brake line wrenches - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

wilbur46 · 10-19-2015, 02:31 PM

Hi guys,
My line wrenches suck. They all flex. I don't want to replace all my lines because some crap tool won't loosen fittings.
I have a Crew Line, a Craftsman, and a Mac.
Anyone have one that always works, and does not flex?
Thanks, W

vince1 · 10-19-2015, 06:40 PM

I think they are called flare nut wrenches in case it helps to research them.

Kroil is a pretty good penetrating oil if allowed to soak for a while.

**michael bustamante** · 10-19-2015, 06:45 PM

ive never had a flare wrench that didnt give and want to round the flare nut. if you find a good set, post it on here

jdl71 · 10-19-2015, 09:30 PM

When they are that rusted up, stuck, whatever I'm not sure there is any wrench that will loosen the nuts without some rounding. When I did my brakes I got about half loose with a flare wrench, the other half I ended up cutting the hose and/or line and using a 6 point socket. Careful use of some heat (propane not acetylene) would likely help also.

jtrichard · 10-19-2015, 09:33 PM

UNLESS your lines are VERY good or almost new.. flare nut wrenches may or may not work a good pair of real (IRWIN) vice grips work about the best when the wrench wont

T and S · 10-19-2015, 10:13 PM

I have a set of craftsman flare wrenches, they work just fine. If nuts are super tight are rusted they will round off the corners just like any other wrench.

BigDan3131 · 10-20-2015, 07:01 AM

2nd on breaking them loose with vise grips.

cg285 · 10-20-2015, 09:13 AM

aahhh! lose the vice grips. trick is to tighten them first before loosening. and if after that they are that tight/corroded then they're trash anyway

**VictoriaHardware** · 10-20-2015, 11:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdl71

Careful use of some heat (propane not acetylene) would likely help also.

I have ALWAYS gotten them loose with propane when rusted bad.

61K10 · 10-20-2015, 12:07 PM

I had one that was extra wide years a go, worked good. who knows where it is now lol!

MikeN · 10-20-2015, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T and S

I have a set of craftsman flare wrenches, they work just fine. If nuts are super tight are rusted they will round off the corners just like any other wrench.

X2

If they're seized so bad a Craftsman flare wrench won't loosen, vice grips are likely your only option, and they will pretty much ruin the hex nut.

Brad54 · 10-20-2015, 03:43 PM

My standard Craftsman wrenches flexed and opened up.
My polished Craftsman Professional wrenches never did.
I also have a set of vintage Snap-on wrenches that are awesome... these are the old square-panel style, not the new full-polished ones.
They show up on ebay pretty regularly.
-Brad

donthekawguy · 10-21-2015, 04:48 PM

I have a set of Kobalt from Lowes that have done me right.

short&wide65 · 10-22-2015, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad54

My standard Craftsman wrenches flexed and opened up.
My polished Craftsman Professional wrenches never did.
I also have a set of vintage Snap-on wrenches that are awesome... these are the old square-panel style, not the new full-polished ones.
They show up on ebay pretty regularly.
-Brad

Agreed. Mine are the older Snap On ones and they are pretty awesome.

wilbur46 · 10-22-2015, 05:56 PM

Thanks for all the replies.
I looked again and all of my wrenches are beveled in from each side.
In other words, they don't make full contact with the width of the nut!!!
I'm now looking for some non beveled ones.
Also, I'm working on brass flare nut into a brass T. So-- no rust problem.
(It is the T for the rear line so I don't want to cut it and have to replace the whole shebang).

**bhc41051** · 10-22-2015, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jtrichard

UNLESS your lines are VERY good or almost new.. flare nut wrenches may or may not work a good pair of real (IRWIN) vice grips work about the best when the wrench wont

Irwin Vise Grips are a shadow of their former self, I'd look for Peterson Vise grips on eBay.

donandal · 10-22-2015, 06:43 PM

I have used this style vise grip with great success...

works without messing up the hex

wilbur46 · 10-22-2015, 08:10 PM

Great googooly!!!
I actually don't think I have ever seen a set of vise Grips like that.
I'm gonna get me some!
Thanks for posting.
By the way, I originally said i also had Mac, but they are actually Snap On.
I just looked at Mac and they appear to be flat sided, in which they would have a lot more grip on the nut. I wonder if they flex?
Regards, W

MikeN · 10-23-2015, 12:53 PM

My Craftsman line wrenches are near 30 years old. Maybe the old ones are just better? Anyway, never had any problems with them. Work great.

