Valver - brake unions rusted tight? (stainless lines)

[mr_merc]

Dear All

I recall a while ago someone had a good solution to this, but I can't recall what exactly that was!

I went to replace my plastic hoses with stainless steel lines and the bit that screws into the plastic union is welded in tight and really won't come off.

I gave up trying to get it undone having sprayed it fully the previous night with plus gas. It won't move. I left it because I didn't want to break the metal line and have to replace the whole thing.

Can anyone suggest how I can go about doing this? I know when you normally get some copper brake line, the shop sticks the union on and then crimps the end of the metal line to stop the union coming off... but don't know how this could be done with the original metal line in situ.

Thanks in anticipation.

James.

 

[mr_merc]

no one?

 

[edde]

Just change the whole pipe like I had. Its not worth the hastle IMO trying to fiddle about.

 

[mr_merc]

I've changed metal pipes before and with the valver's tight engine bay I can envisage it being a nightmare. If there is a way around it then I'd rather do that.

 

[edde]

I've changed metal pipes before and with the valver's tight engine bay I can envisage it being a nightmare. If there is a way around it then I'd rather do that.

You could cut the pipe as close to the junction as possible and put a new union on and crimp the line again but I don't like that idea personally.

 

[mr_merc]

No, I know that is what is bothering me. As soon as you cut it, the end left will be squashed I would think. This and the fact the end would be a pain to crimp...

... but then just how much pissing about will be involved in changing all the metal lines just because of the rusted union!!

 

[edde]

No, I know that is what is bothering me. As soon as you cut it, the end left will be squashed I would think. This and the fact the end would be a pain to crimp...

... but then just how much pissing about will be involved in changing all the metal lines just because of the rusted union!!

I think mine took about 1/2 hr a side just take the old ones out and use it as a guide to make the new ones then thread them back in.
You can get cutters which cut the pipe and won't cruch it.

 

[mr_merc]

okey doke.

well if I can get cutters perhaps that's a better idea and saves the hassle... hmm, or complete new metal lines at the front might be better?!

 

[Lunner]

Use a junior hacksaw to cut the line without cutting it

 

[mr_merc]

to cut the line without cutting it?!

... okay, well on that basis, how would I go about crimping the end with the new union attached? Is there a special crimper or anything like that because it needs to sit properly in the union in order that the fluid doesn't seep out under pressure.

 

[Lunner]

Sorry, without squashing it.

There is a brake line flairing tool, but all the ones i've seen are designed to sit in a vice.

TBH i think teh easiest, and best option is to remove the whole brake line and make a new one

 

[mr_merc]

That is going to be a barrel of laughs knowing how tight the valver engine bay is already. Is the brake servo unit in an easy position to get to and to get a spanner on the unions going to it so I can remove the two front metal lines?

Really didn't think I'd have to do this just to fit stainless steel lines on the front (won't even mess about doing the rears).

 

[mr_merc]

hmm....

http://www.justoffbase.co.uk/s.nl;j...5Pp7ftolbGmkTy?sc=9&category=115&it=A&id=5275

 

[Lunner]

Yup, see what i mean.

If you have ABS its slightly easier as the piupes go to the ABS unit on the n/s of the engine bay where you have room to manover, if not its an arsehole of a job, as the brake lines go to the master cylinder, under the brake fluid resovior, and tehre is prolly no room there, tehre is almost no room int eh RSi engine bay, so i can only imagine what a valvers is like

 

[mr_merc]

lmfao.

ah, bugger. That means I'm not going to be able to clamp it whilst it's on the car, moreover I'm going to have to piss about in the cramped valver engine bay changing the brake pipes completely in that case.

 

[JAMESSRICH]

i take it your using a brake union spanner???

 

[Lunner]

I would guess if he wasn't he would have rounded off the unions by now.

Oh appologies for my typing in my earlier post

 

[mr_merc]

I haven't rounded it off, no, but I assumed that a decent spanner would remove it?

Are the brake union spanners the ones that tighten the more you turn it?

Thanks for the help, perhaps I'm being a flid and not using the right tools.