Date:         Fri, 8 Jun 2012 18:48:33 -0400
Reply-To:     Mike S <mikes@FLATSURFACE.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mike S <mikes@FLATSURFACE.COM>
Subject:      Re: Next question - Removing 35 yr old brake lines from MC. :-/
Comments: To: Courtney Hook <courtneyhook@SHAW.CA>
In-Reply-To:  <71D0113D4C564073ABD7EE05ADF30327@MainComputer>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1; format=flowed

On 6/8/2012 5:45 PM, Courtney Hook wrote:
> So I know the nuts are frozen onto the brake hose ends of the
> metal lines, and I had to actually spin the whole caliper/ hose
> assembly to get it off the metal lines.

If you're replacing the lines, you should do the hoses, too. Hoses have
a shorter lifetime than lines. Easier to just cut the lines than spin
big things.

> I am just imagining what the
> other end is going to be like at the MC. My thought is to use PB
> Blaster and soak the hell out of it for a few days, then apply some
> heat from my propane torch.

The MC isn't exposed to the elements, so I wouldn't expect any
difficulty. You do have a proper brake line (flare nut) wrench, right?

But, before you get to the MC, there's also a splitter, and a
compensator (for the rear). They tend not to be as bad as the
caliper/cylinder/hose connections because they're tucked up, and more
out of the elements.

When done, I glop some grease on new connections, helps keep the flare
nuts from rusting up as fast.