Hugh in NC · 10-23-2015, 03:30 PM

I am doing a dual master cylinder install right now and have been doing the required changes on the brake lines. I had purchased a new set of Kobalt wrenches a few months ago (after my last brake work). The Taiwan Great Neck wrenches are way too thin and will not hold under pressure. I had only 1 Blackhawk mm wrench. The Kobalts compare very closely to the Blackhawk as far as thickness and beefy around the end of the wrench. The Kobalt is a short wrench and I could not get the leverage to break the lines loose. A 12 inch piece of pipe over the end of the wrench broke the fitting loose without any problem. I think the Kobalt is going to do the job okay.

gar187er · 10-23-2015, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeN

My Craftsman line wrenches are near 30 years old. Maybe the old ones are just better? Anyway, never had any problems with them. Work great.

old craftsman the best, some of the newer stuff is made in china, probably along side harbor freight tools!

wilbur46 · 10-30-2015, 07:44 PM

Spent a week checking out different wrenches.
(after I finally got my fitting loose)
Mac makes their wrench slab sided, which means it has about twice as much contact area on the flare nut.
I got one.
Anyone who has the same trouble needs a flat sided wrench.
The others that were beveled on the sides I junked.
Thanks for all the comments, W

kingchr · 11-01-2015, 03:23 PM

For what it is worth I use a set of cheap Harbor Freight Wrenches. If there is room I will clamp a set of vise grips onto the outside of the line wrench that is on a stuck fitting. This makes it MUCH harder for the wrench to stretch out of shape.

Have a good one,
Christopher K.

wilbur46 · 11-02-2015, 06:44 PM

Its interesting how many comments this thread got. I guess everybody hates bungled brake line fittings.
One thing I did mention at the beginning is that dealing with the flex lines is way different than the brass fittings.
I never have much trouble with the flex lines because they have steel fittings and you can crank on them and use heat.
Screwing with old brass fittings is way harder, and for this job, I did not want to replace all the hard lines.
I finally got it done with a borrowed Mac flare nut wrench and also used the weird vise grips mentioned earlier in the thread.
They were actually perfect for already bunged up fittings.
Dual cylinder power drum brakes. Yea! TCI $120
W

10-19-2015, 02:31 PM	#1
wilbur46 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Sebastopol, Ca. Posts: 46	brake line wrenches Hi guys, My line wrenches suck. They all flex. I don't want to replace all my lines because some crap tool won't loosen fittings. I have a Crew Line, a Craftsman, and a Mac. Anyone have one that always works, and does not flex? Thanks, W

10-19-2015, 06:40 PM	#2
vince1 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Calgary Alberta Posts: 1,170	Re: brake line wrenches I think they are called flare nut wrenches in case it helps to research them. Kroil is a pretty good penetrating oil if allowed to soak for a while.

10-19-2015, 06:45 PM	#3
michael bustamante Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Albuquerque NM Posts: 7,862	Re: brake line wrenches ive never had a flare wrench that didnt give and want to round the flare nut. if you find a good set, post it on here __________________ 1967custom

10-19-2015, 09:30 PM	#4
jdl71 Registered User Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Eldon, MO Posts: 1,753	Re: brake line wrenches When they are that rusted up, stuck, whatever I'm not sure there is any wrench that will loosen the nuts without some rounding. When I did my brakes I got about half loose with a flare wrench, the other half I ended up cutting the hose and/or line and using a 6 point socket. Careful use of some heat (propane not acetylene) would likely help also. __________________ Psalm 23 64 C10 66 K20

10-19-2015, 09:33 PM	#5
jtrichard Registered User Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: joshua tree ca. Posts: 1,484	Re: brake line wrenches UNLESS your lines are VERY good or almost new.. flare nut wrenches may or may not work a good pair of real (IRWIN) vice grips work about the best when the wrench wont

10-19-2015, 10:13 PM	#6
T and S Registered User Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: Oak Ridge, Mo. Posts: 301	Re: brake line wrenches I have a set of craftsman flare wrenches, they work just fine. If nuts are super tight are rusted they will round off the corners just like any other wrench. __________________ If you don't like this pound sand .....

