Tubing Flares?

1996 TOYOTA AVALON
200,000 MILES • 3.0L • V6 • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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KISSANGANI
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In the attached picture, can you please tell me what kind of tubing flares are #1 and #2?

Thank you!
Sep 16, 2025 at 11:26 AM
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STRAILER
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Sure, the #1 flare is a normal stepped flare designed to help keep fluid lines from coming off when held by a clamp. The #2 flare is step one of a double flare used for brake fluid systems, here is a video of a brake line flare to its completion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sO43p4ZFUiM

Please go over this guide and get back to us.
Sep 16, 2025 at 12:07 PM
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KISSANGANI
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Actually, #2 is a bubble flare. I'm also quite familiar on how a double flare looks like. However, I don't recognize the #1 flare. You are right that it was attached to a fluid line and held by a clamp, which I suppose is to help the fluid line from coming off as you mentioned. So, what is the actual name for the # 1 flare? You referred to it as a "stepped flare", but I couldn't find anything under that name when I researched it. Is there another name for it? I'm familiar on how to make a single, double, and bubble flare and I have the tool as well, but how can I make a flare like #1? What tool would I need for that?

Sep 16, 2025 at 3:46 PM
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STEVE W.
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The first flare is what GM just calls it a line retention flare but it's really just a partially formed bubble flare. I make them using the same inverter dies used to form a bubble but don't fully press the dies in like you would for a full bubble flare.
Sep 16, 2025 at 4:50 PM