Rear Brake Flex Line

patrickt · #1 (**permalink**) 03-14-2016, 05:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 66gtk

Thanks! I couldn't get the fitting loose, even with 2 different flare nut wrenches I tried. Looks like I have to crush it and get it off with a vice grip?!?!? If I do that, I'll have to replace the hard line down the whole side of the car. This is unfortunate. 20 year old car with hardly any miles - I guess this is what can happen when cars sit too long.

Heat it up with a torch with a welding blanket behind it and use the flare wrench again. Be careful around flammables, of course.

DanEC · #2 (**permalink**) 03-14-2016, 06:37 PM

Troy - here is what I've done with frozen brake and fuel line fittings when a brake line wrench appears to be slipping. Provided there is room, I get a set of vice grips and clamp over the top of the brake line wrench to clamp it tighter and prevent spreading. I've not had it fail on me yet that I can remember and I'm currently in the process of replacing all the original brake lines on my 49 year old 67 GTX right now. A shot of PB Blaster got most of them loose. The vice grips worked on a couple stubborn ones. I just have the two lines at the MC left.

66gtk · #3 (**permalink**) 03-14-2016, 08:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanEC

Troy - here is what I've done with frozen brake and fuel line fittings when a brake line wrench appears to be slipping. Provided there is room, I get a set of vice grips and clamp over the top of the brake line wrench to clamp it tighter and prevent spreading. I've not had it fail on me yet that I can remember and I'm currently in the process of replacing all the original brake lines on my 49 year old 67 GTX right now. A shot of PB Blaster got most of them loose. The vice grips worked on a couple stubborn ones. I just have the two lines at the MC left.

Interesting idea. I did PB blast it a few hours before trying. Put some more on there and will try again tomorrow or the next day.

DanEC · #4 (**permalink**) 03-15-2016, 06:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 66gtk

Interesting idea. I did PB blast it a few hours before trying. Put some more on there and will try again tomorrow or the next day.

Forgot to mention that I have a couple sets of the smaller vice grips (about 4 to 5 inches long) that work pretty well for the smaller fittings. They are a lot easier to position in tight spaces than a full size set of vice grips. I've pretty much decided that line wrenches have been vastly over-promoted over the years. They work just slightly better than a regular box end wrench IMO.

66gtk · #5 (**permalink**) 03-14-2016, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by patrickt

Heat it up with a torch with a welding blanket behind it and use the flare wrench again. Be careful around flammables, of course.

like the gas tank, fuel hose, and filter right next to the brake line?

patrickt · #6 (**permalink**) 03-14-2016, 08:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 66gtk

like the gas tank, fuel hose, and filter right next to the brake line?

Uhhh, yeah. You can also use a heat gun, instead of a torch, if that feels a little safer. If you can get the connection nice and hot, without blowing yourself up, it will come apart rather easily.