Tips on getting a stuck brake line nut free...

[mudski]

I have bought some new extended braided brake hoses. I though to replace then all as they have been there since new, and I will do them when I do my rotors. But the nut on the front brake line (front diff to chassis) against the chassis is well stuck and last time I tried to undo it, to replace the hose with a new rubber hose, the spanner was slipping on the nut and has started to round off the nut. So I left it at that. Now I need to attack it again. As I can see me in the end using vice grips to undo it and totally destroying the nut.

Any tips?

[MudRunnerTD]

Vice grips. She's farked anyway Mark. Vice Grips will do it easy then replace it.

[MudRunnerTD]

I might even have one. Post a pic if the part you need and I will have a look over the weekend.

[4bye4]

See if you can get hold of a split ring spanner. They have a bettergrip than a normal spanner. Available from good tool shops.

5062850629

[dads tractor]

I take it the line has no pressure in it so a bit of heat wont work to expand the fluid into the thread .How much work to take the line out cut and reflair the end ,failing that lots of CRC and small stillsons but you will probability twist the line .Its rust in a stretched thread is my guess .

[mudski]

Vice grips. She's farked anyway Mark. Vice Grips will do it easy then replace it.
Easier said than done I think. The entire line will need to be replaced. And from what I can see, it runs back along the chassis and to the proportioning valve or it does a turn and goes up to the master cylinder. I will have a look on the parts program to see I think...

I might even have one. Post a pic if the part you need and I will have a look over the weekend.
Yeah I can't just replace the nut, the entire line will need to be changed. :animierte-smilies-f

See if you can get hold of a split ring spanner. They have a bettergrip than a normal spanner. Available from good tool shops.

http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=50628&stc=1http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=50629&stc=1
I will go down and get me one of those I think... Thanks. The hex is not too badly damaged as I stopped after a couple of slips on the hex. That spanner will hopefully still go on.

I take it the line has no pressure in it so a bit of heat wont work to expand the fluid into the thread .How much work to take the line out cut and reflair the end ,failing that lots of CRC and small stillsons but you will probability twist the line .Its rust in a stretched thread is my guess .
I just soaked it in CRC now. Lets hope she free's up. I don't really want to be cutting it.

http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=50630&stc=1http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=50632&stc=1

What a PIA this will be. I can see it...No room at all from above too...

[dads tractor]

If you go the split ring spanner road pay for the best you can afford with the most meat around the head or your knuckles and the nut will suffer.Just asked the boys and they reckon the best buy would be Sid chrome or SP not Bluepoint or Snapon .or a crows foot https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRDVgKvZ8YAgwyjl8ji7_aG-ypWLspthJ4lbI-wLgLc7xFy5LmUBA

[Parksy]

Does it still have a decent flat on it? If so, put the spanner on and using a small hammer, gently tap the spanner to loosen, but being cognisant in maintaining the flat on the nut.

[mudski]

Does it still have a decent flat on it? If so, put the spanner on and using a small hammer, gently tap the spanner to loosen, but being cognisant in maintaining the flat on the nut.

Not sure mate. Its very hard to see it from the top. But I will give it a shot though. I just don't want to totally wreck it and then be without wheels. I don't know about heating it up too, to try and free it a little. I am flushing the system anyhow...

[threedogs]

Plenty of CRC, then drink beer, more CRC drink another beer.
at this stage you can tackle anything, lol use vise grips as per pic.
If poss try and shock the nut with a hammer,drink beer lol
Then have a lie down [nanna nap] lol

Small hand held butane gas burner may put out enough heat

[threedogs]

If you go the split ring spanner road pay for the best you can afford with the most meat around the head or your knuckles and the nut will suffer.

Glad you said nut[singular]
I was having a mental picture of Mark doing this Commando. LOL

[macca]

Penetrene is the stuff to free a seized nut. Can be bought in an aerosol can these days

[dads tractor]

Glad you said nut[singular]
I was having a mental picture of Mark doing this Commando. LOL

Ouch that's not living LOL

[mudski]

Penetrene is the stuff to free a seized nut. Can be bought in an aerosol can these days

Isn't Penetrene just as another WD40?

@TD.
I have plenty of beer and a butane torch. I'll make sure I don't burn my body hair whilst attempting this commando.... Lol.

[Crate]

This is the stuff, loctite freeze and release. If it is stuffed, you can get a tool to re flange the end of the pipe after cutting the nut off and replacing.

50635

[threedogs]

used to love Penetrene but that was before CRC and WD-40 came in spray cans

[mudski]

This is the stuff, loctite freeze and release. If it is stuffed, you can get a tool to re flange the end of the pipe after cutting the nut off and replacing.

http://www.nissanpatrol.com.au/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=50635&stc=1
I have some of that. Although everytime I use it, it seems to do stuff all.... I'll give it a shot though. I'll get some Inox or Penetrene too and soak the shite out of it with everything I have...

[threedogs]

there is always plan "B"

[dads tractor]

TD time you went for a tinnie your over thinking this by a long shot LOL

[macca]

Isn't Penetrene just as another WD40?

Could be, we used it years ago when apprenticed to free nuts etc., had CRC silicon based products then but weren't allowed to use in the powder coating area so penetrene was the weapon of choice.

