Installing a new rear brake line today and was just wondering if it was a bad idea to use plumbers tape to help prevent leaks. Anyone done this?

 

stock rubber line?

install it as is..they damn near last forever anyway.

 

not on the flared connections itll lead to more leaks because it wont allow the flares to seal.

 

oh i c you mean on the treads...no you dont need it its a inverted flare seal....no a NPT.
install it dry.

 

plumbers

sorry, spelling bothers me sometimes.

 

I agree! Don't use any sealant on the threads. unless there is damage you won't have any leaks!

 

you're right, I'm an idiot. spelling bothers me too.
Thanks for the input, it's what I wanted to hear.

 

brake fluid will just eat the plumbers tape if its leaking, so there is no point of putting any therejust make sure your old line fitting is clean and that the threads are not damage and it will not leak

 

update...

installed new lines without plumbers tape...no leaks. Thanks!

 

You done good.

Just inspect the flared ends of the tubing and the seat they mate with - if there are no cracks, bumps, or other surface deformities, you won't have any trouble. If there are, replace the part.

Technically speaking, it's an "SAE Double Flare" - there are two layers to the flare on the tubing end (it's flared OUT and then back IN) and the entirety of sealing is done with the flare and seat - the flare nut is just there to force the two parts into contact.

Just make sure to use flare nut wrenches on these jobs - those flare nuts are soft, and will round off easily (I can invariably tell when someone tried to use an open-end wrench on a brake line, and it usually increases the time and money involved in the job...)

 

no joke. bought one just for this job, made my life about a thousand times easier.

 

Teflon tape.. is used to seal threads... brake lines have a double flare on end of line that makes the seal... if you one is leaking then its not TIGHT enough...
P/S Plumbers tape is a strip of metal with holes in it ever inch i think...and comes in a roll

 

its funny how people use the term plumbers tape for both teflon tape and utility strapping

anyways +1 to everyone about not using it

 

Here in Pa we use road salt... after several years i usually seem to have issues with breaking a line free without destroying it.

Has anyone used just a tad of anti-sieze on the threads to help aid removal? I have line wrenches as suggested.. but sometimes thats not enough.

 

Yes, never-seez works well.

With or without, the rule of thumb for brake lines is "Two Flats Past Finger Tight," then tighten (gently!) PRN. You generally will not need to tho - if you do, you've probably got a damaged fitting.

Since you're torquing using an angle, the antifriction properties of never-seez don't come into play (if you were torquing using a given turning force, it would be a factor.)

Banjo bolts, by the way, are 1/2-turn past finger tight, always use new "dead soft" copper washers.