How to find the right Flared Tube Fittings AI guide
Written by an AI model from its trained knowledge.
What the AI looks for in Flared Tube Fittings
- Flare angle
- 37° flare (JIC/AN, SAE J514) is used for hydraulics and motorsport. 45° flare (SAE) is used for refrigeration, gas lines and many automotive fuel and brake lines. The two angles never mix. 37° and 45° parts look alike and may thread together, but they seal on a line rather than a cone, so they leak.
- Brake line flare type
- Brake lines need a 45° double flare or an ISO bubble flare as specified by the vehicle; single flares are not acceptable on brake lines. A single flare can crack under brake-system pressure.
- Tube suitability
- Flare only tube that is rated for flaring, such as annealed copper, soft steel, stainless or aluminum suited to the tool, and deburr it first. Hard or burred tube splits at the flare and leaks.
- Thread and size
- Match the dash size (tube OD in 1/16 in) and the thread to the mating port; check whether the port end is NPT, ORB or flare. Dash sizes and thread pitches differ between 37° and 45° families of the same nominal size.
Brands that matter
- Parker: Steel and stainless 37° JIC fittings for hydraulics.
- Eaton Weatherhead: Hydraulic 37° and brass 45° flare fittings.
- Brennan: Wide catalog of JIC, ORB and adapter fittings.
- Russell: Aluminum AN fittings for automotive fuel and fluid lines.
- Earl's: AN fittings and hose ends for motorsport.
- Anderson Metals: Brass 45° SAE flare fittings for gas, refrigeration and fuel.
What to avoid
- Mixing 37° and 45° components.
- Applying thread tape or sealant to flare seats.
- Aluminum AN fittings on high-pressure hydraulic systems rated for steel.
Questions
Are AN and JIC fittings interchangeable?
Both use a 37° flare and the same threads, so they usually mate. AN is a tighter-tolerance military spec, and some users avoid mixing them on critical systems.