C3 Brakes
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 240
Likes: 4
From: Mendon MA
C3 Brakes
Folks,
The left front caliper on my 1969 vette (350/350) started dripping fluid. Thought it would be an easy job and ordered a new caliper, new pads and new brake hose. Well, I could not get the old brake hose off the old "small" brake line (they attach just inside the wheel are). Where they attach was pretty corroded, so I opted to order a new brake line (the small one that goes from the brake hose to the brass proportioning block). Now the big problem. I cannot get the old brake line out of the brass proportioning block. I tried several 9/16 wrenches (and muscle), didn't work. Tried penetrating oil (and time), didn't work. I cut off the old brake line at the "nut" going into the block, put on a socket (and muscle), didn't work. I took a torch t heat up the nut (several times), didn't work. Removed the alternator to give me more room (and muscle), still didn't work.
Any advice?
Jim
The left front caliper on my 1969 vette (350/350) started dripping fluid. Thought it would be an easy job and ordered a new caliper, new pads and new brake hose. Well, I could not get the old brake hose off the old "small" brake line (they attach just inside the wheel are). Where they attach was pretty corroded, so I opted to order a new brake line (the small one that goes from the brake hose to the brass proportioning block). Now the big problem. I cannot get the old brake line out of the brass proportioning block. I tried several 9/16 wrenches (and muscle), didn't work. Tried penetrating oil (and time), didn't work. I cut off the old brake line at the "nut" going into the block, put on a socket (and muscle), didn't work. I took a torch t heat up the nut (several times), didn't work. Removed the alternator to give me more room (and muscle), still didn't work.
Any advice?
Jim
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 9,268
Likes: 951
From: Lake Tahoe, CA
Folks,
The left front caliper on my 1969 vette (350/350) started dripping fluid. Thought it would be an easy job and ordered a new caliper, new pads and new brake hose. Well, I could not get the old brake hose off the old "small" brake line (they attach just inside the wheel are). Where they attach was pretty corroded, so I opted to order a new brake line (the small one that goes from the brake hose to the brass proportioning block). Now the big problem. I cannot get the old brake line out of the brass proportioning block. I tried several 9/16 wrenches (and muscle), didn't work. Tried penetrating oil (and time), didn't work. I cut off the old brake line at the "nut" going into the block, put on a socket (and muscle), didn't work. I took a torch t heat up the nut (several times), didn't work. Removed the alternator to give me more room (and muscle), still didn't work.
Any advice?
Jim
The left front caliper on my 1969 vette (350/350) started dripping fluid. Thought it would be an easy job and ordered a new caliper, new pads and new brake hose. Well, I could not get the old brake hose off the old "small" brake line (they attach just inside the wheel are). Where they attach was pretty corroded, so I opted to order a new brake line (the small one that goes from the brake hose to the brass proportioning block). Now the big problem. I cannot get the old brake line out of the brass proportioning block. I tried several 9/16 wrenches (and muscle), didn't work. Tried penetrating oil (and time), didn't work. I cut off the old brake line at the "nut" going into the block, put on a socket (and muscle), didn't work. I took a torch t heat up the nut (several times), didn't work. Removed the alternator to give me more room (and muscle), still didn't work.
Any advice?
Jim
Good Luck.
Racer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 490
Likes: 99
From: The South
Folks,
The left front caliper on my 1969 vette (350/350) started dripping fluid. Thought it would be an easy job and ordered a new caliper, new pads and new brake hose. Well, I could not get the old brake hose off the old "small" brake line (they attach just inside the wheel are). Where they attach was pretty corroded, so I opted to order a new brake line (the small one that goes from the brake hose to the brass proportioning block). Now the big problem. I cannot get the old brake line out of the brass proportioning block. I tried several 9/16 wrenches (and muscle), didn't work. Tried penetrating oil (and time), didn't work. I cut off the old brake line at the "nut" going into the block, put on a socket (and muscle), didn't work. I took a torch t heat up the nut (several times), didn't work. Removed the alternator to give me more room (and muscle), still didn't work.
Any advice?
Jim
The left front caliper on my 1969 vette (350/350) started dripping fluid. Thought it would be an easy job and ordered a new caliper, new pads and new brake hose. Well, I could not get the old brake hose off the old "small" brake line (they attach just inside the wheel are). Where they attach was pretty corroded, so I opted to order a new brake line (the small one that goes from the brake hose to the brass proportioning block). Now the big problem. I cannot get the old brake line out of the brass proportioning block. I tried several 9/16 wrenches (and muscle), didn't work. Tried penetrating oil (and time), didn't work. I cut off the old brake line at the "nut" going into the block, put on a socket (and muscle), didn't work. I took a torch t heat up the nut (several times), didn't work. Removed the alternator to give me more room (and muscle), still didn't work.
Any advice?
Jim
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 240
Likes: 4
From: Mendon MA
Unfortunately, the nut doesn't have a lot of "flat" edges left (my Irish temper didn't help). I tried the other lines going into the proportioning valve, none will move even with the penetrating oil!!
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 9,249
Likes: 221
From: Dryden MI
Folks,
The left front caliper on my 1969 vette (350/350) started dripping fluid. Thought it would be an easy job and ordered a new caliper, new pads and new brake hose. Well, I could not get the old brake hose off the old "small" brake line (they attach just inside the wheel are). Where they attach was pretty corroded, so I opted to order a new brake line (the small one that goes from the brake hose to the brass proportioning block). Now the big problem. I cannot get the old brake line out of the brass proportioning block. I tried several 9/16 wrenches (and muscle), didn't work. Tried penetrating oil (and time), didn't work. I cut off the old brake line at the "nut" going into the block, put on a socket (and muscle), didn't work. I took a torch t heat up the nut (several times), didn't work. Removed the alternator to give me more room (and muscle), still didn't work.
Any advice?
Jim
The left front caliper on my 1969 vette (350/350) started dripping fluid. Thought it would be an easy job and ordered a new caliper, new pads and new brake hose. Well, I could not get the old brake hose off the old "small" brake line (they attach just inside the wheel are). Where they attach was pretty corroded, so I opted to order a new brake line (the small one that goes from the brake hose to the brass proportioning block). Now the big problem. I cannot get the old brake line out of the brass proportioning block. I tried several 9/16 wrenches (and muscle), didn't work. Tried penetrating oil (and time), didn't work. I cut off the old brake line at the "nut" going into the block, put on a socket (and muscle), didn't work. I took a torch t heat up the nut (several times), didn't work. Removed the alternator to give me more room (and muscle), still didn't work.
Any advice?
Jim
Racer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 406
Likes: 46
From: Lebanon OH
I have had some success with grinding flat spots on either side of the nut and clamping it with vise grips. I don't know whether you can fit a vise grip in there or not. If you have to take the proportioning valve off the car, you could definitely try that using a bench vise to hold the valve. Good luck.
MajD.
MajD.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 240
Likes: 4
From: Mendon MA
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Racer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 490
Likes: 99
From: The South
Glad to hear! Been in similar predicaments while working on my old Vettes. Never fun when it happens, but always great when you get through it! All part of the experience of working on these great old cars.