Don't remember Inox or WD40, do know WD40 is made from fish oil so is good to use on your fishing gear.

http://qsmart.net.au/sample-post/penetrene-2/

http://simpleesue.com/top-tips-for-today-46amazing-uses-for-wd-40-spray/

[mudski]

I just went and picked up a Sidcrome split ring spanner and some Inox. No one had Penetrene so I will soak the bejesus out of it over the next few days and only hope it comes free.

[Rumcajs]

I just went and picked up a Sidcrome split ring spanner and some Inox. No one had Penetrene so I will soak the bejesus out of it over the next few days and only hope it comes free.

Brake fluid itself is far superior for rust related seizures to anything else. Just avoid painted surfaces and plastic, LOL

Good soak and a little bit of heat (with heat gun not oxy) applied will help. Having split ring spanner is great help.

Regards

[pearcey]

mudski
this is the best tool to use on frozen tube nuts
The split ring spanners are great but they can still round the nut off even top quality snap on.
These Vice Grips are fantastic and will usually screw the nut apart without damaging the hex.
These are small enough to get into some tight places and once you have cracked the nut a split spanner is then used. As said above brake fluid is the best anti freeze. 5065250653

[Punderhead]

Try squeezing the nut 90* around from the sides you had the spanner on. Being a thin nut, they can egg shape easily, and bind up just like that. Squeeze it back round, and then use your split spanner.


Or it could jest be rust.

Cheers

[doka404]

just been through a similar job of replacing my brake lines and if I had used a normal spanner it would have rounded them off. My mechanic mate gave me two tips..:

1 - use the pipe spanner (split ring)
2 - don't try and just turn the nut, chances are you will round it off...put the spanner on square and give it a whack with your hand to crack it.

Every single line that I though was going to be a disaster and not come off..came undone straight away doing it this way.

[mudski]

mudski
this is the best tool to use on frozen tube nuts
The split ring spanners are great but they can still round the nut off even top quality snap on.
These Vice Grips are fantastic and will usually screw the nut apart without damaging the hex.
These are small enough to get into some tight places and once you have cracked the nut a split spanner is then used. As said above brake fluid is the best anti freeze.

That tool would be perfect but there is f.a room to use that. its hard up, or pretty close too, the chassis rail.

I'm just soaking the nut everyday until I get around to doing it. Hopefully next week sometime... I will try to crack the nut, if it doesn't work I will have to leave it and try to get a new nut and flaring too and cut the line. I really don't want to do this as its in a bitch of a spot.
We'll see...

[BigRAWesty]

So the one you trying to undo is the solid to rubber??
There have a clip on then to hold them in the bracket.
I'd remove the clip and manipulate the join out of the bracket.
Then 2 vice grips, pour a fill can of freeze and release onto the male part and turn.
If this fails. Find a brake bloke why has a flairing tool and new end, cut the tube right behind the nut and insert new nut and reflair the end. Above the chassis you'll see a coil in the solid line so the loss of the 12mm won't be the end of the world

[mudski]

Yeah Kallen its the rubber one on the bracket. Problem is, its almost impossible from the top to do anything without removing half the engine, and the from the bottom, its too far up too lie on the ground and reach up. I will soak it and give it a few cracks first to see if I can loosen it. If not I will get a new nut and flare the line. I just don't want to be caught out on the day. Because if i do, i have no wheels to go get anything I need. I know eventually it will come undone. Just how much damage to the nut will be done on the way. If I manage to loosen the nut with vice grips or something and stuff the nut. If I can screw it back up again using the vice grips I will, damage pending. As it will never need to come off again.

[pearcey]

mudski old mate.
There is plenty of room to get the vice grips on as the grips are only 120mm long, but you will have to release the pipe from the bracket as the bracket will twist when you go to undo the tube nut. Also if you undo the bracket from the chassis you can bend the pipe down to a more accessible area. The reason I have these vice grips is I specialized in brakes and clutches for 45 years and i found that they were the best tool to release frozen tube nuts as they very rarely damaged the nut.
Chers and Beers Pearcey

[mudski]

Yeah it looks like I will have to take the pipe off the bracket. I just was trying to avoid doing that and accidentally twisting or bending the brake pipe and making things worse. Shite like this happens to me when have to get things done by a certain date.

[BigRAWesty]

Have you tried undoing it at the next joint either way?
I'm thinking remove the whole thing.

[mudski]

Boohyeah! I went out and this time spray a crap load of the Loctite Freeze and release. Heaps this time. This time I could hear cracking sounds and it got real cold. Hit it a few more times and undone she come. Now for the job of the new braided lines...
Thanks for the input guys. Stopping and reading your posts and taking it all in, stopped me from just going like a bull at a gate, like I always do and destroy it totally. Awesome place this is......

[macca]

Good onya Mudski, well bloody done.

Give yourself a pressy today, you little beauty

[mudski]

Good onya Mudski, well bloody done.

Give yourself a pressy today, you little beauty

Lol. Tis the only pressie I have got today. And it was from myself!

[BigRAWesty]

Wicked. Yea that freeze and release is good shoit. Never use anything else now.

[threedogs]

spray some on a can of warm beer and see how it goes ,lol
research only

[cgm]

I've never heard of it before this thread. Gonna have to check it out. Might come in handy one day. Thanks guys, I agree, the forum gives so much value.

[mudski]

Wicked. Yea that freeze and release is good shoit. Never use anything else now.
I've used it before, well attempted and it did crapola! This is I used heaps and the nut actually went white and frosty!

spray some on a can of warm beer and see how it goes ,lol
research only

Tip for ya TD. Don't let beer get warm.