
Mon Sep 13 12:20:12 MDT 2010


Is it Cunifer or Kurnifer?


At 04:10 AM 9/13/2010, Oudesluys wrote:
>  There seems to be some confusion about copper pipe used for brake lines.
>Copper (100%) tube is and has been used for brake lines. This can be 
>a dangerous practice as copper hardens when deformed making it 
>brittle and prone to cracking. This deforming takes place 
>continuously when braking, as the pipe will expand and contract a 
>bit every time you brake.
>If you use Cunifer, a copper alloy, there is no problem and this 
>type of brake line has been around and used successfully for many 
>years and several manufacturers use it as standard equipment.
>Copper can be recognized by its reddish color and its softness, 
>cunifer is pale yellowish/white and much tougher.
>Copper coated steel brake lines (if they exist, I never came across 
>them) are not a good idea because of electrolytic corrosion, the 
>steel is sacrificed first and can fail after a fairly short time in 
>wet and/or salty conditions. Zinc or cadmium plated lines are fine 
>and used throughout the industry. The steel only corrodes if the 
>zinc or cadmium has been sacrificed first and that only happens 
>after many years.
>Stainless steel can be used as well but also has some issues. It is 
>hard to get in the right (aircraft) quality, it is hard to bend and 
>it is difficult to make the required double flanges. A lot of people 
>make single flanges, and although this works OK generally, it is 
>illegal in many countries. These single flanges can be prone to 
>fatigue cracking if not executed properly.
>Kees Oudesluijs
>NL
>
>

Regards

Barrie
(705) 721-9060 


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