<VV> Brake Line Update

[Bob Gilbert]

Howdy Matt,

I have found if I spray penetrating oil ( PB Blaster, WD40 etc. ) on 
fittings to be loosened as far in advance as I can they usually come off 
with ease.

The other Bob Gilbert


Matthew Klopfer wrote:

>Brake Line update:
>
>Ok, 
>
>So I went at it today. The front left brake line was
>the first recipient of my punishment. After a few futile (could have
>guessed) attempts with flare wrenches, it was clear that the line
>wasn't coming off the brake hose. I took a hand saw, removed the blade,
>put on some heavy gloves, and began filing away. TEDIOUS. I filed away
>where the line leaves the inner wheel well. 
>
>This worked well,
>as the hose came out of the slave cylinder with one good strong shove
>from a flare wrench. At that point I was able to unscrew the entire
>hose and about 7 inches of brake line. 
>
>As an academic
>exercise, I attempted to undo the connection between hose and steel
>line on the floor of the garage (more favorable setting than in the
>wheel well). Didn't work. So I hacked the line down at the fitting and
>successfully broke the two apart using a socket. Lesson learned. 
>
>I
>went inside the car and (carefully) began filing the front left line
>under the dash. This thing was right near the e-brake so I had to be
>careful. That came off after some more tedium and I set about using my
>socket to take the pathetic fitting out of the block. 
>
>But this one was too rounded off for a good fit. The socket wouldn't work. Came time for the bolt-out. 
>
>http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?cat=Hand+Tools%2C+General+Purpose&pid=00952166000&vertical=TOOL&subcat=Bolt-Out%2C+Taps+%26+Dies&BV_UseBVCookie=Yes
>
>Using
>this frightens me because if this doesn't work...then what?! There will
>be a gnarled piece of metal left over with no hope of anything
>hexagonal fitting over it. At that point I would probably use my
>replacement lines to build an entirely new Corvair around them. 
>
>There
>were a few scares because the bolt-out sockets wanted to jump out as
>they were torqued at an angle. (Why does the space have to be so tight?
>Who came up with this?) Eventually the thing bit down and punished that
>nut for ever looking at me funny. It came undone with a terrible crack.
>
>
>I yanked the old line out and threw it against the garage door
>to make sure it was dead. Steve Irwin should have been there to jump on
>top of it. 
>
>I put tape on both ends of the new line to keep it
>clean. I then guided it through the passages and gingerly got it into
>position without having to drop the gas tank. (I hate the thought of
>that.)
>
>Now there's a line in place (tape still on the ends), a
>new hose ready to go, and a wheel cylinder in the mail, which is what's
>holding the rest of this up. Once it gets here the front left wheel
>should be set. 
>
>
>Incidentally,
>that nut under the dash is lodged in the bolt-out socket with a
>death-grip, which I find mildly amusing. It refuses to leave, but I'd
>rather have it stuck there than in the car!
>
>
>Thanks to everyone who has thrown in their two cents. I really appreciate it. 
>
>I have some pictures. Can this list handle them or will they bounce back?
>
>Matt
>1968 Monza 110 Convertible (PG)
>
>  
>