TheNeedForZ Posted July 30, 2005 Share Posted July 30, 2005 Long story short...my brake hardlines were cut instead of disassembled at the flare nuts. The shop said the nuts were rusted solid, flare nut wrenches will not work. They had to cut it to remove it. So is there a remedy for rusted, stuck flare nuts? The shop that removed the lines weren't a professional brake shop(The shop cut the lines because I told them to remove the lines ASAP and I will have the lines replaced with new ones later. I just didn't expect the old lines to be cut) Now I have brake line "stubs" at every old connection. Will a professional brake shop have the right tool to remove the tight flare nuts? How do I save the situation? My original intention was to expose the area under the lines so the sandblast guys can get access. I wanted to keep the old lines for mock up when new lines are getting bent. There was even a chance that I'll clean up the old lines, paint them with rust bullet and re-use them. It's all too late. All hard lines were cut, EVERY SINGLE ONE. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2003z Posted July 30, 2005 Share Posted July 30, 2005 vice grips? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pop N Wood Posted July 30, 2005 Share Posted July 30, 2005 WD40 Just spend a week spraying them with WD40, then chances are a flare nut wrench will unbolt them with no drama. If one is really stuck you could try heating with a propane torch. At this point you may want to consider swapping over to AN fittings. Do a quick search. JohnC has talked about doing this swap. BTW, in your haste you sure have created a lot of extra work for yourself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mark Posted July 30, 2005 Share Posted July 30, 2005 Use a good penitrating oil. Works better than WD 40. Apply every day for a few days and then try a good pair of vice grips on the nuts. It will ruin the nut but you are not going to be reusing them anyway. As far as the lines on the car, you can either replace with new stuff or you can buy a double flair tool and reflair the old lines. If these are the front lines and just the short hard lines (6 inches or so) were cut that go from the caliper to the flexiable line you can just replace it all (rubber line and short hard line) with braided SS line. Got a pic? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNeedForZ Posted July 30, 2005 Author Share Posted July 30, 2005 No pics. But I'll try those methods. Will go ahead and get the SS lines. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
80LS1T Posted July 30, 2005 Share Posted July 30, 2005 A great way of getting brake line fittings loose is to heat with a torch(not too much though, the calipers have those rubber seals in them after all!), then pour water over them. This shocks the rust thats built up and works almost every time! Guy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNeedForZ Posted July 31, 2005 Author Share Posted July 31, 2005 Great, thanks. It's ironic that I have 4 different sizes of propane torch.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam280Z Posted July 31, 2005 Share Posted July 31, 2005 Now that they are cut off there is no need to use a flare nut wrench. Just use a six point 10mm socket. If they are rounded, vise-grips will get them out. I always use never-seize on the threads when I reassemble. Just be careful not to get it in system. Sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNeedForZ Posted July 31, 2005 Author Share Posted July 31, 2005 Now that they are cut off there is no need to use a flare nut wrench. Just use a six point 10mm socket....I always use never-seize on the threads when I reassemble. Just be careful not to get it in system. Wow, never thought about that, good advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNeedForZ Posted August 7, 2005 Author Share Posted August 7, 2005 Wow I just tried vise-grip on a rounded flare nut and I didn't know there are things that will not slip on a nut. Honestly I didn't know what a "vise-grip" is so I did a search on the net. It turned out to be a kind of locking-plier. So I bought a set of 2 and went home to try it. It didn't come with instructions and I never used this type of tool so it took me 2 tries to get the nut off. What a great tool!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pop N Wood Posted August 7, 2005 Share Posted August 7, 2005 Oh man. Now look what you guys started. Vice grips have their place but they are definitely the tool of second to last resort for any bolt or nut that you might ever want to use again. The only thing more destructive to nuts and bolts is the old "hot wrench". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNeedForZ Posted August 8, 2005 Author Share Posted August 8, 2005 Pop N Wood The nut was rounded...It can't be used anymore. Besides, flare nuts are evil, they should be punished. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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