The olive green plastic-coated and galvanized (underneath the plastic) lines they sell look pretty good and are apparently bendable even by hand (although I would still use a bending tool). Supposedly those lines hold up 30x as well as the OEM. Copper alloy sounds like a really good idea, but I'd have to do my own flares. I'd do it for the Z, because I don't want ANY corrosion (even cosmetic), and because I'd know if I had a leak. However, I don't trust my son to recognize a leak until his brakes would get dodgy. I think it's better to go with the sure-fire factory flares in his case. I suspect the olive green steel brake lines will outlast most young drivers' vehicles anyway.

I'm going to do whatever is necessary to make this job easy on my back. I'll have someone else put the car on stands/ramps with my supervision, and then I'll finally buy a creeper, so that I can skate around under the bottom of the car with ease. I'll also have a helper close at hand to pass me tools and parts, so that I don't have to twist my back (which is how I get myself into trouble). If I keep my back flat to the creeper as much as possible, I should be just fine.

The copper alloys are available from Autozone with terminations and bend easiest but they are pricey. I can't find them online but I did see them in the store.

Thanks, Blue!

Good luck with that job Sarah. A helper is always good. One of my pet hates is sliding under the car with a handful of tools, and the one you need is back in the box.

Are you punishing him for some reason? '95 Taurus Wagon?

Punishing my son?! He currently drives a rusty '90 Volvo brick that barely runs and has a Christmas tree dashboard. This is an upgrade!