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chris garrett
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Joined: January 11, 2015
Posts: 347
Location: Highland Park IL
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 Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2015 12:20 pm Post subject: Applying heat to brake fittings? |
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I'm installing new brake hoses at my front wheels, and I cannot get the old hose off. The brake fitting nut and the hose are rusted together. I've been applying Deep Creep for 3 days and using vice grips all to no avail.
Can I apply heat to the brake fitting nut with hurting anything?
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Tom Powell
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Joined: December 01, 2005
Posts: 4855
Location: Kaneohe
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| Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2015 12:44 pm Post subject: Re: Applying heat to brake fittings? |
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IMO:
Brake fluid is flammable and heat may damage the pistons.
Vise grips and BFH should do the job. Huge channellock pliers might be better than visegrips if there is room to work.
50/50 acetone and ATF is the best penetrant.
Aloha
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MarkWard
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Joined: February 09, 2005
Posts: 17155
Location: Retired South Florida
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| Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2015 1:01 pm Post subject: Re: Applying heat to brake fittings? |
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I used acetylene torch with an number 1 tip to heat on the last one I took apart. I also cut the rubber hose and used and impact gun with a 6 point socket to remove the hose end. There was no way it was coming apart any other way. As always, use caution when you have an open flame. I was able to save both line ends and reuse. Once I had the hose ends off, I worked in some PB blaster so the line nuts would spin freely with my fingers. Good luck.
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Merian
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Joined: January 04, 2014
Posts: 5212
Location: Orygun
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| Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2015 1:23 pm Post subject: Re: Applying heat to brake fittings? |
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apply cold - e.g. dry ice - to the brake fitting nut
and give the penetrant more than 3 days to work - tap the joint with a steel rod or hammer every few hours
heat is the last resource here |
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djkeev
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Joined: September 30, 2007
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Location: Reading Pennsylvania
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Terry Kay
Banned
Joined: June 22, 2003
Posts: 13331
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| Posted: Sat Nov 28, 2015 1:50 pm Post subject: Re: Applying heat to brake fittings? |
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| MarkWard wrote: |
| I used acetylene torch with an number 1 tip to heat on the last one I took apart. I also cut the rubber hose and used and impact gun with a 6 point socket to remove the hose end. There was no way it was coming apart any other way. As always, use caution when you have an open flame. I was able to save both line ends and reuse. Once I had the hose ends off, I worked in some PB blaster so the line nuts would spin freely with my fingers. Good luck. |
^^^^^^^^^^^^^
This;
I also use oxy-acetylene heat on any frozen brake fitting without any problems.
It'll break the rusted up unions faster than anything else.
You do have to be careful, you do have to watch what your doing.
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chris garrett
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Joined: January 11, 2015
Posts: 347
Location: Highland Park IL
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| Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2015 5:35 pm Post subject: Re: Applying heat to brake fittings? |
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Just a follow-up. I used a propane torch from the hardware store and it worked like a charm. Of course there was a little smoke from all of the oil I had sprayed on it over the last few days.
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dhaavers
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Joined: March 19, 2010
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Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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| Posted: Sun Nov 29, 2015 5:55 pm Post subject: Re: Applying heat to brake fittings? |
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Nice work....SO much win!
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JudoJeff
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Joined: May 24, 2013
Posts: 1179
Location: Near Springfield, MA
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| Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2015 6:48 am Post subject: Re: Applying heat to brake fittings? |
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Be cautious applying heat because the line can POP. Besides startling you, you can catch a piece of crud in the eye.
I use small pipe wrenches and a socket over the nut after cutting off the hose. Channel locks never seemed to grab well enough.
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Terry Kay
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Joined: June 22, 2003
Posts: 13331
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| Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2015 7:17 am Post subject: Re: Applying heat to brake fittings? |
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Usually,starting off with the correct tools & a little heat will get any brake line fitting off in a snap.
A Channel Locks is not the right tool for brake work.
It'll mess up that flare fitting in short order.
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chris garrett
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Joined: January 11, 2015
Posts: 347
Location: Highland Park IL
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| Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2015 7:43 am Post subject: Re: Applying heat to brake fittings? |
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Terry,
I'm going to buy a set of those wrenches. What size is the nut on the brake fittings? Seems like my 7/16 fits better than the 10mm.
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Terry Kay
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| Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2015 7:51 am Post subject: Re: Applying heat to brake fittings? |
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It is usually a good idea to hit the flare fitting nut with a small wire brush so the correct sized tool will fit properly.
On a rusted up swelled brake line fitting a 3/8's will fit pretty close but is usually a little loose and will round the hex before the 10mm would.
A guy should be able to take a look at any fastener's condition, know full well that a wrench--even the correct one will not all by itself get a rusted up flare fitting loose.
This is where the heat comes in--heat, install the flare nut wrench , and off the fitting comes.
What were you using to get these fittings off--a crescent wrench?
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Last edited by Terry Kay on Mon Nov 30, 2015 10:20 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Jake de Villiers
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Location: Tsawwassen, BC
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| Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2015 10:07 am Post subject: Re: Applying heat to brake fittings? |
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| chris garrett wrote: |
Terry,
I'm going to buy a set of those wrenches. What size is the nut on the brake fittings? Seems like my 7/16 fits better than the 10mm. |
Mostly 11mm.
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Terry Kay
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| Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2015 10:22 am Post subject: Re: Applying heat to brake fittings? |
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Brain fade, I meant 3/8ths.
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chris garrett
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Joined: January 11, 2015
Posts: 347
Location: Highland Park IL
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| Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2015 11:09 am Post subject: Re: Applying heat to brake fittings? |
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Well I just bought a 10mm/12mm flare nut wrench and guess what? It doesn't fit. So they are actually 11mm? The one wrench I have never owned-an 11mm.
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djkeev
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MarkWard
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| Posted: Mon Nov 30, 2015 2:52 pm Post subject: Re: Applying heat to brake fittings? |
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And the hose ends are 14 mm.
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