Stripped brake lines w/ O'Reilly's tools- Beware
 

So my friend and I were replacing the brake lines and master cylinder on my 190D today. I realized I didn't have any line wrenches and measured that I needed a 11mm for the brake line. Went to Autozone and they did not have an 11mm so we headed over to O'Reilly's and they had the wrench but in a 3 wrench set for an exorbitant $20 but I bought it because I wanted to use the correct tool and figured I would probably use it again if I needed to do the lines on my brother's 300SD and they had a lifetime warranty. We get home, start on the lines and immediately the 11mm wrench slips on the front driver's line and rounds off the fitting. I find my caliper and measure the wrench: 11.6mm.

So my friend and I take the set of wrenches and caliper back over to O'Reilly's and try to get a refund for them selling defective tools. The guy that rang me up when I bought them saw me as he entered the store after doing something on someone's car, said in a raised voice that I cannot return used tools (was not told this before, nor is it on the receipt), so I asked him what I should do with them, he responded, "Keep them! You bought them!" and gave us a look like we better get out of there before something happened so at that point we left the store never to return again especially after being yelled at by a very rude employee. I work in a job where customer service skills are needed and I would never be rude to a customer nor ignore their concerns even if they were being completely unreasonable, which I was not. The company would also refund for products or services it provided if the customer had legitimate concern over its quality.

So we went and found an 11mm open end wrench that was actually 11mm and tried to take the line off but no use, the fitting was too rounded for it to grip.

I measured the rest of the wrenches and this is what I got:
Marked 10mm, measured 10.7mm
Marked 13mm, measured 13.8mm
Marked 12mm, measured 12.5mm
Marked 15mm, measured 15.5mm
Marked 17mm, measured 17.5mm
None of these wrenches would work for whatever I would use them for.

I now need to have the brake hard line replaced, which probably means having the car towed to the dealer. Factor in parts and labor as well and this will probably not be cheap and of course I want a refund for the wrenches. I will be writing O'Reilly's corporate as well as the tool manufacturer, will include have copies of receipt, pictures of the damage, estimates for the repair, the measurements of the wrenches, and of course will include statements by my friend and I on how poorly the O'Reilly's employee treated us in front of other customers. Any other ideas on what I should do?

The best tool to use on a brake line is vise grip locking wrench model 4lw, any other type wrench, you will more then likely strip the nut. Hate to play devils advocate..but I don't think it is the tools fault...

http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NjEzWDE1MD...U,g~~60_57.JPG

I had no problem getting the other 7 fittings loose with a 11mm open end wrench (all tightened to factory spec because the lines were original) so I would certainly put the blame on the tool. Had the line wrench been cast correctly there would have been no problems. I bought the line wrench because it is designed to contact on 4.5 sides instead of just 2 so it should not round off a fitting if it is within a reasonable tolerance. .6mm is not reasonable at all.

was there a brand name on the wrenches you bought at o'reillys? i just realized i've never bought tools there and would stay away from whatever brand you purchased if i needed something in a hurry

Power Torque, comes with a "ANSI Lifetime Guarantee"

Yeah, I have those too. Purchased for the same reason. Got the same result. They are not even close to the correct sizes. Terrible tools.

Since having bad luck with them, I just use an open end 11mm. Works great.

If you have a junk yard near you, with a W123, you can probably get the brake lines. That's what I did. But it's hit and miss obviously. Lines from a wagon will work too, FYI.

Sorry to hear about the difficulty. Buying cheap tools with a "grainy" metal, from a chain store appears to not be a good idea. O'Reillys also handles KD Tools, which I have never had an issue with. Of course, a single 11mm wrench would have cost you the same (for the wrench that is).

I hate to say it but lesson learned. The cheapest tool on the rack is just that and cost more in damage than the money "saved".

go grab a correct length brake line from an auto parts store, use a vice grip to undo this one, and swap out from junction to junction.

easy job, brake line fittings rounding off or the line being too rusted and snapping in the fittingi f you do turn it are very common issues. any new line would come straight and be bent to fit, you might as well do it yourself as random auto shop guy might skimp on bends

other option if there is room to use the same line is cut it off after the fitting ,buy a new fitting ,re flare and screw back in

Vise grips -- beat me to it. Get big ones so that you get a better bite. My tiny ones aren't the most useful vise-grips in the world :rolleyes:.

Yep, a fat vice grip that you clamp down with all the force you can muster from both hands will hold. If the brake line nut is already rounded, the damage is already done! Here it is in action on my '79, where I had to use this technique for all but the front passenger line due to corrosion from neglected fluid:

http://i.imgur.com/0RCnwmw.jpg

After the flare nut is rounded, it depends on access and swing thus which tool will work- vise grips, short pipe wrench (I have a 7" one that been very handy). Worse comes to worse, cut the line, remove MC and do it on the bench.

I was able to tighten it down enough with vice grips but still plan on some action against O'Reillys. For $20 I expected better quality (almost $7 a wrench is expensive when I can get Gear Wrenches for less than that), maybe I am too used to good deals on high quality tools at places like Northern and Lowes. If there had been other options for these tools maybe I could say I bought the cheapest thing but they were the only store I found that carried a 11mm flare nut wrench and the price was still rather expensive for what it is. Besides, when you buy a product or service, you expect to be compensated for your money. If the product or service terrible, no matter what you paid, you have every right to demand a refund or in this case compensation for what their faulty product or service costs you. I could go to Walmart and get better customer service. I also expected to be treated better as a frequent customer but maybe I expected too much. To me my treatment was worse than the terrible wrenches stripping the line. All he needed to tell me is that O'Reillys couldn't do anything for me, I would have to contact the wrench company, or something like that.

If you have enough spare line, you could always just cut off the flare, remove the flarenut, place a new one on and double flare it. I had one strip out and that is what I did.

Was the person at the store who gave a hard time the manager? If not I'd demand to see the manager, or call the regional person who operates that store and give them some info on the customer service (lack of) you received. Can always go back at a different time so a different employee will process the return. :) I've done that before.

I agree! You did the right thing to go in there with the calipers. And you went back within reasonable time..F@#$% that guy.

Put up a bit of a fight and prove that you have a legitimate complaint and not some sheister trying to 'borrow' tools. Perhaps he gets a lot of that.

Get your money back. That is uncalled for and just ridiculous.