Brake pipes - made from what and how to clean?

[mrscalex]

I need to give the rigid brake lines a polish up in the engine bay before the engine goes back in.

Does anyone know what metal the rigid brake lines are made from? And the best stuff for cleaning them with? I have a small amount of overspray to clean off them too.

 

[t-tony]

I would only use gentle rubbing with wire wool, no scraping, they're steel pipes. If you end up with bare metal you need some protection, spray paint ?

Tony.

 

[mrscalex]

I would only use gentle rubbing with wire wool, no scraping, they're steel pipes. If you end up with bare metal you need some protection, spray paint ?

Tony.

Sounds like a plan.

So what are they coated with at the factory? Lacquer?

 

[t-tony]

Sounds like a plan.

So what are they coated with at the factory? Lacquer?

I would guess you could be right there mate, you could coat them with clear lacquer.

Tony.

 

[colb]

Probably lacquer, I was always impressed by Citroens I had in the past their pipes were enamel painted and stood up well.

 

[mrscalex]

I'll probably try to t-cut the (small) area of over spray off.

I'm also thinking of an area inside the pipe where corrosion is starting in the clip area. I'll give that a clean up with some lighter grade emery cloth and coat it with lacquer. The colour will end up a little different I expect but at least the lacquer will allow the MOT tester to see what I've done and that the corrosion was not too serious.

Thanks chaps.