Bending brake lines are the only way to make them last. Otherwise, we all know what that movement between the chassis and the body of the car does to it. So, an ample amount of bending is imperative for its durability. Brake line benders are the quickest solution to this complication.
They’re not fragile but using any other extreme method will do more bad than good on top of all that hassle. You can never have that precision in degrees in any other way. Using a digital protractor will only double the work. So, the best brake line bender is a necessity, not a fancy, if you’re going anywhere near brakes.
Best Brake Line Benders to Get You Going
The top-notch brake line benders each have some specific characteristics. We have sorted out some of the sublime benders in the following for your convenience. Choose the one you see fit for your work.
1. Gino Development 02-0202 TruePower Brake Line Forming Tool
Assets
Whether you are a veteran or novice, Gino Development TruePower benders are suitable for you for adjustment, bending or alignment of brake lines and fuel lines. The 9 inches long forged steel is sturdy and durable to any kind of plying.
You will see two holes when the jaws are united. This enables you to do your operation on 3/16″ and 1/4″ of break lines. Not to mention, you will be able to do so without breaking or distorting the tube or line.
The manufacturer reckoned the exhaustion induced while operating. To address this issue, they made the gripping handle comfortable with vinyl causing fatigue to reduce.
The jaws are accurately manufactured and perfectly aligned to fit brake lines. Generally aligning requires more effort than bending. To your delight, such a task is made easier… thanks to the ergonomic design of the plier.
Continuous engagement of mechanical chores means you have to have a brake line bender in your accessory kit. Gino Development TruePower line bender with its two years of warranty is always a good choice.
Drawbacks
- Complaints of distortion are heard seldom.
- It’s not suitable for bending or straightening hard lines.
2. ABN Brass Brake Line Forming Bending Tool Pliers
Assets
ABN bending plier is the kind plier that is easy to get the hang of. That makes it applicable for do-it-yourself work and other casual activities. Its ergonomic design and durability make it the perfect bending plier for adjustment or bending of brake lines.
1/4″ and 3/16″ tubes are the compatible ones with this specific product. You will be able to produce the right amount of bend for your braking system with this.
Moreover, don’t worry about breaking or distorting the tubes with strong jaws. Smooth adjusting, aligning and bending is done effortlessly without kinks left behind.
Heavy-duty forged steel is used for the construction which implies that the bender is durable and strong. To your comfort, handle grip is provided to keep hold of the plier while operating and terminate excessive strain for your hands.
The product itself is dynamic and a multipurpose tool. You will be able to use it to make your desired angle and adjust easily.
The one year warranty gives you one less thing to worry about. A fitting tool that does the job for your mechanical or engineering operations.
Drawbacks
- There have been some issues with the quality control which need some work.
- The tool is a bit hard to get accustomed to.
3. Lisle 44150 Bender Pliers
Assets
Lisle bender plier is an exquisite tool for bending tubes in a tight bending radius. You can use it while keeping the brake line installed as its size is small and easy to handle.
As for the bending quality, you don’t have to worry about distortion or crimping. You will be able to get your desired level of bending without collapsing the tube thanks to the unique head design.
3/16 inch brake lines are easily bent without a sign of kinking or flattening with this bender plier in your hands. All types of tubing with an outside diameter of 3/16 inch can also be bent effortlessly.
A sublime grip of the tool is ensured by the handle. Moreover, appropriate leverage is secured by keeping the handles more than 3-1/4 inches apart. This helps you do your work without leaving a mark on your workpiece or tube.
The tool is worth the investment for your professional or do-it-yourself works. Apart from break and fuel lines, you will be able to shape even copper or nickel lines., giving you more control over your work.
Drawbacks
- This tool cannot bend tubes smaller than 3/16 inch.
- The handle shape is awkward and deviates from the standard.
4. Eastwood 49074 Brake Line Forming Tool
Assets
You can put your trust in Eastwood’s brake line forming tool as it is a single versatile tool that will help you bend, align or adjust tubes and lines with just a flick of your wrist. Brake and fuel lines of 3/16″ and 1/4″ are conveniently adjusted to your desired angle or shape effortlessly.
Whether it is about decreasing the bending radius, or it could be about fitting new hard lines, you will find this tool obligatory. The jaws are shaped and rigid enough to bend 3/16″ and 1/4″ tubes without distortion, requiring a minimum amount of effort.
Kinking the wall of the tube might result in dangerous fluid flow. With this brake line forming tool, you will be free from such worries. You will be able to use alter angles or add compound curves to the lines with this tool to avoid risking that.
The vinyl grip at the end of the tool helps you keep a firm hold of the tool. To add to that, they help you reduce the chances of your hand getting all cramped up due to a long period of working. Compared to the traditional pliers, this bending tool does the job with better worth.
Drawbacks
- Soft metallic lines are not suitable to work with this plier.
- The excessive sharpness of the tool might leave some kinks if you are not careful.
5. Brake Pipe Bender Tool 4 IN 1
Assets
Unlike all the previous bender tools, you will be able to bend multiple sizes of tubes with Micro Trader’s plier at your disposal. 4 sizes of brake and fuel lines can be easily bent, adjusted or aligned with perfect precision.
Not just the sizes, this tool gives you a variety of choices in tube materials as well. Aluminum, copper, steel, and brass made tubes and pipes are operated on pretty easily.
The tool can be used to make perfect and neat bends making it a professional plier. Apart from the basic sizes, it can also be used for closed metric sizes. Its quality is top-notch and durable in construction.
The quality material used for the main body lets you form bends to your desired extent. You will hardly see any distortion while bending operations. Besides, the handle of the plier is made of rubber for an excellent non-slip grip. This feature also works on reducing exertion on your hands.
