Brakes Hose Removal - Tools

[Cigar Havana]

I'm trying to replace the rear brake hoses on a 1989 420 SEL. The nuts where the hose meets the steel line are on very tight and normal box wrenches are starting to slip especially the 11 MM steel nut on the steel line side.

I hear a flare nut wrench should work but I don't have these wrenches. Should one use a crowfoot flare nut wrench on a 3/8 drive or would a normal flare nut box wrench be better ? Which one should I get?

[engatwork]

Try to get the typical flair nut wrench.

[dmorrison]

Get a good set of flare nnut wrenches before you roundover the nutheads. Of course metric even though SAE can do the job sort of. if you have started to roundover the nuts, don't try the SAE idea. Get the Metric set.

Dave

[Maki]

I've found a Vise-Grips product called the Locking Wrench (as opposed to their locking pliers) to be an excellent tool for brake line fittings. It has a V cut into the fixed jaw so it can grip the flats of a hex head on three sides and lock onto it without munging up the fitting. The smallest of the three sizes available is the one you want for brake lines.

I used this tool on an old Audi quattro that had seen 15 or so salty winters, and the line fittings had lost some metal to corrosion. Even flare wrenches can slip under those conditions -- but not the locking wrench. Also used it on my dad's farm truck, a '67 Ford with horrendous rust. Worked like a charm.

Russ M.
'82 300td
'82 300cd