Don't let this happen to your Copper Brake Pipes!

If you've followed us for a long time you would have heard us talk about Copper Brake Pipes in our videos.
Copper Brake Pipes do have their benefits, but as a restoration company, we only use the manufacturer's plastic-coated-steel brake pipes for several reasons.
Ultimately, there isn't much wrong with using Copper Brake Pipes on your vehicle, but if you do use them make sure you protect them with wax or grease!
You want to ensure the steel hex union doesn't corrode and 'grab' itself to the copper pipe.
Otherwise, when that joint next needs servicing (for whatever reason) the soft copper can twist, fracture, and split with even small resistance.
We have had to repair/replace so many copper brake pipes over the years due to them doing this because of them having zero protection.
The aim of this video is to educate others by using our knowledge and experience.
If you already have copper brake pipes, go and wax the steel hex unions at each end ASAP!
If you plan to put copper brake pipes on your vehicle, make sure the installer protects the steel hex union with wax!
Just a simple and quick process (wax spray) could save you hundreds of pounds in the future.
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[@raymondkelly3181]

Had copper lines done on my touring. I'll take a closer look next time up in the air👍

[@rabmc]

I’ve been using Lanoguard on my e46 m3 for 4/5 years now and I feel it’s really helped slow down the corrosion process, but ideally I’d love to get an underneath restoration at Redish in the coming years.

[@herridge819]

Yep, agree with your comments, always best to use original spec. pipes where available and coat with decent wax protection

[@hardcoretam]

When ever i fit any brake pipes / copper or otherwise i always apply a thick coating of Lucas Red n Tacky grease to prevent exposure to the elements.

[@sparkyw666]

Bit of heat works everytime to free them up 😉

[@K2edg]

That looks like they have cheaped out anyway and reused the original fittings (probably already corroded)......... Personally, i use kunifer pipe and Brass fittings. Steel oem is great if you maintain well, but if your replacing them you will know if that plastic coating gets damaged it's only mild steel and they do corrode. I have never liked the fact they remove the very end of the plastic coating to do the flare, i suspect that's why the MOT testers go straight to the ends of the hard pipes.

[@granvillebarraclough8846]

Trouble with plastic coated pipes is that the MOT tester will cut part of the coating off to test the condition of the steel pipe. My fav is copper/nickle pipes sprayed with clear Waxoyl so the tester can see the condition of the pipe.

[@465painkiller465]

What’s your take on the copper/nickel type?

[@Decrepit_biker]

The trick is to unwind the hose while keeping the steel Union still 😉

[@465painkiller465]

Nice tip, will try

[@bimmer4624]

Good thinking Bat Man

[@chrisg4rr377]

I changed my brake pipes a couple years ago with copper nickle ones thinking that they'll last ages. I did a perfect job getting them into the perfect shape and everything. I didn't wax them at the time due to running out of time. And they look minging now. Proper gutted

[@veritasaequitas9875]

My rear hard lines need replacing. MOT failure. E46 2.2L 2003 Saloon. The mechanic tells me he has to remove the fuel tank and, of course the exhaust, heat shield and drive shaft. Is this the only way or can you do this by finagling the new lines around the tank or perhaps reroute them? It looks to me in this video that the lines have been replaced with the tank in place. I do my own work but I don't like lying under the car. So this is something that I'm happy to get a shop to do. Anybody willing to share their experience? Cheers.

[@DanniV8]

Copper is in my opinion a temporary repair. I have had to use them but I do spray wax on them every time. In the salt mine that is called the Icelandic road system, the wax only makes it last maybe 3-4 years instead of 2 years...

[@jonners9540]

Best to use brass unions

[@psycho3344]

Only problem with using wax is mot testers tend to think your trying to hide the fact you may have a corroded pipe and end up scraping a section of it off to check the quality of the pipe and then never replace the wax leaving your pipe unprotected.

[@PompeyMatt17]

I get picked up every year on my cars for "substance or grease on brake pipes"

[@hoonaticbloggs5402]

Rust starts UNDER the black plastic coating, but now you can’t see it.

