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Those %$#@! crush washers for brake lines

bwringer

bwringer

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I just ordered a lifetime supply of 100 aluminum 10mm crush washers from Spiegler USA, purveyors of fine braided brake lines and many other goodies besides. They're only 25 cents each. UPS shipping is unfortunately a minimum charge of $9.50, but that's still less than 35 cents each.

http://www.spieglerusa.com
Choose "Brake Line Accessories" then choose "Crush Washers" from the menu. You have to call them to place the order.

Heck, buy some brake lines while you're at it. They have a really nice custom configuration utility on their web site. You submit your request, then you get an email the next day from a real human being with a quite reasonable estimate.

It's taking me a couple of tries to get this brake line thing exactly right. And I'm getting really tired of paying $1.99 for each little scrap of use-it-once-and-throw-it-away aluminum at the bike shop. (It takes 7 to do my front brakes.)

Most of the mouth-breathers at auto parts stores don't even know what crush washers are. The few stores that do have them (Autozone is the only one I've found that has them in bulk for 39 cents each) stock copper washers that are a little too sloppy in the middle and too big around the outside for many fittings. They might work in a pinch, but "close" isn't enough for me.
 
Most of the mouth-breathers at auto parts stores don't even know what crush washers are.
Click to expand...

I know! I recently went to a Pep Boys and asked about crush washers. I was looking for my oil cooler line banjos. The guy first looked at me sidways and then asked, "What kind of car is it?" I said it wasn't a car and he said, "Well, we are a car shop." I asked for a manager and he didn't know what a crush washer was either 8O 8O 8O How do these idiots tie thier shoes in the morning?
 
Jethro said:
How do these idiots tie thier shoes in the morning?
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Haven't you seen Velcro (tm) sneaker closures?

I just took a "crushed" washer to my local NAPA shop and said in my best neatheral tone, something like "I'd like a half-dozen o' these, luh!" Don't think he even charged me for them!

Sometimes it pays to stoop to their level!

SV
 
Got my lifetime supply of aluminum crush washers from Spiegler this morning. They sure are purty! The total with shipping was only $34.50 for 100 washers.

They are noticeably higher quality than the $1.99 aluminum washers from the local bike shop. They don't have the ridges from being stamped out, and the sealing surfaces are much more even and consistent.

Given my slovenly bike cleaning habits (actually, no bike cleaning habits), I didn't want to use copper crush washers from Autozone if I could help it. I just have this vision of the copper eventually turning green and crumbling...

Is it sad that a bag of washers can make my day?
 
Oh, and yes, the Spiegler brake washers worked wonderfully.

Unlike the crap washers I got from the local bike shop, I could feel a lovely squisssssshh as I tightened the banjo bolts. No leaks on the first try, and I had been struggling with getting these brake lines installed and not leaking for a week.

Nothing like having the right stuff for the job! And yes, the braking feel is much improved.
 
sv650 said:
Jethro said:
How do these idiots tie thier shoes in the morning?
Click to expand...

Haven't you seen Velcro (tm) sneaker closures?

I just took a "crushed" washer to my local NAPA shop and said in my best neatheral tone, something like "I'd like a half-dozen o' these, luh!" Don't think he even charged me for them!

Sometimes it pays to stoop to their level!

SV
Click to expand...
It used to be that in order to work at the auto parts desk you needed to know soemthing about cars. That requirement was dropped when they went to computerized lookups. They just ask you some year/make/model questions and out pops a part. Is it the right one? Maybe, but they wouldn't know.

If you don't have all of the specific info or if they don't have a record for the vehicle you have then it is going to be a long day.

It just another dumbing down due to computers.
 
Swanny said:
It used to be that in order to work at the auto parts desk you needed to know soemthing about cars. That requirement was dropped when they went to computerized lookups. They just ask you some year/make/model questions and out pops a part. Is it the right one? Maybe, but they wouldn't know.

If you don't have all of the specific info or if they don't have a record for the vehicle you have then it is going to be a long day.

It just another dumbing down due to computers.
Click to expand...

I know what you mean. I ask for sway bar bushings at Canadian Tire, and they want to know if the vehicle has air conditioning! I said, "What the hell does it matter if it has air conditioning, it's a suspension part?" :-s The guy then informed me it won't come up unless he fills in the blanks on the computer screen. :roll:

I like dealing with a guy who knows what part I need without even looking it up. THAT'S service! :D

Oh, and before anybody flames me for putting Canadian tire sway bar bushings in my car I have an explanation. It was a beater that we weren't going to keep for more than a couple of months and I just wanted to get rid of the clunking noise in the front end. 8)
 
I have had luck with heating the washers up with a torch and then quenching them in water. They dont seem to leak after this. Maybe not the right way, but it does seem to work.
 
Motnik,

I was about to say the same thing, there used to be a show on the DIY channel where a British mechanic had a different project bike, helicopter, airplane, car each week. On one of his shows he did the same thing, torched the crush washer then dipped it in water. Supposedly this will expand the washer so it can be used again. I've done it once about a year ago and it still hasnt leaked

Todd
 
It works good. I learned the trick from a diesel mechanic. The same type of washer is used to seal the injector from the combustion chamber. 8O This is the method he used.
 
It works good. I learned the trick from a diesel mechanic.
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What you are really doing is annealing the washer, which softens the material and allows it to act as a proper gasket again. I wouldn't use this trick more than once or twice at most, though, as the washer keeps crushing every time and will eventually be unable to seal properly no matter what you do to it.


Mark
 
mark m said:
It works good. I learned the trick from a diesel mechanic.
Click to expand...

What you are really doing is annealing the washer, which softens the material and allows it to act as a proper gasket again. I wouldn't use this trick more than once or twice at most, though, as the washer keeps crushing every time and will eventually be unable to seal properly no matter what you do to it.


Mark
Click to expand...

"Annealing" I couldn't remember what it was called but I did remember he had a term for it.
 
By the way guys i'm sort of new here. Just picked up a Gs1100gl and a gs850g. I'm a regular over at http://www.cb1100f.net/. Go by the same name, Motnick.

Here is a picture of my cb1100f and I.

NewPaint2.jpg
 
I've re-used the washers many times. I always torque them right in the middle of the torque range. Never had a leak. Lucky I guess?
 
NewPaint2.jpg


Does anyone else notice the cat you must have run over and got stuck into your headers? Poor pu$$y...
 
motnick said:
I have had luck with heating the washers up with a torch and then quenching them in water. They dont seem to leak after this. Maybe not the right way, but it does seem to work.
Click to expand...

This is right out of an old Triumph shop manual and is callled reanealling (sp). They suggested it for use with head gaskets.
 
I have to admit, I've also always re-used mine. And I didn't use a torque wrench.......basically just tightened it to the point where it seems I could feel the crush washer compress. I know, probably just my imagination, but it's always worked......never a leak. :D
 
i got a pack of 10mm copper crush washers from the advance auto here in the HELP section of stuff that has oem repl stuff like door handles and stuff.

also got help several times form those guys at advance and my local NAPA for my cobbled together vehicles. just yesterday the kid at the counter didn't have a condenser listed for my GS but went and got one for a VW (his suggestion) to troubleshoot and it did the trick. i found that the guys in who drive primered hot rods and bugs tend to be more help :) so all may not be lost,, :o just misplaced! :D :D
 
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