With Christmas around the corner and the family asking what they should get me I decided on a flare tool. With redoing all the brake lines and the fuel lines I figure it would be a good investment. Naturally, there are several different flares, what do I need for the mustang? Just double flare? I see 37 degree and 45 degree, do I need both? Would I also need/want push connect, bubble etc?

Looking at mastercool hydraulic units

 

A double flare tool will give you SAE (single flare) and inverted (double) flares.
JIC is used in medium and high pressure hydraulics (2500 to 5000 psi) and is rare on cars. which ever kit you get look for a flare tool with a freely rotating flaring head, a good clamping vice and replaceable double flare inserts. (they get lost and sometimes break) MOst hardware stores sell at least one of superior quality along with budget priced units that are worth less than you pay for them. Stay away from Harbor Freight flare tools unless you won't use it much. They are cheap cast tools that will bend and become useless very quickly.

 

I was thinking http://www.mastercool.com/pages/flaring_tools.html 71475 but i see some kits are 45 and some are 37. I guess I need the 45s? And do I really need a kit that does it all or just one that needs double flare?

 

I got something like this tool, maybe the exact one.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...7075000P?mv=rr

And this.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...7299000P?mv=rr

I was able to custom run all my brake lines with these two tools. Bought the line in bulk. Oh yeah, I also had a tubing cutter, some kits come with a cutter. The manual flare kit worked well for me. Not sure if a hydraulic is really needed unless you're doing a lot of flaring.

Although, that hydraulic kit would be pretty cool........

 

I bought one from Harbor Freight that looks a lot like the one available from Sears and it works just fine for the times that I use it. The one you listed looks expensive. I think it might be a bit overkill. I like tools, but "Oh Honey it's beautiful" doesn't come to mind when unwrapping a double flare tool. A 347 shortblock might. LOL

 

You will NEED the 45 double flare for brake lines, I have that Mastercool set I/F, Bubble flare, & push connect.

The 37 degree set is for A/N flare, race style fuel lines & hydraulic fittings.

I say get the 45 set and buy the 37 degree inserts if you find the need, they will work in the same fixture.

And btw, if you are going to do more than just a few flares, the Mastercool setup is the bomb.

 

get a pipe cutter as well and before you start get a piece of brake line, flare the end, cut it off, flare, cut off, .... until you get the hang of it ;-) if you are not changing the routing get the old one out, bend the new one to the same shape (use tape to hold them together before and after bends, makes it easier). then flare both sides and in it goes. that's the easiest way

 

These have gotten more affordable since I bought mine, up till now I thought it was worth every penny I paid for it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Mastercool-71475...aultDomainQ5f0

I like the fact that they have made the 37º die set available without buying a whole set.

What I really like about the Mastercool set is the ability to make EASY flares even when the line is hanging on the car. Plus the "perfect every time" flares are pretty cool.

 

I'm thinking I want this one. Probably only use it a couple of times but I'm a sucker for quality tools.