1. Make sure you're using the correct flare tool and fitting. It took me about 5 trips to the autoparts store to buy the wrong fittings, use the wrong flare, ruin brake line sections, forget to put the fitting on before flaring, etc... Also, I'm pretty sure that "plastic" is fiberglass because I was incredibly itchy after messing with that. This job sucks.

2. As for tools, I bought a cheap flare tool from Advance Autoparts. I broke the first one. Advance Autoparts replaced it so all it well but it's a cheap tool and I'm sure I'd break the replacement if I used it too many times. The pin broke out of the middle of the die if I remember correctly. For brake line bending tool I just picked up the cheap $5 bending tool and it works well enough. I had no issues with the brake line collapsing.

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2000 E53 M62