Brake line replacement ... Need help, please
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 747
Likes: 93
From: Marietta, GA
Brake line replacement ... Need help, please
I have a 94 coupe, not that it matters on this problem.
I bought a set of Goodridge steel braided brake lines and wanted to get them installed tonight. The driver-side front old hose came off nicely and the new line went on without a hitch. It looks great.
The other three are being a huge pain. The caliper side comes of pretty easily, but the line side fittings are refusing to budge. I have a 12mm line wrench and I have treated the fittings with PB Blaster a couple of times. I push it to the point of rounding the corners of the fitting. They just aren’t braking loose.
Any other tricks or tips would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
I bought a set of Goodridge steel braided brake lines and wanted to get them installed tonight. The driver-side front old hose came off nicely and the new line went on without a hitch. It looks great.
The other three are being a huge pain. The caliper side comes of pretty easily, but the line side fittings are refusing to budge. I have a 12mm line wrench and I have treated the fittings with PB Blaster a couple of times. I push it to the point of rounding the corners of the fitting. They just aren’t braking loose.
Any other tricks or tips would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks.
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 747
Likes: 93
From: Marietta, GA
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 747
Likes: 93
From: Marietta, GA
The Goodridge lines have a lifetime warranty, so I guess all I have to do is get the new ones installed regardless of how ugly the fitting might look afterwards.
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Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,753
Likes: 15
From: backwoods upstate ny
old school repair
no idea why this works, illogical, does not compute...but taught to me by an ol'timer (even older than me)...and it works "sometimes"
soak with penetrant, wait an hour...then try to TIGHTEN the fitting just the tiniest bit...repeat - just a "tick"...then a bit more penetrant, let sit for an hour, unscrew it.
But --heat to dull red and cool, do it twice...still my fave...(soak an old sock in water, wrap the rubber side fitting/hose...heat only the male threaded part)
soak with penetrant, wait an hour...then try to TIGHTEN the fitting just the tiniest bit...repeat - just a "tick"...then a bit more penetrant, let sit for an hour, unscrew it.
But --heat to dull red and cool, do it twice...still my fave...(soak an old sock in water, wrap the rubber side fitting/hose...heat only the male threaded part)
Last edited by redrose; Feb 16, 2008 at 11:14 AM.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 763
Likes: 2
From: Weston FL
Did you then replace the brakes lines under the car? Or just use vise grips to install the new wheel-side lines?
The Goodridge lines have a lifetime warranty, so I guess all I have to do is get the new ones installed regardless of how ugly the fitting might look afterwards.
The Goodridge lines have a lifetime warranty, so I guess all I have to do is get the new ones installed regardless of how ugly the fitting might look afterwards.
I was able to move only the soft line nut. I kinda wedged the vise grip on the hard line against the car and used the vise grips on the soft line to unscrew. I didn't care if those got smoothed out or stripped since I was replacing them anyway. I didn't strip the hard line.
Racer
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 336
Likes: 3
From: State of Confusion
Also, not all line wrenches are created equal. Most of them don't have enough meat and they spread apart and round round off the corners, line wrenches are not a tool that you want to cheap out on.
Drifting
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,493
Likes: 94
From: Westfield MA
I agree, I had one that was spreading, I put a big vise grip on the wrench to keep it from spreading, looked like a contraption but it worked.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 7,625
Likes: 4
From: Director of Bands
St. Jude Donor '08
If you are going to use vise-grips, use these:
Also... Sears has their Craftsman Pro line wrenches on sale through the Craftsman Club this month. These are the full polish (identical to S*K) NOT the raised panel line wrenches. Highly recommended.
Also... Sears has their Craftsman Pro line wrenches on sale through the Craftsman Club this month. These are the full polish (identical to S*K) NOT the raised panel line wrenches. Highly recommended.
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 12,182
Likes: 1
From: Partying with the Cowboys cheerleaders in Mt. Olive, New Jersey
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 747
Likes: 93
From: Marietta, GA
Post Script: Well guys, thanks for all of the suggestions and tips. I tried almost all of them. But in the end, I had to resort to brute force and two vice grips. Got them all off and the new ones installed ... which was the main objective, since I never plan on doing it again. Bled the system and took it out for a couple of quick test drives and everything seems good.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 2,118
Likes: 0
From: St. Charles, MO Route 66 Corvette Club
NC94Vette: Let me know how you like the Goodridge steel braid lines as I need to replace the original lines on my 89. I am considering Earl and Goodridge brand lines. Any comments on your lines would be appreciated.
SAM
SAM
Thread Starter
Pro
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 747
Likes: 93
From: Marietta, GA