Drawbacks
- Not suitable for DIY uses.
- You will need to double adjust just to get a 90° bend. Also, there are no markings for directions.
6. Brake Line Tube Bending Pliers
Assets
If you are looking for a bending plier at a low cost ensuring a fruitful outcome, Pittsburgh’s brake line tube bending plier will be a great choice for you. This tool works on 3/16″ and 1/4″ tubing.
The body is made of drop forged carbon steel. An increased amount of carbon content gives your strength and durability. You will be able to bend any brake line regardless of the material.
Whether you need to align, bend or adjust brake lines, this tool does the job with excellence. You can use this tool to custom fit brake lines without any signs of kinks or awkward bends. The tool itself is lightweight and makes the overall operation effortless.
The tool has a grip that is comfortable and works well in minimizing the strain that might induce while working for a long period. This bending plier is a handy instrument considering its ability to bend lines to match the shape of the old lines.
Drawbacks
- The jaws are misaligned a bit.
- You will not have the facility to bend lines of except two sizes.
7. Automotive brake line pliers
Assets
Automotive brake line pliers are made to operate on 3/16″ and 1/4″ brake line tubing. Be it your vehicle’s brake line or fuel line, you will be able to do your work on them with accuracy and precision guaranteed.
With this unique brake line bending tool, you will be able to achieve obliquity and alignment as easily as you can. The jaws are aligned accurately so that your operation faces no unwanted ambiguity.
Kinks on the wall of the tube or distortions are reduced to a minimum with this plier. Its ergonomic design and easy handling allow you to work with more efficiency. There’s a tube cutter that will cut tubes of sizes ranging from 3mm to 28mm.
The tube cutter can cut through a wide range of materials like stainless steel, aluminum, copper, nickel and regular steel. The bender itself is made of drop forged steel which serves the purpose.
Not to mention, it adds to its durability. Considering the price, Automotive’s bending plier is a gem of a tool you can find.
Drawbacks
- Larger tubes cannot be operated on by this bending tool.
- There might be some nicks seen on the line
Way to the Best Brake Line Bender
While buying a brake line bender what matters most is that you know what your work demands and how you are going to implement it. In the following, we have discussed the things you need to consider before buying a bending tool.
Type of Bender
A roll bender has rollers which are used to form a circular shape of your tubing. But keeping a mandrel bender aside would ensure no slumping. If you need further precision in bending rotary draw benders are really what you are looking for. And for narrower radius brake lines ram style benders are typically used.
What matters here is that you choose your type based on your working criteria.
Size of Brake Line
Usually, benders can be used to bend 3/16″, 1/4″, 5/16 and 3/8″ sized lines. You must check if the bending tool can be applied to various radius sizes of tubes or lines. It is always better to buy one that covers multiple sizes as it will increase versatility.
Brake Line Material
Generally, brake lines can be made of aluminum, copper, brass, and steel. Before buying a bending tool, you are apt to consider the brake line you will be working on. Whether you will be working on adjusting your vehicle’s brake line or form a new one, the material has to be less strong than the bending tool itself.
Bending Tool Material
Materials used for brake line benders are usually drop forged steel, carbon steel or aluminum alloy. As a rule of thumb, benders’ strength must be higher than the tubings. Hence, carbon steel is the best choice unless you need to deal with a humid environment as they rust and corrode more.
Performance
Brake forming tools might crimp up your work-piece or leave kinks on the wall if the jaws are not properly aligned. Double-check the drawbacks if the jaws are level or not if the thickness of your tubes is a bit flimsy.
Gripping
As bending a tube or line requires much force from the user, grips have to be more polished and stiff. Grips also work in reducing fatigue of your hands and allow you to prolong your work duration. You’ll find rubber or vinyl finish in the grips of most of the bending tools to allow convenience and comfort to blend in.
Work-pace and Accuracy
To get the fastest bending result, electric/hydraulic benders should be the choice. Next in the line stands air/hydraulic ones which provide quite an identical accuracy. Manual benders are cost-effective but the precision solely depends on your skill.
Portability
Brake line benders weigh roughly between 1-1.6 lbs. Though the variation is skimpy, that matters significantly to mechanics and automotive engineers in their bulky toolbox. Moreover, this handy helper is used intermittently.
Warranty
Alignment of jaws and gripping problems are common among the complaints on using the product for some time. So warranty matters as we know, more confidence in the product leads to greater warranty periods. But, even the best of the benders, usually, have one year of warranty.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use a brake line bender for all materials?
Ans: The work efficiency of a bender depends on the materials of the lines. The bender’s material should be dominating over that of brake lines in terms of hardness.
Q: Can I use pliers instead of brake line forming tools?
Ans: You can, but you have to make sure you get the authentic one instead of regular pliers as they might damage the line you are working on engraving marks.
Q: How long can a bender be used?
Ans: Your bender will last several years if its quality is good. Also, if you keep it under proper maintenance then it will add to its longevity.
Epilogue
If you are a veteran, you already know what your work demands. But if you are a novice or DIY user, you have to take extra caution while purchasing your bending tool as it is pretty easy to get duped.
Among all the benders discussed above, we found Eastwood 49047 brake line forming tool to be the finest due to its strength and alignment of jaws which virtually produces no distortions or kinks.
If you are looking for versatility, then we suggest Brake Pipe Bender Tool 4 in 1 as it allows you 4 sizes of tubes to work with. Gino Development TruePower Brake Line Forming Tool is also a notable one in this regard.
It is undeniable that a brake line forming tool is important from both the work and safety perspective. Our sole purpose in this article was to help you invest in the best brake line bender that will give you decent performance and peace of mind.
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