Copper brake pipes

Chris Y · 14 Apr 2005, 08:17 (Ref:1277814)

Dear experts,

Having reconditioned my calipers and pulled out a couple of yards (metric) of kinked braided brake hose, I've installed some shiny copper pipe, to cure my brake pedal of 'spongitis nobrakeus'. (also wasted considerable time and money on assuming my brake system was all imperial, when in fact some ends are M10x1, and some are 3/8ths 24tpi !)

Anyway, I was wondering if there was anything I could do to the copper pipes to keep them shiny and stop them corroding?

zefarelly · 14 Apr 2005, 11:23 (Ref:1277938)

polish them daily ?

mine are a year old and have faded . . .I really don't have the kind of time spare to be polishing, I guess you could laquer them, but as theyre so soft and flexible it'd probably crack and peel

you could form them and get them chromed, but you may carry a 35gramme weight penalty !

Chris Y · 14 Apr 2005, 16:24 (Ref:1278154)

Thought about using lacquer, but came to the same conclusion about it cracking. Thought there may (or not) be some sort of chemical treatment or coating that could be used..?

**Peter Mallett** · 14 Apr 2005, 16:53 (Ref:1278169)

I wouldn't go back to copper again. They are exposed to crushing. Granted aeroquip are expensive but use the correct formed bnds (rather than turning the hose through various angles) and clip them correctly they'll perform perfectly.

Failing that don't worry if the coper fades, its only the material breaking down.

greenamex2 · 14 Apr 2005, 18:31 (Ref:1278252)

Correct me if I am wrong but I would be surprised if you could put ANYTHING on them and pass an MOT. They might conclude that you are trying to 'hide' something.

tzei · 15 Apr 2005, 05:06 (Ref:1278529)

Paint and lacquer works, shape 'em first.

Al Weyman · 16 Apr 2005, 21:42 (Ref:1279821)

Paint em black, I do :-).

zefarelly · 17 Apr 2005, 07:59 (Ref:1280057)

as hard work as it is I'd have thought polishing would create a protective layer, but as we've said hard work, failing that leave them in a bucket of salt water for a week and they'll go a fetching shade of green

**dtype38** · 17 Apr 2005, 20:44 (Ref:1280661)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Y

Anyway, I was wondering if there was anything I could do to the copper pipes to keep them shiny and stop them corroding?

Errrr.... why? How exposed/visible are your brake lines? On my car, one visit to the track and the brake lines are fairly heavily encrusted with brake dust, tyre rubber, engine oil and track dust. Wouldn't matter a hoot if I'd polished them or not for all you can see of them.

But if it's really important to you, make them out of nickle tube rather than copper... they'll stay looking good for much longer.

Chris Y · 17 Apr 2005, 20:57 (Ref:1280666)

'Looking good' is not what I'm after - I just want them to not corrode too much.

Anyway, I figure they'll be ok for a few years as they are, they're not exposed to too much dirt/water where they are.

**dtype38** · 17 Apr 2005, 21:01 (Ref:1280669)

In that case, give them a good slapping with a decent under-body seal to protect them from gravel hits and water and the like, and they'll last years :-)

**Peter Mallett** · 17 Apr 2005, 21:07 (Ref:1280678)

Quote:

Originally Posted by dtype38

In that case, give them a good slapping with a decent under-body seal to protect them from gravel hits and water and the like, and they'll last years :-)

Hopefully and for safety's sake he's running them inside the car not outside.

**dtype38** · 17 Apr 2005, 21:16 (Ref:1280683)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peter Mallett

Hopefully and for safety's sake he's running them inside the car not outside.

Hmmmm.... sadly, in my case, there isn't really an "inside" to run them in. My brake lines are all clipped to the open chassis members under the car. They're protected from being crushed should I bottom the car on a kerb or anything, but they're all completely exposed to the elements

Dave Brand · 18 Apr 2005, 07:06 (Ref:1280924)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris Y

'Looking good' is not what I'm after - I just want them to not corrode too much.

Anyway, I figure they'll be ok for a few years as they are, they're not exposed to too much dirt/water where they are.

I assume they are pure copper, not cunifer? If so, there's a small risk of electrolytic corrosion where the copper is in contact with other, particularly ferrous, metals; that risk is exacerbated by water, particularly if it is salty....not much of a problem on a race car.

tzei · 18 Apr 2005, 08:38 (Ref:1280969)

...and in such environment the metal (Fe) corrodes and copper stays.

Chris Y · 18 Apr 2005, 12:25 (Ref:1281185)

Yeah, they're copper, not kunifer.

Al Weyman · 18 Apr 2005, 19:10 (Ref:1281508)

I have copper lines underneath the car that have been there since 1990 and they are perfect, they won't corrode which is why copper is used in plumbing.

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