It’s the brake line that demands most attention and occurrences when it comes to flaring. Hence this time we’re talking about those selected few that’s superbly efficient in flaring when it comes to brake lines.
Getting charged for a simple brake line flaring might feel like getting scammed. So for those of you who’re looking to get your hands dirty and your money in your wallet, let’s check out these reviews on the best brake line flaring tool. No offense if you’re a mechanic.
What is the Best Brake Line Flaring Tool?
A flaring tool widens the terminals of a pipe, hose, etc. Or in short, as the name goes – it flares. And, so, a brake line flaring tool is specialized to flare a brake line hose of the braking system of a car. And we know how crucial the role of the brake line is in a hydraulic braking system since it ensures no loss in between.
Brake lines require flaring while connecting with another piece of the brake tube. This helps in both slipping in more depth and providing leakage-free tubing.
Some of the Best Brake Line Flaring Tool till Date
When shopping for a brake line flaring tool, you will find a number of different products with different features and functions available in them. So it’s a bit hard to scrutinize all of them and find the best one for your work.
To lessen your difficulties we have sorted out some of the best brake flaring tools among the many others that are available in the market. So all you have to do is select the one that’s the most efficient for you and grab one of them for yourself.
1. OTC 4503 Stinger Double Flaring Tool Kit
Aspects of interest
OTC 4503 is a double flaring tool kit that is capable of both single and double flaring. It can work with copper, brass, aluminum and soft steel. The steel swivel is chrome plated which reduces friction and any sort of damages caused by it ensuring smooth and even flare.
The product comes with a comprehensive set of five different adaptors which are- 3/16, ¼, 5/16, 3/8 and ½. It carries a forged and heat-treated steel yolk which makes it more durable and ensures high performance. Also, the yolk has a hole fit the size of the brake line and it can split into two halves that are screwed together with a pair of nuts.
The materials used to make the product are strong and durable enough to make it fit for long term performance. Most importantly it ensures leak-free fitting which is one of the most important functions of a brake flaring tool.
Besides, it comes in a plastic case which helps a lot in organizing the parts and carrying them when necessary.
Pitfalls
One of its downfalls is that the clamping process sometimes can cause damage to the brake line. And the unit conversion process might as well be an issue as you need to convert the metric measurements to inch fractions.
2. Neiko 20656A Auto Copper with Aluminum Steel Brake Line and Brass Tubing Tool Kit
Aspects of Interest
Neiko 20656A is one of the top tier brake line flaring tools that can use both single and double flare. It can work with a variety of materials including copper, magnesium, soft steel and brass. The steel swivel is made of alloy steel and chrome plated which helps reduce friction and friction associated damages on the brake line. It also helps in reducing material degradation.
The materials used to make the product components are heat treated which ensures long term performance, durability, and strength. It also enables the product to do heavy-duty work. The product comes with a set of 5 adaptors which are 3/16, 1/4, 5/16, 3/8, ½ inches. So it lessens the worry about buying adaptors individually.
A very useful function of this product is an anvil cone that can observe each turn that is tightened so the users can easily check if the fittings are aligned and straight. And finally the most important feature of the product which is leakage proof. Besides it comes in a plastic storage case made of hard plastic making it convenient to carry around and an instruction manual for the beginners.
Pitfalls
It fails to work with some slots like the 3/16 line. So, if you are going to use the tool with that kind of line than you must consider some other tools except than this one.
3. K-Tool International KTI-70081
Aspects of interest
This smart and elegant tool kit is definitely one of the best brake flaring tools among the many others that are available in the market. It’s designed to form 45-degree double, single and bubble flares. The product can work on OE steel, stainless steel, and soft metal very easily.
There is a screw clamp in the T handle that holds the lines securely in place during the formation process so there is less chance of blunders and mishaps. However, there is another great advantage of the product that the brake flaring dies are set upright on the turret providing ease during the process. The vise is mounted like the dies.
The tool kit can be used with 3/16, 1/4, 5/16 and 3/8 inches lines and it gives a leak-proof finishing. It takes minimal time to finish working and still gives a precise and smooth result.
Pitfalls
Aside from all the smart features, this brake line flaring tool has some disadvantages as well. The users might need to bend and form the line beforehand to use the tool. Also, it’s inexpensive.
4. MASTERCOOL 72475-PRC
Aspects of Interest
MASTERCOOL 72475-PRC is a premium quality brake line flaring tool that’s definitely one of the best out there for its distinct features. It possesses many features that make it a suitable option for your choice. It has a magnetic adapter holder that holds the adapters in their places preventing them from falling out and mixing up.
There is a large die set compression area which offers the privilege to grip it better and have better ease of work. The product also includes a mini tube cutter which you can use for sizes from 1/8 to 5/8 inches. Moreover, the kit comes with a set of push connect, metric flares, transmission flares, brake lines, and GM line flare of different sizes.
The product is designed with high-quality materials making it capable of withstanding heavy-duty work without experiencing any major tear and wear. Besides its user-friendly functions have made it reliable among the users. The die and tube set stabilizing arm ensure easy and precise forming and the toolset can work on both annealed and dead soft steel.
Pitfalls
The only downfall of the product is that it’s not suitable for push connections. Other than this it doesn’t have any major disadvantages.
5. Yellow Jacket 60295
Aspects of Interest
Lastly, we have the Yellow Jacket 60295 brake line flaring Tool which is surely a great option. This product is made from heavy-duty metals specially designed for rough uses. So it can easily withstand wear and tear working efficiently for a long time. Despite being made for rough uses, this kit is very light weighted and easy to use.
