Best way to clamp off rubber brake hose?
 

I have a leaking brake caliper that I won't be able to repair until after the new year. (Related thread here: http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/diesel-discussion/309581-leaking-brake-caliper-82-300d.html.)

So that I don't lose all of the brake fluid in the reservoir, what's the best way to temporarily clamp off the flexible brake line to this caliper without doing any permanent damage to the rubber?

There is no good way to do that. You are dealing with brakes, not a leaking windshield washer. You are likely to cause permanent damage to a lot more than a brake hose.

Sorry, I wasn't clear! I will not drive the car until the repair is made. I just don't want the reservoir to empty onto my garage floor until I can get to the repair in a few weeks.

Use something like a liter water bottle and insert the brake hose into it as a means to catch the draining fluid. Go ahead and let the reservoir empty out and replace the fluid next season with fresh fluid.

Once you have dumped the majority of the drained fluid, tape the water bottle into place (tape around the bottle neck and hose) to catch the last of the draining fluid until you are ready to put everything back together.

Ken300D

The fluid was just flushed and replaced back in June so I am going to try to preserve what I can... I won't even be able to get the line disconnected for a while (non-working floor jack, other woes), so I was just hoping to stem the flow for now.

In that case, you could remove the reservoir cap, place a piece of plastic wrap (ie: Saran) over the port, then reinstall the cap. That prevents the reservoir from venting through the cap and should serve your purpose. Alternatively, you could remove either end of the offending caliper's hose and plug the end of the hose or hard line, as appropriate.

Brilliant. Thank you.

Best way is to NOT clamp rubber brake hose! It will wreck the hose.

certainly do NOT clamp the brake hoses... first off, it will not work. the hose is very hard, and reinforced. second, the hose is very fragile, and is very likely to be damaged by even hanging the weight of the caliper, deliberate clamping of the hose is highly unwise.
are your hoses new? 10 years is about the max on the rubber on these hoses, so replacing them when you change/rebuild the caliper is good medicine!

The hose is only 6 months old, so I definitely don't want to damage it. I've taken tangofox's suggestion which is an easy under-hood approach, so I won't even have to touch the hoses.

Free advice (and worth every penny), I would not reuse brake fluid under any circumstances. Unless the entire brake system was brand new, the fluid will have picked up a certain amount of contamination just by being in the system. Even the best brake fluid does not cost enough to take the chance.

I save the plastic plugs that come in threaded holes of brake masters, calipers etc. They are good for plugging holes & hose ends - if I find the right size. Just throw them in the tool box in a milk bottom cut to fit the box. That works well for misc parts that you need infrequently & usually have to find something that fits.

When were the hoses last replaced? DOT onl allows brake hoses to be used in service for six years (though we all use them FAR longer). On my 82, mine were developing little bubbles due to pressure, not good.

Your best bet? Clamp it with an actual clamp as tight as you can (yes you will ruin the hose), keep the reservoir topped up, then with the caliper replacement, do the hoses (all of them if you dont know when they were done last). Very little $$$ to do. You get to flush brake fluid too while at it. Its a win all around.

......

Whoops...

In that case, I'd set up to catch the drips as best as I could, and get a free brake flush.

Actually, I'd consider to disconnect the line and plug it with something that could be cleanly removed (eg silly putty type stuff), cover it with a plastic bag and bend it upwards out of the way. But if I couldn't get it plugged real fast, I'd re-attach it to the caliper and just revert to the first part.