Broke hose loose

[Gurpgork]

Can somebody please provide some tips on how to torque down the nut that connects the front brake line to the wheel cylinder? I can't get any of my tools around it and it's too loose to hold the brake fluid pressure (slow drip leak)

Thanks

 

[dagr8tim]

Can somebody please provide some tips on how to torque down the nut that connects the front brake line to the wheel cylinder? I can't get any of my tools around it and it's too loose to hold the brake fluid pressure (slow drip leak)

Thanks

Do you have a set of line wrenches?

 

[IOPort51]

If you are talking about the brake steel lines, a tube or line wrench is mandatory. When you go to buy them get the best you can find, very few tools are as useless as cheep tube wrenches. they round off the fittings every time. Sears are good and I have had good luck with cobalt. If you can afford them I imagine snap on are great. If it is very stubborn, warming them with a heat gun works well, I do not recommend a torch.

You can even just buy one 3/8" wrench, I think that is what it takes, just stay out of harbor freight for this one.

 

[Gurpgork]

This is not the steel brake line. It's the braided line with the rubber coating that connects the steel line to the cylinder at the wheel. It is the fitting directly onto the cylinder that I can't reach. If I purchase a line wrench, should I get ratcheting or not? Will it fit over the brake hose (maybe 1/2" diameter)

 

[Torxhead]

Right off hand, I would suggest one of those needle nose vise grips, I get the impression that the wrench flats are gone. You could remove the cylinder for easier access.

 

[Gurpgork]

Right off hand, I would suggest one of those needle nose vise grips, I get the impression that the wrench flats are gone. You could remove the cylinder for easier access.

I don't think I can remove the cylinder and still torque down the fitting.

 

[BusaDave9]

If I purchase a line wrench, should I get ratcheting or not? Will it fit over the brake hose (maybe 1/2" diameter)

No need for ratcheting.

It grips around the brake fitting better than an open end wrench. Those brake fittings are soft metal. That's why they round off easily.

 

[Gurpgork]

Ok, I bought these:

Powerbuilt 640185 SAE Flare Nut Wrench Set, 4-Piece - Amazon.com

Hopefully that will get the job done.

 

[IOPort51]

My recomendation: as soon as they arrive, throw them as far as you can and go to sears and get a good set. so far there are two tools that I have found that you absolutly can not buy a cheep substitute for, tube wrenches and torx drivers. Both will cause more problems than they solve.

 

[Gurpgork]

My recomendation: as soon as they arrive, throw them as far as you can and go to sears and get a good set. so far there are two tools that I have found that you absolutly can not buy a cheep substitute for, tube wrenches and torx drivers. Both will cause more problems than they solve.

In an ideal world this is exactly what I would do. However, in reality, cost is king. And the right crappy wrench is better than no wrench.

 

[dagr8tim]

In an ideal world this is exactly what I would do. However, in reality, cost is king. And the right crappy wrench is better than no wrench.

While I'm a fan of buying good tools, I got a set of HF line wrenches when I did the power steering hoses on my XJ. For as infrequently as I will ever use them, I couldn't justify the cost of a really good set.

 

[Gurpgork]

While I'm a fan of buying good tools, I got a set of HF line wrenches when I did the power steering hoses on my XJ. For as infrequently as I will ever use them, I couldn't justify the cost of a really good set.

^^^^^^^ What he said. My common tools are, at the very least, Craftsman.

 

[dagr8tim]

^^^^^^^ What he said. My common tools are, at the very least, Craftsman.

In my case, craftsman are my disposable tools because they are easy to replace. I've got some Proto (industrial tools) for the big jobs.