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MG MGA - How to straighten new brake line tubing?

I have been following the 'bubble flare' post, as I need to do a complete fitout of my daughters midget.

I can get tubing of various types but it is in a coil - how can it be straightened out so that it is dead straight?

I have saw a machine that did it once (a long time ago) , but the local hydraulics place hasn't got one.

Thanks
Ian F
Ian Fraser

I install a lot of soft copper tubing for gas lines, and I just open up the loop to a larger diameter, then roll it out onto the floor while holding the end under my foot. The real trick is to make the loop as large as possible (largest radius) before trying to straighten it. You can also unroll it into a corner against a wall, so the tubing has no where to go but be straight. After you do a lot of it, it becomes second nature and is very simple. No need for a machine!
Jeff Schlemmer

Hi Ian. Why would you want the brake tubing "dead straight?" A few minor bends wont do any harm, unless perhaps the car will be shown and judged. Just curious, Glenn
Glenn

I recently did a repair on a Toyota Starlet, (in the engine bay)using tubing that I had straightened using Jeffs foot method (but not the corner method).

When the job was finished, it was obvious that the tubing had wobbles in it, and final straightening by hand was not too successfull.

Ian F
Ian Fraser

I straighten it out "by eye" and then rolled it on the concrete floor and the high and low spots becoame obvious and gently bent it over and over till it rolled perfectly straight.
Paul Hanley

I use 2 pieces of angle iron in a vice.
w.g cook

Put two long boards on your work bench(size about 3 feet x 1in x1in. Open up the roll as much as possible and then place the pipe in betweem the two pieces of wood. place two bar clamps over top and slowly tighten the boards togeather . With finess,a gentle hand and lightly turning the tube, while inside the wood form , you will have a perfectly straight section. Then simply continue on to the next piece. Works well foe me.Gord
Gordon Harrison

You could try drilling a hole the same diameter through a block of wood and pulling the tubing thru from the other end -- you'd be making a straightening die of sorts -- should straighten it as you pull thru. You will need someone to feed the tubing from the insertion end so as not to get it kinked. Try this on a small piece before you do it to the whole roll, I would think. A thin (1/2" or 3/4" maybe) piece of stock should do it.

I haven't tried this myself...just thinking and typing.
AJ Mail

With experience, you will also find that some copper tube is annealed softer than others. The softer it is, the more difficult it will be to get it straight and keep it straight. Automec brake lines are pretty forgiving.

If you have a wavy section, you can also try running your hand down the tube and applying light pressure to the high spots. A real gentle approach of massaging it straight works in most cases.
Sorry if that sounds a little dirty!
Jeff Schlemmer

Thanks all

Looks like I have a few ideas to try.

Ian F
Ian Fraser

This thread was discussed between 09/03/2006 and 11/03/2006

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