Brake Line not cooperating


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Old 10-19-07, 04:42 PM
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Brake Line not cooperating

I am needing to replace the flexible brake line on my truck. Problem is when I try to remove the fitting it rounds off. It is a 7/16" size. I made my self a line wrench with the box end of a 7/16". I still doesn't it want to cooperate.

Has anybody got any ideas how to get the fitting off, short of a sawzall.

1986 F150
302Cu V8 FI
2WD
 
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Old 10-19-07, 04:49 PM
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are youtalking about the fitting on the steel line that screws into the fitting on the rubber line?

If so, some heat almost always helps. Be careful and wear safety glasses as the heat will cause the rubber hose to blow off the fitting. It will startle you pretty good.

Some spray lubricant while it is hot will help as well. Be careful about the penetrant being flammable. Not fun to have a WD-40 flash fire in your face.

Be careful as well as brake fluid is flammable so you do not want to burn your truck up.

After I have thouraghly rounded the fitting. I have sunk to using vice grips on the thing. Just remember, you still have to be able to reuse the fitting or replace it. Unless you have a double flaring tool, replacing is pretty much not a DIY option.

I would also suggest a real line wrench in the future. They are made so they do not expand from the force of turning the nut like your DIY line wrnech will.
 
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Old 10-19-07, 08:13 PM
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spray it down with some penetrating oil and use a good pair of vicegrips if your wrench is slipping, sometimes they are seized and you end up twisting the line into and end up replacing it anyway.
 
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Old 10-19-07, 08:22 PM
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Save yourself the frustration and just cut it off, then get a new piece of steel brake line and proper compression fittings from Autozone or Advance and put it all back together(the new line will have fittings on both ends and they will not work for you, so cut one off). I just went through this on my 87 F150 with a line at the very back. It ain't all that hard, as I found, after I did it. Never, never try to remove brake lines without the proper wrenches, you can buy them for about 10-12$ at Autozone or Advance. Have a good one. Geo
 
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Old 10-19-07, 08:45 PM
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Originally Posted by geogrubb View Post
Save yourself the frustration and just cut it off, then get a new piece of steel brake line and proper compression fittings from Autozone or Advance and put it all back together(the new line will have fittings on both ends and they will not work for you, so cut one off). Geo
NO NO NO NO NO NO!

compression fittings are not allowed on brake lines. They are not designed for the pressure.
 
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Old 10-19-07, 09:09 PM
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you can buy brake line in random lengths at most parts stores with the correct double flare fittings it just needs bent to match the old one.
 
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Old 10-20-07, 06:52 AM
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Yep Sazall chewed it up nicely. Got the new piece of brake line from oriellys, although he tried to sell me a metric size thread.

I just need to figure out how to bend the new tube. I am hoping to skip buying the tubing bender.

Any thoughts.
 
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Old 10-20-07, 08:59 AM
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I bend them with my thumb all the time. Be careful to bend slowly and pay attention so you do not kink the line.
 
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Old 10-20-07, 12:28 PM
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I figured out how to make a tubing bender rather easily. I took some washers and one slightly larger than the others. I screwed them down to a piece of wood. Then I drilled a hole the right size for a pin. That was it. I just made sure my top washer could completely cover the tube and that it didn't stick out on either side.

I find it's amazing what some scraps laying around the shop can do for you.
 
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Old 10-20-07, 02:04 PM
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great idea.
 
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Old 10-20-07, 03:43 PM
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Thanks, I got the thing working now and the truck is stopping better than ever. Shorter distance, less pull to the right, and a firmer pedal.
 
 

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