10-20-2015, 07:01 AM	#7
BigDan3131 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Maple Valley, WA Posts: 1,913	Re: brake line wrenches 2nd on breaking them loose with vise grips. __________________ Custom Painter/Restoration Specialist 1965 GMC 3/4 Ton LB SOLD? 1964 Chevy El Camino in full restoration 1991 Chevy S10 288K+ miles 2nd Owner SOLD 2020 RAM 1500 Warlock

10-20-2015, 09:13 AM	#8
cg285 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: sumterville, florida Posts: 914	Re: brake line wrenches aahhh! lose the vice grips. trick is to tighten them first before loosening. and if after that they are that tight/corroded then they're trash anyway

10-20-2015, 12:07 PM	#10
61K10 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: pleasant valley--placerville ca Posts: 3,039	Re: brake line wrenches I had one that was extra wide years a go, worked good. who knows where it is now lol! __________________ 1961 chevy K10 my build is------------61K10 build

10-20-2015, 03:43 PM	#12
Brad54 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Athens, Georgia Posts: 1,458	Re: brake line wrenches My standard Craftsman wrenches flexed and opened up. My polished Craftsman Professional wrenches never did. I also have a set of vintage Snap-on wrenches that are awesome... these are the old square-panel style, not the new full-polished ones. They show up on ebay pretty regularly. -Brad __________________ '61 Suburban daily driver: off the road due to 180-pound 8-pt buck! '62 K-10 long-step project '61 C30 Camper, aka "Valdez" There's no cool like Old School

10-21-2015, 04:48 PM	#13
donthekawguy Registered User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Rathdrum ID Posts: 1,129	Re: brake line wrenches I have a set of Kobalt from Lowes that have done me right. __________________ 66 shorty

10-22-2015, 05:56 PM	#15
wilbur46 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Sebastopol, Ca. Posts: 46	Re: brake line wrenches Thanks for all the replies. I looked again and all of my wrenches are beveled in from each side. In other words, they don't make full contact with the width of the nut!!! I'm now looking for some non beveled ones. Also, I'm working on brass flare nut into a brass T. So-- no rust problem. (It is the T for the rear line so I don't want to cut it and have to replace the whole shebang).

10-22-2015, 06:43 PM	#17
donandal Registered User Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Lakewood,New York Posts: 502	Re: brake line wrenches I have used this style vise grip with great success... works without messing up the hex Attached Images

10-22-2015, 08:10 PM	#18
wilbur46 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Sebastopol, Ca. Posts: 46	Re: brake line wrenches Great googooly!!! I actually don't think I have ever seen a set of vise Grips like that. I'm gonna get me some! Thanks for posting. By the way, I originally said i also had Mac, but they are actually Snap On. I just looked at Mac and they appear to be flat sided, in which they would have a lot more grip on the nut. I wonder if they flex? Regards, W

10-23-2015, 12:53 PM	#19
MikeN Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Marietta, GA Posts: 806	Re: brake line wrenches My Craftsman line wrenches are near 30 years old. Maybe the old ones are just better? Anyway, never had any problems with them. Work great.



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10-23-2015, 03:30 PM	#20
Hugh in NC Registered User Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: My Recliner in Rockingham,North Carolina Posts: 102	Re: brake line wrenches I am doing a dual master cylinder install right now and have been doing the required changes on the brake lines. I had purchased a new set of Kobalt wrenches a few months ago (after my last brake work). The Taiwan Great Neck wrenches are way too thin and will not hold under pressure. I had only 1 Blackhawk mm wrench. The Kobalts compare very closely to the Blackhawk as far as thickness and beefy around the end of the wrench. The Kobalt is a short wrench and I could not get the leverage to break the lines loose. A 12 inch piece of pipe over the end of the wrench broke the fitting loose without any problem. I think the Kobalt is going to do the job okay.

10-30-2015, 07:44 PM	#22
wilbur46 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Sebastopol, Ca. Posts: 46	Re: brake line wrenches Spent a week checking out different wrenches. (after I finally got my fitting loose) Mac makes their wrench slab sided, which means it has about twice as much contact area on the flare nut. I got one. Anyone who has the same trouble needs a flat sided wrench. The others that were beveled on the sides I junked. Thanks for all the comments, W

11-01-2015, 03:23 PM	#23
kingchr Registered User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Prospect, Oregon Posts: 34	Re: brake line wrenches For what it is worth I use a set of cheap Harbor Freight Wrenches. If there is room I will clamp a set of vise grips onto the outside of the line wrench that is on a stuck fitting. This makes it MUCH harder for the wrench to stretch out of shape. Have a good one, Christopher K.

11-02-2015, 06:44 PM	#24
wilbur46 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Sebastopol, Ca. Posts: 46	Re: brake line wrenches Its interesting how many comments this thread got. I guess everybody hates bungled brake line fittings. One thing I did mention at the beginning is that dealing with the flex lines is way different than the brass fittings. I never have much trouble with the flex lines because they have steel fittings and you can crank on them and use heat. Screwing with old brass fittings is way harder, and for this job, I did not want to replace all the hard lines. I finally got it done with a borrowed Mac flare nut wrench and also used the weird vise grips mentioned earlier in the thread. They were actually perfect for already bunged up fittings. Dual cylinder power drum brakes. Yea! TCI $120 W

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