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MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGB Technical - Brake Lines

I am going to re-route some of the brake lines on my 74 ½ MGB this winter. I realize that the British have a special flare but can’t remember the name of the flare.
Can anyone help with the name of the flare?
And would a typical flaring tool be able to do this flare?
As I will have to bend the new brake line many times in a variety of directions is there a tool for this and again would any one know the name of it?

Thanks


Bruce
Bruce

Bruce,
Don't take this as fact, but this is what I seem to remember about British flares: they're called a bubble flare. To make them, get the double flaring tool, and leave off the last step, there you have a bubble flare.
The tool for bending the brake line, logically enough, is called a brake line bending tool, or a tube bending plier.:-) Available at most auto parts stores in a variety of styles. Best, Joe
Joe Ullman

More information about brake flares can be found at;
http://www.dimebank.com/tech/BrakePlumbing.html
If you don't have the proper tools it may be best to order the needed brake lines from
Moss or some other MG parts supply house, you can get individual pipes or complete
sets. Making your own flares isn't always easy as I found out when converting to a GM
master cylinder on a Jensen Interceptor last year. For the MGB the cost of replacement
pipes is reasonable and they a probably safer than home brewed replacement pipes.
My 2 cents. Clifton
Clifton Gordon

When I bought my '70 roadster, four years ago, the first thing I did was to rebuild the brakes. In the process, I snapped off the brake lines at the rear wheel cylinders. I found a local auto parts store that sells brake lines with the correct "bubble" flair, at least for the rear axle lines from the tee fitting to the wheels.

The store didn't have lines with the correct fitting for the front calipers, so I made do.

This summer, I had to replace the clutch, so while the engine was out, I bought a Moss front brake line from the LBCarco. THis is the line from the four-way valve to the right front wheel. Surprisingly, the line that arrived had the correct fittings, but the flares were clearly normal, American-style double flares.

/ / Single flare


// // Double flare


/ / Bubble flare
/ /


The double flare went on to the caliper and four-way valve just fine and there have been no leaks or other problems.
Paul Noble

This thread was discussed on 07/10/2002

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