Tips for Making Successful Bubble Flares - Page 2 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Diesel911 · #16 04-03-2013, 03:12 PM

Thanks for the Tips. I have a Bubble Flare Kit but have never had to use it.

The below stuff is easily bent without kinking:
A few of our Members have used Conifir 3/16” Brake Tubing Cunifer™ brake line http://store.fedhillusa.com/

torsionbar · #17 04-03-2013, 04:34 PM

i've never had any trouble from my matco bubble flare kit. matco is good stuff. i used to have an sk, which was "okay", but the matco is better. with the sk, you had to estimate the amount of tube that protrudes from the clamp. with the matco, you don't have to guess. works every time.

funola · #18 04-03-2013, 05:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diesel911

Thanks for the Tips. I have a Bubble Flare Kit but have never had to use it.

The below stuff is easily bent without kinking:
A few of our Members have used Conifir 3/16” Brake Tubing Cunifer™ brake line Federal Hill Trading Company

Autozone has the Cunifer type lines also ( I forget the brand name), much cheaper than mail order from fedhillusa.com when you add in shipping. You can bend it by hand and it flares really easy being soft and will never rust.

gsxr · #19 04-03-2013, 05:48 PM

I found the tool shown in the first photo. For future reference, it is:

OTC 4504 Stinger ISO Bubble Flaring Tool Kit - Approx $30

funola · #20 04-03-2013, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

this tool is much better...

I have this Rigid flaring tool. For some stupid reason, it has a hole for 3/16 lines but the hole is smooth and does not have the serration teeth to grip the line so it is useless for 3/16 lines.

What's important in a flaring tool is how well the line is clamped w/o slipping and how well the tool centers the flaring cone to the line, i.e. how the slide fits against the bar is very important. Every autoparts store sell a bubble flaring tool and many of them are junk. I found a very good one at Home Depot of all places with all the important features I mentioned for $23. I think it was made by Brasscraft.

funola · #21 04-03-2013, 06:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gsxr

I found the tool shown in the first photo. For future reference, it is:

OTC 4504 Stinger ISO Bubble Flaring Tool Kit - Approx $30

I think I looked at this model at a local autoparts store (they were nice enough to open a sealed box and let me look at it before I buy) and I ended up not buying it because I did not like the slider/ bar mechanism construction.

gsxr · #22 04-03-2013, 09:59 PM

The OTC bubble flare tool had decent reviews on Amazon. I'm not expecting much from a $30 tool. Professional grade flare tools are in the $300-$500 range, although these usually can do standard, double, and bubble flares (which are all different, btw).
http://www.amazon.com/OTC-4504-Stinger-Bubble-Flaring/dp/B0015PMZMU/

FYI, all the info I could find on the Rigid tool shown above indicates that it does singe & double flares only, not bubble (ISO / DIN) flares. The MB SLS valve has bubble flares.

Also, I found that AGS makes 6mm "Poly Armour" line in fixed lengths, with the correct M6x1.0 fittings for the SLS vavle. Amazingly, these are available through a number of McParts stores including Car Quest, O' Reillys, Advance, and I actually was able to get the line from Auto Zone - they had it in stock! They also had the 6mm fittings. I used line PA-720 and fitting BLF-51C-5 (which is a pack of 5). Nobody had the flare tool locally so I'm waiting for that to arrive on Friday/Saturday. Link to AGS 6mm info:
http://www.agscompany.com/automotive/brake-fuel-transmission-lines/poly-armour/320

Oddly, the hardest part was locating the bubble flare union fitting. Almost no vendor had this in stock, Auto Zone had the AGS union BLU-10 but with a mininum order qty of 100. I found it via Automotive Aftermarket Supply (on Amazon) but it may take 3-7 days to arrive:
http://www.amazon.com/AAS-Bubble-Flare-Brake-277000/dp/B006HI6FRG/

I found a Mercedes part number that might possibly maybe be a 6mm union, I ordered one, and will compare to the aftermarket stuff. If it is correct, I'll post the part number & photos.

pwogaman · #23 04-04-2013, 05:14 AM

I pretty much gave up trying to get the right size tool when putting a R129 brake booster & master cylinder in my 1992 300D. I hadn't noticed when grabbing the part from the pick & pull that the two line ports where different sizes. My rear line was the wrong diameter to flare to the larger bubble required for the master cylinder, so I went to an auto parts store that had a slew of fittings, adapters, and connecting lines and came up with the configuration pictured here. Basically, it is a M12 to SAE adapter to SAE reduction with line to SAE to M10, and each piece fits into a size fitting for which it was factory made.

The brakes are greatly improved by the way.

Diesel911 · #24 04-04-2013, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by funola

Autozone has the Cunifer type lines also ( I forget the brand name), much cheaper than mail order from fedhillusa.com when you add in shipping. You can bend it by hand and it flares really easy being soft and will never rust.

Thanks for the info. I have never bought any before; what I posted was in My notes.
I think there is sellers on eBay that also sell the Cunifer Tubing.

funola · #25 04-04-2013, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Diesel911

Thanks for the info. I have never bought any before; what I posted was in My notes.
I think there is sellers on eBay that also sell the Cunifer Tubing.

I was going to mail order it when I needed to make brake lines then found it at Autozone which was cheaper.

AGS NiCopp/Brake line - Located in backroom fixture (CNC-325) | Brake Help | AutoZone.com

funola · #26 04-04-2013, 08:20 PM

BrassCraft Flaring Tool-T050 at The Home Depot

This is the Brasscraft flaring tool I bought. It does not come with the nipples to do bubble flares. I already have a set of nipples and this tool worked very well to make bubble flares with the Autozone copper/nickel brake line.

efm-7 · #27 08-31-2013, 04:32 PM

I believe I have found "the tool"

It's an "inline bubble flare tool" which clamps the line very securely, and die pressure is applied perfectly.

Best part is that it's only $30. I got mine from matco tools.

Only thing you need to watch out for is twisting the line the as you turn the center screw.

I tried the bar style clamp an before and I could not get it to flare properly. I am very happy with the way the flares came out with this tool. I am yet to try them out on the car though.

KAdams4458 · #28 08-31-2013, 10:36 PM

I use a KD Tools version that cost around $120. I've always liked that kit, particularly since it can do single, double, and ISO. Heck, it even includes the deburring tool. Interestingly enough, The instruction manual specifies lubricating the dies. I always figured that was common sense, but I guess we all need little reminders from time to time.