tips for getting flare fitting to stop leaking?

[Travis72]

Hi all,

I have a power rack and pinion setup with the AlterKation and it has a 1/4" hard line flare fitting that won't stop leaking.  It's just a slight drip but its annoying.  It's not a fitting that I made, it came with the rack that way.  I tried taking the fitting off and going over the flare and the seat with 400 grit sandpaper but that didn't help.  I then tried a copper flare washer to try and take up any inperfections, but it still leaks.

Any tips or advice?  I'm getting tired of wasting 2 quarts of power steering fluid every time I try to fix it.

Thanks,
Travis
72 Cuda

[Chryco Psycho]

if it is a tube is it long enough to cut off the flare & make a new flare or is it a fitting ?

[4Cruizn]

pipe dope?   

[burdar]

Fine Lines recommends some thread sealant on the back of the flare on their stainless lines.  That's what I'd try.

Catch the fluid in a clean container and reuse it.

[72cudamaan]

I agree with Chryco. Reflare the tubing.  Pipe dope aka thread sealant is fine and dandy in some places, but
a flare fitting by design seats the flare against the seat in the fitting. No amount of sealer will properly
seal the fitting. It may hide the leak temporarily, but it will be back. If the lines are stainless, then a bit of
lubricant on the back of the flare will help avoid galling of the tube so the nut will seat nicely.

[Cuda Cody]

Use lubricant on flared lines.  If they are dry they will mar the end and no matter how much you tighten it the leak will always be there.  I learned the hard way and now I always used a tiny bit of grease.

then a bit of
lubricant on the back of the flare will help avoid galling of the tube so the nut will seat nicely.