[ORANGE CRUSH]

I have had with these pre-bent lines Had a mechanic friend over to help with bleeding the brakes and to just to show off the FFR. I filled the reservoirs and we started pumping up the system. At first I had a leak at the D-block for the front brakes so we tighten it up some more, no help. Then as the fluid moved further thru the lines got a leak at the prop valve...tighten it up, no help. At that point we just kept pumping fluid thru to see what all ws going to leak. 5 friggen leaks that no mater how tight we got them they still leaked. That pretty much tells me that there is no fix-em if they leak like that. He took some of the joints apart and pointed out the not all were double flared and two of the ones that were had been flared at a slight angle and were off center. This is great I have fooled with these damn things for way too long. This was the biggest waste of time and money so far. Now I have $275.00 into these lines and I get to start all over. At this point I'm just going to cut my losses and buy some pre-flared lines and move on. Sorry just had to vent a little. This really sux!!

Mike

[ August 05, 2002, 04:01 PM: Message edited by: ORANGE CRUSH ]

 

[CobraEarl]

Personally I tried the double flairing tools and could not get them to work. I watched one of the guys at Dinos two day build just breese thru it tho. HE HAD A REALLY EXPENSIVE tool set. The ones I used were the 25 buck one from Advance auto. You will not have $200 bucks in preflared lines. Probably more like $40???

Get an assortment from your FRIENDLY autoparts store. GET twice too many in Widely varying lengths. Take back what you dont need for credit. Thats the reason i said FRIENDLY.

These Double flares kick Most folks A$$.

earl

 

[rhygin]

Sorry that the pre-bent lines did not work. I was within a wisker of going with them.

I bought a lot of pre-flared lines with fittings. I mean a lot. I messed up each line or section at least once. Stuff is pretty cheap and I return a lot of lines that I did not use (fittings as well. It helps to go to the same parts store all the time... they got to know me.

 

[paul burchett]

So, you spent $275 on pre-bent and pre-flared brake lines. They leak because the double flares were done poorly or not at all. IMHO, a single flare is not even safe to use, even if it doesn't leak. I'd call the place that you bought them from and demand your money back, and that they pay for shipping if they want the worthless lines returned to them. You paid big money for a product (functional brake lines) that you didn't receive. Not to meation the time you wasted. If they won't refund your money, tell them you will spread the word on the forums and they won't be getting money from anyone else. I, personally, have no tolerance for high prices and shoddy workmanship.

 

[ORANGE CRUSH]

Thanks guy's!! I think that I will try to copy the bends in these since I have them mounted and the holes for the clips.
Mike

 

[RacingRob]

I bought the prebent, preflared lines from Tri-state. I mounted them and literaly had brakes in an hour. Not a single leak. If the lines aren't made right call the vendor and give them a chance to make it right.
Just my .02
RR

 

[CobraEarl]

I missunderstood what you were originally saying. I build mine before PREBENT lines were available.

earl

 

[ORANGE CRUSH]

Don't get me wrong here, I'm not vender bashing. The vendor even bent lines for my jeep m/c and took the mustang ones back. But I am frustrated after all the waiting and then the things leak like a siv. I know these lines have worked for others and others have had leaks...guess its all in the flare as these are done by hand and are not consistent. I don't know what to do on the one hand the vendor did me a favor on the custom lines but on the other I have a bunch of leaks and I'm out a lot of time and $275.00 the latter of which I'm in short supply. This build was lots of fun till now

Mike... down but not out!!

 

[cobramd]

Why not flare them your self. I flared every line in my car and not a single leak. Though I really stink at my home plumbing jobs (about 50% of my sweated joints leak the double flare seems to be wicked simple to get right) Just take your time bevel the edges use alittle lubricant on the line to prevent binding on the second flare and you should be fine. You don't need a fancy flairer either mine is about 20 yrs old and still works great.

 

[Richard Oben]

Hundreds of flares and no major problems. Get a decent tool, K-D, Rigid, etc all around $50. Take your time READ THE INSTRUCTIONS. Follow the suggestions above, a little lubricant, a little patience and success. It is not difficult, just requires patience. Cheers Richard.

 

[TAZ]

Mike forget the Prebents. It's not that difficult to bend them nice yourself and have a really good fit. The biggest pain in the arse as you're finding out is the leaking of even decent quality flair jobs.

I say let the factory do it. On my build site I've got a short editorial on whats needed for the basic settups (Live Axle, IRS and IRS w/ Earls Braided Lines.)
http://home.houston.rr.com/tazwebpage/TAZ_Cobra_Build_Site.html This is also in the FFCars FAQ under Brakes. It only costs $25 and if you don't like it you could always buy another line and bend it for a couple more bucks.

