W123 front brake hose removal

[Graham]

I am installing new calipers. I last changed hoses in 2014. They look OK, but might as well change them too. My question is about how they connect at upper end. There is a clip.


The hard line union nut is soft material, small in size and prone to damage. I redid all the hoses plus rear hard lines, but that was 8 years ago. At that time, only way I got the rears disconnected was using a Vice-Grip special tool - like these:


These are better used to HOLD the flare nut, rather than turn it. For the fronts, I would rather turn the large hex on the under side of the bracket and just jam the grips against the inner fender. But can that be done?

I seem to recall some here cutting the hose and using a deep socket on the 17mm(?) hex. I have a flare wrench, but can that even be done? I seem to recall that fitting at the upper end of the hose is not free to turn.

I don't remember how I released those flare nuts last time