Oh **** Ive broke it !

Trying to replace the rear caliper on my 94 tdi today had a struggle to get the brake pipe union nut out. I could only get an open ended spanner on it,11mm but felt a bit slack. After a long struggle it finally moved .I tried to hold the copper brake pipe while I turned the nut but it twisted the pipe and I had to cut it off. Ive got the caliper off now and had to run inside after a heavy downpour. How is the nut attached to the pipe ? What are my options now?

rust

Unfasten the pipe at the other end and replqce it with a new one, preferably copper.

If your near chester i have some copper pipe and a flareing tool if you need a hand

I was just thinking ,could I get a flaring tool on end of existing pipe and reconnect using the old union nut ? There seems enough surplus on the pipe length to do it.

where are you?

johns90 said:

If your near chester i have some copper pipe and a flareing tool if you need a hand

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Thanks John, Im in Stockport so a bit of a run . I was looking in screwfix catalogue £28 .Might be worth the investment.

rollin danny said:

Thanks John, Im in Stockport so a bit of a run . I was looking in screwfix catalogue £28 .Might be worth the investment.

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deffo worth the investment,machine mart do a complete flaring kit with cutter too

The cheaper ones can be a pain to use so watch a good youtube vid on how to double flare these.

here's the one ive got danny and contrary to what others say its a doddle to use on both double and single flares redid all my lines for last mot with it and it passed with flying colours this year

Clarke CHT229 Pipe Flaring & Cutting Kit - Machine Mart

rollin danny said:

I was just thinking ,could I get a flaring tool on end of existing pipe and reconnect using the old union nut ? There seems enough surplus on the pipe length to do it.

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If its copper pipe then yes you can cut, clean and reflare with a new union. If its steel then not a chance.
As for the flareing tools, I bought the cheap one which I couldnt use so I splashed out and bought the sykes pick one that clamps in the vice. The cheap ones are like marmite (love it or hate it).
Good luck

johns90 said:

If its copper pipe then yes you can cut, clean and reflare with a new union. If its steel then not a chance.
As for the flareing tools, I bought the cheap one which I couldnt use so I splashed out and bought the sykes pick one that clamps in the vice. The cheap ones are like marmite (love it or hate it).
Good luck

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bit of a bummer if ya int gorra vice though,honestly'i dont know why people cant use these cheap sets,i'd never even tried to make my own brake pipes before i bought my kit and its the easiest thing ive done on the disco yet,anything other than what i have would have been a waste of money unless making brake lines up all day. and i can do it at the side of the car.

p.s. and i hate marmite its cacky poo

Thanks everyone, I,ll nip down to machine mart tommorow and get one.

If your still stuck , take off the whole pipe with ends ( up to the T ) and pop by your local garage bods and they should be able to make you one up for beer tokens .

sypher said:

If your still stuck , take off the whole pipe with ends ( up to the T ) and pop by your local garage bods and they should be able to make you one up for beer tokens .

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Looking at it in the cold light of day I think your right. I didn,t know how long the pipe was until the next a joint but looking at it I can see its only about four foot long. Ive tried to undo the T end but seized And dont wont to disturb the other pipe. Ive put some wd on it for now.

Honestly,it would be cheaper to get someone with a kit to do it for you.The reasons why :

it will be cheaper than buying a kit

you dont want to be learning to use a kit on a piece of pipe that you cant afford to get any shorter

from MY experience,the block in vice type of flare tool is easier to get the job right first time with no previous practice

....however,if you dont want to remove the section,and you think there is enough length to make a new joint without stretching anything,then you may well have to use one of the cheapy tools.They DO work,just not as well,as easily.

However,again,do you really WANT to go half arsed on your brakes? Me,for the cost of a new section of pipe and fittings,I would rather my vehicle be safe.Sorry,old and boring.

It used to be that you could go into any small independent car spares shop and they would make you a pipe up to match on the spot.....but there arent that many of those shops left.So....stick your head round the door of your local small car REPAIR place at a break time and ask "who wants to earn a tenner?"