I just received my brake hoses from rockauto (no crush washers). I have used copper before and found it difficult to get a good seal, even a stripped caliper once. so, I am wondering if the aluminum washers seal better.
Thanks

Just use the used ones. I have found they are more likely to seal than the new ones are.

yes, i have reused copper ones, but I have heard that the aluminum washers are softer, and seal better. Wondering if anyone found them to be better than copper.

You might want to consider corrosion over time on the aluminum wahers. Just a thought.

The shop I used to work at repairing airless paint sprayers often reused the copper seals in systems around 3000psi. When you crush them, they take on the shape of both surfaces to create a seal and as a result become quite stiff...they loose their flexibility and their ability to re-seal properly if reused. We would hold the used copper seal with a coat hanger or screwdriver and heat it with a torch until it turns red then drop it in a cup of water to cool it off. (Don't melt it or drop it on the flooras it can be damaged beyond re-use.) This restores the copper seals flexibility and performance when crushed. It's called 'annealing'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmWKgJCtkyM

[This message has been edited by Reallybig (edited 03-21-2012).]

Yes, copper crush washers can be reused, but they must be annealed first. New copper crush washers should already be in the annealed condition, so you normally should be able to use them right out of the box. (Copper will slowly age-harden at room temperature, though. Those copper crush washers you bought 10 years ago, even though "new," may need to be annealed before use.) When you install them the crushing process work-hardens the copper, so they become much less flexible and may not seal if you try to reuse them "as is." Heating the copper washers to annealing temperature (~1100 degrees F ... a simple propane torch will do) and cooling them back to room temperature will restore their ductility and allow them to be reused once or twice.

Soft aluminum crush washers work-harden when used, too, but they can't reliably be annealed using simple workshop tools and techniques. Just throw them away and buy new ones. I assume that the use of aluminum crush washers is becoming more common due to the increasing price of copper.

[This message has been edited by Marvin McInnis (edited 03-21-2012).]

correct part number are in brakes service in my cave.

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