[DgenR8]

The flare nuts on my front calipers were really stuck so I had to chew them up with a big pliers to get them off. Well, now they need replacing.
Of course, you can't get the flare nuts off the brake line without cutting the line, so the line needs to be replaced too.
My question:
Do you use brass fittings to install a new brake line? Or is there a different and better way? The classic car that I just worked on had brass fittings connecting the brake plumbing together, so thats all I am familiar with.
Can you even buy a pre-bent brake line with stock flare nuts already on the line? Is this what those flare tools are for?
Thanks for any help.

 

[Penguin]

Re: Brass Fittings??? (DgenR8)

I don't know about the line replacement. My bet would be you can find a shop that has hardline and can bend it for you/attach necessay fittings, or get it at a $tealer$hip. As for flare nut or "line" wrenches, if you had used them you wouldn't be where you are right now. 5 points to pressure yields a lot more torque than 2. When I did my clutch master/slave cylinder I first tried it with an open ended wrench, and rounded the fittings. I made a post annoyed about the quality of the material, and recieved responses of people annoyed that I wasn't using the right tool. 1 set of line wrenches later, and all is good.

 

[DgenR8]

Re: Brass Fittings??? (Penguin)

Guess what I bought the day after I chewed the flare nut

 

[wintrode]

Re: Brass Fittings??? (DgenR8)

I'm in a similar position, but I did use a line wrench. The fittings were so corroded that I actually tourqed the hard line so much it twisted. Any insight on whether the vw uses the standard double flared fittings or something different? Where to buy the stock, fittings, tools, etc.?

 

[Evolution Sports]

Re: Brass Fittings??? (wintrode)

Yes, even with Flair Wrenches you can damage the fittings.
The newest car, I have..... 98 GTI.
Why... the factory tightend them too tight.
Spec. is 15lbs.
What you can do is get a single fitting from the dealer.
In some cases remove the line from the car.
Cut just the flair off replace fitting and re-flair.
Finally, try to make the length work... if done correctly you will only be short about 5mm which you can strech.
Or see. http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=168133
for more advice.
Hope that helps.
Matt