[@tocsa120ls]

Such a typical E46 problem, and no matter what year they will have a problem. I once bought a beautiful red wagon that was garaged its whole life, the first winter start from the lights, rear wheel spun, the ASC hammered on the brake to stop it and it blew a fishmouth hole in the brake line right over the rear axle. That was a bad introduction, first job, axle out :-(

[@douglasmurdoch]

Spray oil on them does the trick only on rigid, not flexes

[@hoonaticbloggs5402]

Chain lube 👍

[@momoghal3711]

But the steel will eventually rust too and are more likely to corrode to the point the plastic wears off (especially at the rear) and you'll get the usual pitting and eventually holes leading to failure. So long as copper is installed properly - as you said yourself - it should last the life of the car. The key being installed properly. Most garages won't do that but some will. In this case i'd never use the BMW part, especially if i'm keeping the car long term.

[@momoghal3711]

@@aviatorgreytt Sorry but that's just your opinion. Once steel pipe has been replaced there's no reason to remove them afterwards. They should last the life of the car at that point. You'd only need to undo the other side of the flexi for the caliper so this wouldn't get touched. If you're not replacing your flexi when you replace the hard lines you need to give your head a wobble. But IF you really have to - rerun a new copper pipe if you damage it. That's the whole point of them - at the cost point, they're cheap enough and last long enough that you shouldn't need to touch them but if you do, you can do them again and STILL be cheaper than the OEM, rust-prone, steel part.

[@noddylloyd]

​@@aviatorgreytt mate.... Should of used original Flexi pipes. Can't beat the original parts. You said so yourself 😂

[@alanfearnley6509]

Sick to death of people thinking steel brake lines will last forever when from the dealer, I fitted new steel OE BMW brake lines to my partner's BMW 320d and also treated the hardware so they would not rot and seize and low and behold 2 years on the genuine BMW steel lines were rotten and seized in place and as I was trying to undo them they twisted and snapped. Never rust again, what a crock of shit, from factory brake fluid can contain up to 1.5% moisture content and that moisture can rot the steel from the inside out and if the system is slightly badly sealed, well then you are in for a world of pain as brake fluid is hygroscopic and will take on moisture out of the atmosphere, meaning more water content to rot your brake lines over time. And people like you have a platform to "teach" and "guide" people, bloody joke I have also fitted copper brake lines to cars for years and never when the hardware was treated correctly have I had a copper brake line twist like that when doing maintenance on parts of the brake system that requires hard lines to be removed, the hardware has on occasion seized and I have had to get other means to undo them but the copper has always allowed the union to spin once released from the pipe it was seized in, that right there is you either twisting on it to make a video from a thing that never happened or the person that fitted them in the first place got the union and pipe wrong that it didn't allow free movement of the union.

[@darrenboston342]

People who use copper really need to have a word with themselves!! Only use OEM parts, just makes sense. James & Daz I think it was did our two E46 M3 cabs over the rear subframes….. Excellent work👌👍

[@chrisg4rr377]

I work in the trade and its trade standard to replace in copper, I've repipes hundreds of cars over the years. Never had a issue until you need to remove some time later

[@darrenboston342]

@@chrisg4rr377 you’ve answered your own question then!

[@chrisg4rr377]

@@darrenboston342 yes but how often do you need to revisit of disturb a brake line. Its not very often at all within a customers ownership

[@darrenboston342]

@@chrisg4rr377 doesn’t matter how often at all… always use OEM parts!!👌

[@chrisg4rr377]

@@darrenboston342 i agree somewhat with that statement, but often its the customers choice for price difference and some of the other big german brands don't offer pre-made brake pipes for repairs.

[@hoonaticbloggs5402]

I’m not worried about my copper. 1.it’s better than rusted steel. 2. My car is garaged and isn’t driven in salt

[@andrewthompsonuk1]

I think copper brake pipes are banned in Australia and many other places. Personally, I have done what you do and used pipes from BMW.

[@2Jeezuzisreal]

GM has a lawsuit on junk lines You would think that breaks would be more important than leather seats DVD player sunroof.

[@bigteddy66]

😂😂Brakes😂😂

[@chaybinks7884]

Look at the state of the car 🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️