Kunifer solid brake pipe

psimitar Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,506 posts · joined Jan 2009 · 17 Mar 2010, 10:43 pm

#768284

Hiya all,

I'm wondering if anyone can tell me if kunifer, Copper/nickel, solid brake line is legal to use in QLD.
Would really prefer using this instead of crudey old steel. Much easier to work with and don't rust.

Cheers,
Mike

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Sides Veteran Volks Folk

2,220 posts · joined May 2007 · 17 Mar 2010, 11:38 pm

#768298

Technically, no - it doesn't meet ADR

Copper is OK tho for the SAE (British) standard tho... so apparently if you can prove your line meets that standard, then they have to accept it.

Details are on page 60 of the document at http://www.transport.qld.gov.au/resources/file/ebbf2d0f26cd09b/Pdf_veh_stds_ais_codeofpractice_section2b_feb2004.pdf

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hellbugged 48's and straight cuts

5,080 posts · joined Apr 2003 · 18 Mar 2010, 5:19 am

#768302

stainless steel wont rust

clinker42 Officially Full-On Dubber

381 posts · joined Aug 2008 · 18 Mar 2010, 7:32 am

#768319

Hey
Can I ask where your using it why not just buy bundy tube. We buy bundy tube from the brake shop and I think it only costs like $25 a roll.

Sides Veteran Volks Folk

2,220 posts · joined May 2007 · 18 Mar 2010, 7:37 am

#768323

Oh also - what's the car for ??? Obviously driving on the road since you're asking about rego, but if you plan in racing it CAMS have a thing in there "brake lines must be steel 'bundy' tubing or equivalent".

Maybe not relevant for you, but hey - figure might as well mention it....

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psimitar Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,506 posts · joined Jan 2009 · 18 Mar 2010, 6:58 pm

#768438

Sides wrote:Technically, no - it doesn't meet ADR

Copper is OK tho for the SAE (British) standard tho... so apparently if you can prove your line meets that standard, then they have to accept it.

Details are on page 60 of the document at http://www.transport.qld.gov.au/resources/file/ebbf2d0f26cd09b/Pdf_veh_stds_ais_codeofpractice_section2b_feb2004.pdf

Cool cheers for that shall have a look see.

Yea pure copper lines work harden from the cars vibrations and so can crack over time but the copper/nickel mix drastically reduces this. Also, the line should be at least tab mounted every half metre no matter the material to stop flexing as even steel will fracture but over a longer period than copper.

As for the CAMS regs again same deal so can't see why it can't be used. Even steel lines will rust in Oz but the kunifer won't 🙂

clinker42 wrote:Hey Can I ask where your using it why not just buy bundy tube. We buy bundy tube from the brake shop and I think it only costs like $25 a roll.

Using it for all the solid lines on my Beetle floorpan. What on earth is Bundy tube? Never heard of it. Whats it made of?

Hellbugged wrote:stainless steel wont rust

True but it's expensive and a right arse to work with for flaring and bending.

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eraser Fahrvergnugen

970 posts · joined Mar 2005 · 18 Mar 2010, 9:58 pm

#768507

stainless will rust just like normal metal when exposed to another metal.

clinker42 Officially Full-On Dubber

381 posts · joined Aug 2008 · 18 Mar 2010, 10:02 pm

#768511

Bundy tube is the proper stuff for brake lines, you buy it in rolls from any brake shop. Exactly the same as you would see on all your Holdens, Falcons etc etc, probably even the same as the VW stuff.

Its your best bet, reasonably soft so you can bend it (within reason of course), last for 20 years.

psimitar Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,506 posts · joined Jan 2009 · 18 Mar 2010, 10:23 pm

#768520

clinker42 wrote:Bundy tube is the proper stuff for brake lines, you buy it in rolls from any brake shop. Exactly the same as you would see on all your Holdens, Falcons etc etc, probably even the same as the VW stuff.

Its your best bet, reasonably soft so you can bend it (within reason of course), last for 20 years.

So must be steel then? Only brake shop I have in my area is ABS. Do they count? 😂

If it's easy to work with and flairs pretty easily then I'll go with it but I'm used to kunifer as it just so nice to work with 🙂

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matberry Moderator Go hard or go home

8,114 posts · joined Mar 2006 · 18 Mar 2010, 11:14 pm

#768533

Steel bundt tube not as nice to work with, especially with the VW double flair.....working on cars isn't meant to be easy 🙂 where's the fun in that???

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psimitar Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,506 posts · joined Jan 2009 · 19 Mar 2010, 6:38 pm

#768644

matberry wrote:Steel bundt tube not as nice to work with, especially with the VW double flair.....working on cars isn't meant to be easy 🙂 where's the fun in that???

indeed a difficult car to work on is fun but steel lines are just crap. hate working with them cos even if the flare looks good it don't always seal properly cos it doesn't give like the kunifer. Just coming from someone who's used both if you ever used kunifer you'd never want to go back to steel 🙅

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psimitar Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,506 posts · joined Jan 2009 · 19 Mar 2010, 7:25 pm

#768654

Found this researching the SAE J1047 standard for solid brake lines, take note of the very last sentence

Properties of Copper-Nickel Brake Tubing

The copper-nickel alloy used for brake tubing typically contains 10% nickel, with iron and manganese additions of 1.4% and 0.8% respectively. The product conforms to ASTM B466 (American Society for Testing and Materials), which specifies dimensions, tensile strength and yield strength. Formability and internal cleanliness conform to specifications SAE J527, ASTM A254 and SMMT C5B (Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders). Also, the alloy meets the requirements for pressure containment, fabrication and corrosion resistance for ISO 4038 (International Standards Organization) and SAE J1047.

Bingo, kunifer it is then 😎

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