brake lines and hoses

[Beck]

hey guys, it's warrant of fitness time for my cuda, and i had to replace the brake hoses...

of course that meant ruining the hardlines trying to get the 35 year old fittings apart.     grrr

i used line spanners, and tried to be carefull but both front lines going into the hose fitting got damaged. got one front hose off, but the other seems to be seized onto the hard line... the fitting unbolts but the line stays fixed to the hose end.
haven't even managed to get the rear hose off yet, soaking it with crc in the hope i don't damage the rear line as well...   i really don't want to have to replace that!

you guys have similar problems?
i guess i'll be replacing the front disc lines, is it hard to fit the RH line without pulling everything (heater hoses etc) off?
anyone who has bent new lines for their car got any tips?

ah well...   

[Chryco Psycho]

heat .... use a propane torch & heat the fittings up sometimes I use vice grips to get the lines free , once they are free just use a wrench , the front lines are not too bad to replace , the front right should slide in through the opening the rubber seal covers in the front wheel well    , you could just buy prebent , or if you make you own make Sure you Double flare the lines

[GoodysGotaCuda]

I went with in-line prebent Stainless Steel lines when I changed mine. Fit perfect

[Beck]

how much heat do you apply? to the hose fitting end or both?
when using vice grips do you cover the nut with anything first? or just clamp the vice grips straight on hard.

i really don't want to damage the rear line or fitting, but it won't budge...
if i did damage the line is it possible or safe to split the line with a fitting and only replace the end near the hose?

by the way does anyone have a spare caliper guide pin for a 73 e body? one of mine has stripped threads.

cheers,
aaron

[Chryco Psycho]

I heat them up real good & usually heat the nut on the steel line , at least if the rubber line is damaged it is easy to replace
 if you use vice grips just be careful , just bite onto it once give it hit to break it loose & remove the vice grips & use a wrench for the reat of the work & you will not damage the fitting in most cases
 I know I had some spare pins around , I will have to locate one

[MEK-Dangerfield]

I had luck useing "C" type of wrenches on my brake lines.  What I mean is the wrenches are in the shape of a C, so you don't strip anything.



  Mike

[GoodysGotaCuda]

I had luck useing "C" type of wrenches on my brake lines.  What I mean is the wrenches are in the shape of a C, so you don't strip anything.

  Mike

They are called "line wreches"....for lines ya'-know  or some call them Flare nut wrenches..

[Beck]

yep, i used line wrenches, still managed to round off a fitting...     

[BIGSHCLUNK]

Sometimes all the heat and flare wrenches in the world will not help old corroded steel. Hello in-line tube!! 

[hemiken]

Hey Aaron,

If all else fails buddy. you will have to clamp on a set of vice grips and cut the end of the tube off replace the fitting and flare a new end on.  If i was there i would do this for you, it is easy.

[MEK-Dangerfield]

I'll fess up...   


I had a TERRIBLE time getting the solid line removed from the proportioning valve.   

As Chryco mentioned, heat and a good pair of vice grip do wonders.   



   Mike

[73EStroker]

Aaron- you must be one of the kiwis also. Haven't heard "warrant of fitness" "spanners" for donkeys years. CP is right. Just heat the $hit out of them then spray them with CRC. It soaks in fast and loosens things up. But it is also time to think of new lines. Hate to see you go off one of those sharp corners in kiwi because the brake line burst.

My family all live in Pukekohe now. Me .... Salmon Arm BC Canada