Good morning, everybody. I've got a few pictures attached to show what I'm talking about, but here's the gist: I'm trying to replace the front wheel cylinders, and I have the biggest problem child finally removed (front driver one was blown up and all crystallized inside). My new wrinkle is that the line from the fluid distributor block to the soft line between it and the cylinder is frozen to the old soft line (which I cut since I couldn't get it removed - both bolts were rounded off or frozen or both). Is there a recommended path for getting the line from the distributor to the clip/soft hose? Like a specific part I should reference? Or is this one of those "DIY" sort of moments with bending a line myself (the tools for which I don't yet own)? I've done about all I feel I can on the bolt end of things short of cutting it (heated, WD40, vise grip and mallet, screwdriver score and mallet), but happy to try anything new. See the photos for more context (links since I just pasted up the full-res images). https://buick.eldritch.fun/images/brakeline/PXL_20230416_113519788.jpg https://buick.eldritch.fun/images/brakeline/PXL_20230416_113507886.jpg https://buick.eldritch.fun/images/brakeline/PXL_20230416_113458447.jpg
For further reference, the distributor line I'd pull is the one on the left of the block, above the one shiny new one someone had already done.
When I've run into that and all hope of reusing the line is gone I'll take a acy torch with a small welding tip on it and heat the connection then turn it out with a vise grip. Be careful as the fluid can be flammable
When replacing a line and its stuck i have had success cutting at the nut and using a good quality socket or a vice grip as above.
I have a local auto parts store that will make up a new line for you of you bring the remains of the old one in.... It's an old school store with a machine shop, so these are disappearing... Inline tube also sells these lines. Or, yes, you can roll your own. The untunable item is a "line nut" not a "bolt" FYI
It's a 3/16" line which you really don't need any tools to bend. Bends pretty easily with your hands. You can probably find a length that is relatively close to what you need if you don't have a flaring tool.
The new nickel/copper line is extremely easy to bend/work with. Easy to flare as well with a cheaper tool. I would just make a new one if you can.
Use a large socket, ball bat, coffee mug, beer bottle or something of correct diameter for bending a smooth radius and help prevent kinking the line.
Thanks for all the great rec's, all. Gonna see about getting a replacement line nut and tube/flare kit at a local parts shop this weekend. Figured I'll take it off at the distributor block and make a new line to the connection for the soft line. The U-clips for those mounts broke off, too, so I'll need to grab some if those. Wife's tired of it sitting on the jackstand in the drive, so I at least have to get it rolling again. ^_^
I've done that since I was a wee lad... always saying "bolt" to describe either artifact. As a software guy, especially, I should know better; shared vocabulary matters!
If only I could use bit-shift wizardry and matrix math on this thing instead of grease and bashed knuckles... ^_~ Half the point though is that I don't have to be that guy for a while.
Yeah, I was born a mechanic, raised by machinists and engineers, mechanic'd aircraft, cars and murdersikkels and whatnots, then retired tried a hand at building houses and then spent 29 years in IT. I will not lie, I applied some knuckle bashing mechanical technics on the tender electronicals a few times. But always used binary functions. Hit it once, wait. Hit it again, wait, wait. Hit it, hit it hit it, wait...