The model can work best on copper and aluminum. It has a steel cone with a 45-degree flare that can form uniformed flare walls by producing a rolling action. The tool kit also has a very useful feature of an automatic release system that works automatically when the flare is done.
Despite being a single component, this tool kit is definitely one of the best out there for it’s useful and convenient features. It might be in a higher price range than other normal tool kits but it’s definitely worth the money and will surely satisfy your needs with its high performance.
Pitfalls
One thing that you might consider as a downfall of this product is that it’s a bit expensive. But it’s always better to spend money on a product with good quality than to regret buying a cheap one with poor quality.
Find The Best Brake Line Flaring Tool
You might find it difficult to keep track of all the necessary features you need in the product while buying one. It’s a lengthy and tricky process. So to make this procedure as smooth as butter, we have sorted out all the features that you might find necessary and help you to make a wise decision.
Types of Flares
There are mainly three types of flares in brake flaring tools-single flares, double flares, and bubble flares. They all have different functions. So it’s good to know which one is the most compatible with your work before buying one.
Single flare
The single flare is the simplest type of flare. It can’t handle the high-pressure brake systems which are generally found in cars. That’s why it’s not compatible with automotive and steel brake lines. This type of flare is flared only once. Also, it is prone to cracks and leaks so it’s not highly recommendable for the users.
Double flare
On the other hand, the double flared brake flare tool kit is universal and it’s manufactured to be able to invert at 45 degrees. It’s a single standard tool but it can handle variations as well. Unlike the single flares, the double flares tool kit can handle high pressure and thus ideal for automotive components. So it’s recommendable for the users.
Bubble flare
Lastly, the bubble flare which is pretty easy to recognize by the tubing end that looks like a button. This type is somewhat similar to the double flare type but the bubble flare can invert at 90 degrees in the backside whereas the double flare can invert at 45 degrees. It’s also common among the users.
Material
You’ll be using the tool kit for a decent amount of time so you will want to choose a flaring tool with good durability to withstand the working procedures.
Products with good durability don’t necessarily mean that they will have to be heavy or massive. In fact, durable yet light-weighted tool kits serve greatly in this aspect. Copper-Nickel alloys are getting the upper hand in case of brake line flaring tools’ materials. They are both durable and strong which gives you the privilege of using the tool for a longer period of time without any major wear or tear.
Application
The toolset should be suitable for the applications you are planning to use it for. It should also be efficient to be able to perform the required functions well. Otherwise, it will simply be just a waste of money and effort.
Since car applications usually deal with pipes, these flaring tools are perfect for different automotive projects. So while choosing which flaring tool kit to buy for yourself, it’s crucial to check the measurements of the fittings and the pipes of the brake line of your car to make sure that the tool kit is compatible with your vehicle.
Flaring Tool Adapters
Sometimes the flaring tools come in different styles and with different adapters. These adapters help a lot while putting together tricky piping sections. Rather than buying the adapters individually it’s better to buy them along with the tool kits.
Brake System
Brake system is the most vital arrangement of a vehicle where the brake flaring tool is dedicated to being used. So try to gather quick tech know-how about your brake system parts, different fittings, pipes and how they coordinate. This will get you a leap forward in making a grand choice to greatly suffice you. Append this knowledge with that of the cuts you will most likely execute.
Efficiency
Efficiency is a vital factor to consider while choosing which brake flaring tool to buy for your work. The double flared brake flaring tools have made the process of pipes fitting easier and more efficient than the single flared ones.
Besides, there are three main components that you have to look out for which are the metal bar, screw with the handles and the metal piece that fits into the handle. These three components must be present to assure maximum efficiency. Most importantly the tool kit should be able to form tight fittings
Cost
Cost is one of the most important factors to be considered while shopping for the best brake flaring tool as there are lots of them varied by their prices. Primarily getting a flaring tool that’s cheaper may seem like a good idea but you must not compromise the quality of the tool kits because of the high price range.
Single flared tool kits are generally in the lower price range but they are not suitable for heavy pressured fittings which are very common in automotive systems. However, the double flared ones might cost a little bit higher but it’s very useful for heavy-duty applications.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do brake lines always have to be double flared?
Ans: No, it can be a single flared as well. But it’s not highly recommended because of its tendency to crack easily.
Q: Can compression fitting be used on a brake line and is it safe?
Ans: Yes, compression fittings can be used on the brake line. However, it’s not recommended because of its unreliability. But it’s safe to use it if the vehicle is not used regularly.
Q: What are the consequences of using a faulty brake line flaring kit?
Ans: Sometimes the line can leak in it because of using a faulty and poor quality tool kit which makes it extremely dangerous. So it’s always better to use a good one.
Final Words
Choosing the top product that matches your requirements can be a difficult job. Yet, one of these products might be the one you are looking for.
Both OTC 4503 and Neiko 20656A are capable of single and double flaring and they can work on a number of materials. Besides, they both come with 5 different sets of adaptors. So if you are planning to work on a little wider range than one of these can do the job for you.
Then we have the Yellow Jacket 60295 which is mainly designed for heavy work. If you are planning to do some heavy-duty project and are willing to pay a little more money for it then this is a great option for you.
Finally, I’ll say that as you are going to use the tool kit for a decent amount of time, it’s always wiser to look out for the features that you need and not compromise the function for price.
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