Does anyone know where you can get lengths of copper tubing and fittings to replace the copper portion of the brake lines? I want to redo mine, but I don't know where to begin.

 

The tubing's the easy part...I just dunno about fittings (I think they're pressure fittings) and sizes.

 

im guessing you are talking about the solid lines... did you check at the dealer ship? I replaced them on my beater (nissan stanza) and they were pretty cheap parts.

 

You need proper automotive brake tubing with the proper fittings. Copper brake tubing is not copper only but a copper-nickel-ferrum (Cu-Ni-Fer) alloy. Copper alone is not strong enough to withstand the hydraulic pressure.

Ask at a good automotive parts store for it. Otherwise you may need to turn to a specialty supplier. They will have proper fittings, as well as flaring tools and benders for it that you may or may not need.

 

Awesome info. Thanks. I haven't tried with the dealership (my car is never going back to one as long as I have any say in the matter), but I did try looking at online parts catalogs. I could find neither a part number, nor a suitable replacement on mitsubishiparts.com or anything like it. I'm guessing no one's done this before on their Lancer.

 

You can reuse the flare nuts from your old lines and double flare the new tube ends. If you want new flare nuts, the size is 10mm x 1. I haven't been able to find just flare nuts though.

 

Thanks for the size. Mine are in bad shape, so I doubt I'd reuse them. That's pretty much why I want to replace them sooner or later. I'm not in any rush though.

 

BTW, just curious why you insist on copper lines? Corrosion resistance? Easier to bend? Otherwise steel lines should do the trick just fine if you use a good quality tube bender. When you make them up make sure that you get the right flaring tool as there are different shapes of flares - if you get the wrong one you'll have leaks - not a good place for that.

 

The copper lines are just what's standard. I guess I could swap them out for SS lines too...that's actually a good suggestion, because it could make things a lot easier for me in the long run. When I get money again I guess I'll get back on this. Right now I'm just trying to satisfy my curiousity.

 

Actually Hobie, regular brake line isn't copper, it's steel. It's also very specific to it's purpose, brake line is rolled, not formed, to give a thick sidewall.

There's no reason to replace your hard brakelines unless they are leaking, or very rusty/punky. If neither of these conditions exist, leave well enough alone. Replumbing brake systems is one of those PITA things that you really shouldn't F with unless you know what you're doing. Especially if you're doing ALL the hardline (which is sounds like you're planning on)


As for the softlines, feel free to replace those with SS lines ASAP.

 

The fittings are for ****. Chomped up and stripped from ages ago. Apparently it's entirely possible to strip a soft fitting with the correct size wrench. Go fig.

 

Yeah, I shredded one with a flare wrench too. Now I use a little 4" self-adjusting pipe wrench, which hasn't been a problem yet.

If the copper lines have a copper look, I wouldn't mind doing it for the "bling". I would definitely grab a set from a junkyard to spec off of before pulling the old ones out though. Not exactly something I'd like to rush through to get the car rolling again.

 

My car hasn't been running for about 2 years. I'm not gonna miss driving it anymore than I already do. On the plus side, I pretty much put the entire thing back together today, and I should have it at least idling by tomorrow. Besides that, I'm not planning on doing the brake line thing right now, just whenever I get the opportunity and some money.