Copper-Nickel vs Steel brake pipes

Melman

Melman

Member
 Salisbury
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Have any members had experience of replacing brake pipes front to back with copper-nickel pipes, bent around the fuel tank, vice using steel pipes and dropping the tank.

The price difference seems huge (c£200 vs £1k), I assume because of the labour to drop the fuel tank when using steel pipes.

Is there any drop off in braking performance using copper? Is insurance invalidated potentially? And is there a significant risk of the copper system failing (I can’t see why)?

Grateful to hear your experience with this before I commit to the work!
 
Steel will corrode within a year or so in my experience. No other difference. I paid £170 to have my rear cross pipe done so I've no idea where your £2k is coming from!
 
Thank-you, that’s re-assuring. 👍

Not £2K, £200 for copper front to back. £1k was for steel pipes.
 
Just had mine done to get through the MOT last month, copper lines used. Was around the £200 mark too.

I know of one other Z4 that failed on it at the same garage a couple of months ago, same fix for them too. Seems fine.
 
steel is way cheaper than copper so still doesn't make sense. Did they mean braided stainless steel do you think?
 
Rockhopper said:
steel is way cheaper than copper so still doesn't make sense. Did they mean braided stainless steel do you think?
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I’ll check. My understanding was that it’s the removal of the fuel tank to install steel pipes that adds the cost. Whereas copper obviously more easily bent, leaving the tank in-situ.
 
I assume you mean copper nickel rather than copper…in many jurisdictions copper is not allowed for automotive due to its low burst pressure…

I buggered up a couple of steel lines and patched them up with copper nickel pipes…so much easier than steel..plus inherent corrosion resistant 🧐👌
 
The steel pipes are inflexible and pre-formed to the correct shape before they're clipped to the body in the factory. If you want to replace like for like, half the underside comes off. Cupro-nickel comes off a roll and is "flexible" so can be fed over, under, round and through.
 
B21 said:
I assume you mean copper nickel rather than copper…in many jurisdictions copper is not allowed for automotive due to its low burst pressure…

I buggered up a couple of steel lines and patched them up with copper nickel pipes…so much easier than steel..plus inherent corrosion resistant 🧐👌
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Yes, copper nickel 👍
Thanks for taking time to reassure.
 
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My previous Coupe had advisories for corroded rear brake pipes 2 years running so I got them replaced in copper nickel and in the 7,000 miles I did after they were fitted I never had a problem with them in terms of braking performance or MOT tests.

As smorris said the steel pipes are pre-formed so need the fuel tank to be dropped for fitting, which is why I had mine done in copper nickel as it was way cheaper and meant they wouldn't rust again!
 
Mr Tidy said:
My previous Coupe had advisories for corroded rear brake pipes 2 years running so I got them replaced in copper nickel and in the 7,000 miles I did after they were fitted I never had a problem with them in terms of braking performance or MOT tests.

As smorris said the steel pipes are pre-formed so need the fuel tank to be dropped for fitting, which is why I had mine done in copper nickel as it was way cheaper and meant they wouldn't rust again!
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Thanks, there’s clearly on one right answer to this one…👍🙏🏻
 
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