If you want to stop by Saturday before going to pick up Damians Body you're more than welcome to look at my Brake Line Job.

TAZ

 

[RacingRob]

Earl sells braided lines??
Sorry, couldn't resist.
RR

 

[oldguy668]

If you can't wait for Tristate to replace the lines, why not just reflare the offending ends. You'll only lose 1/2" or so of length, which should not be a problem. I had zero leaks with Tristates lines.

 

[Cobra3657]

Maybe the "new guy" got to do your lines. Call them and see if they'll take care of you.

 

[cobraman]

Mike
As always Tri State will take care of your problem. Send the lines back and I will credit you what you paid for them and the shipping. nobody here is going to stick you with them...

When you called me the first time and said you were using the Jeep set up I told you I would special bend you a set just for that to help you out. ( Our lines are done for the Mustang) I went out and got the Jeep set up, mounted it on a car. had the lines bent. bought the fittings, made special lines for your prop valve to mount it inside the car. and even took pictures to show you were they get mounted. It appears that the person that flared the stainless lines may have not done it properly. I tried to help you out.
We have sold hundreds of these lines and had one or two lines leak out of all of them and these were because of a fitting being wrong or missing or they were not tight enough.
They are custom made in a factory and flared by machine as stainless is very hard to do by hand,
They also have a warrarty against leaking if installed properly.
I wish you would have called me first and gave me a chance to take care of the problem.

 

[blinn]

No harm done here to your reputation Mike! Those of us that have dealt with you know your a "stand up" guy. Thanks for your help with my build.

Brian

 

[2FAST4U]

I think it's wrong to bash one of the vendors without trying to remedy the situation with them first. If several attempts to rectify the problem with the vendor is unsuccesful, then a post asking if others experienced a similar problem might be in order.

All my dealings with Tri-States have been 110% positive. Mike's customer service is excellent. I will continue to order parts from Tri-States - without any reservation!!

Keith

 

[ORANGE CRUSH]

Hold on here, I'm not saying any bad about TRI-STATES reputation or that Mike would not stand behind anything he sells. I very happy with the way they have taking care of me and I have spent my fare share of money with them. I didn't even mention there name till now. READ my post I'M NOT OUT TO VENDER BASH!!! I simply had reoccurring bad luck with what was a bad idea from the start. I was intimidated at the thought of doing my own lines and bought the pre-bent lines.
Mike did his best to make them work, they were installed properly and they LEAK. Shit happens...my frustration has built up because of the time since I first started the brake lines was so long ago. I would highly recommend Tri-States pre-bent lines to anyone doing a stock build, but make damn sure you and Mike discuss the m/c if not using the Mustang....that is were my problem started. I told him but we never really discussed it. I can't help what others write about the problem here IM SIMPLY WRITING ABOUT WHAT IS GOING ON WITH MY BUILD. MAN I PICKED A BAD TIME TO QUIT SMOKING I don't want anybody to get the impression that Mike is hard to deal with...because he's not, I was the one with the dilemma about what to do.

 

[2FAST4U]

Orange Crush-

Not to belabor the subject, but only one vendor sells "pre-bent" lines for the FFR Cobra. Although you didn't identify the vendor outright, your reference to pre-bent lines took the back door route to naming them.

Now I have $275.00 into these lines and I get to start all over. At this point I'm just going to cut my losses and buy some pre-flared lines and move on.

The inference here is that the vendor did nothing to remedy the situation. Remember, what you were trying to communicate to us was not what many of us interpreted.

Glad to know that the situation has been corrected and we are all in agreement that Tri-States is above board in their service.

Keith

 

[ORANGE CRUSH]

Keith
I do admit in my I made a mistake I should have not mentioned being out the $275.00 since I had not contacted the vendor yet. I didn't really think about the fact that TRISTATES was the only vendor that sold them, because my intensions were not to get into bashing them. Ok my venting was misguided and for that I apologize. I never meant for this post to runaway in that direction. Mike and I talked on the phone and he was very understanding and helpful as always. He did explain that the custom lines he did for me were flared by hand and doing this with stainless is really hard. I know I did have to do one to get the right fitting. KILLS THE HANDS.
Again my apologizes for posting before thinking.
Mike

I'm off to buy some ciggeretts

[ August 06, 2002, 12:24 PM: Message edited by: ORANGE CRUSH ]