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[meegaveesix]

Don't you just love MOT time!

My '03 2.2 Sport tourer failed on front to rear brake lines today.  I'm struggling to find anywhere that does the complete kit and I don't want to sell a kidney to order one from the dealer, am I better off just remaking them than trying to source a replacement kit?  Or is there anyone local to Hampshire (Basingstoke area) that is breaking an estate with good brake lines?

Aside from that, a caution on rustiness underneath (pah! its a Vauxhall) and an aftermarket cat having been fitted at one time or another which just scraped through emission testing it doesn't look too bad....could have been worse I guess!

As always, any help and advice that can be given will be gratefully accepted.

[Nick W]

I'd be surprised if they're available new and preformed. The best you're likely to manage is to get the correct length.
Any mechanic would simply make new ones from a reel of cunifer pipe.
it's quicker, easier, cheaper and longer lasting that way.

As for second-hand steel brakepipes, you'd have to be desperate.

[meegaveesix]

I figured that would probably be the case.  Thanks for the advice, much appreciated.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Anyone got any tips/recommended tools on how to get the 'copper' brakelines looking, well, nice? Did them on the old man's car and though we were as thorough and careful as possible, on the long straight sections the pipe always looks a bit of a mess, all crinkled and wobbly - assuming there's something that professional car restorers would use to maybe stretch the pipe fractionally to bring is dead straight.

[Nick W]

You straighten it as much as possible by hand, and then roll it between two planks.
use a proper tool to put the bends in; Automec do one that looks hopeless, but works brilliantly and is about £20.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

You straighten it as much as possible by hand, and then roll it between two planks.
use a proper tool to put the bends in; Automec do one that looks hopeless, but works brilliantly and is about £20.

Terriffic, I have a couple of mates that fit the description perfectly 

[dad1uk]

I had both replaced by a little garage for a tad over £100, which I thought was not too bad

[omegod]

If they failed on surface corrosion they may not actually be that bad, I've given many a wire brush and coated in waxoil etc and flew through the retest. Obv if they are rotten then replace but when cleaned these were ok

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Yep, same here - looked a little crusty - wire brush and wipe over with grease and they look absolutely fine, to be honest- it's not deep corrosion, often. I just keep an eye out for them, just so you don't get any nasty surprises at MoT time.