If you don't own a set of flarenut wrenches, buy a set. For the DIYer, you can buy a very good set of Metric flarenut polished wrenches at Sears for about $40. You are talking about doing brake work. You are dealing with a subsystem of your car that holds your life and that of your family in its hands. Do it right.

Along the same lines, anytime you open the system, COMPLETELY and THOROUGHLY flush and bleed the system. A quart of brake fluid costs less than $5. How much is the safety of you and your family worth? $5?

If you will COMPLETELY flush your brakes annually, you will probably NEVER have any hydraulic brake issues. Is the safety of you and your family worth $5 worth of brake fluid per year? I know my family is worth it.

Good luck,