Best Way to Remove Rear Brake Line from ABS

[Belo]

Trying to plan this job. Want to avoid having to bleed entire system (would require 2 new calipers up front because of rusted bleeders) and also wanting to avoid having to bleed abs with a tool I do not have.

 

Is there any trick or tip to get just the rear brake line? It's top right in this picture. I've tried to see if I can get a line wrench in there and I just cant. without removing all the other lines. I'm thinking of maybe cutting the line and trying a socket or ratcheting wrench. Would make tightening it difficult but I could always re-slip a ratcheting wrench over the new line? Plan on soaking in pb blaster as well.

 

really appreciate any advice or past experience.

[anumber1]

Cut the line you need to replace, then use a good quality six point socket on the fitting.

 

I have done a few of these now. Line wrenches will just round the fitting in my experience.

[servantsalesmen]

Anumber1 is right on the money.

[brucelimerick]

Perfect advice.

I replaced all my lines and had the ABS empty. I did a 2 person manual bleed and had no issues on any of the lines or the ABS. I think the line about needing a special tool for the ABS is shop crap to charge you $115/hr. It didn't seem any different than my pre ABS vehicles. I do seem to remember I had to do both the rears again. I did the rear passenger side then the driver side, fronts but the pedal didn't get real firm so I started at the back passenger again. That did it, seemed a small bubble of air got back over there from the splitter. Then it was good.

[Belo]

Cut the line you need to replace, then use a good quality six point socket on the fitting.

 

I have done a few of these now. Line wrenches will just round the fitting in my experience.

 

thanks that was one of my plans. What'd you use to cut the line? Would a line wrench work ok to retighten the new line? I bought new fittings.

[efritz]

Only thing about the fittings on the ABS is they are not a standard 3/16 fitting, they are unique to the unit

[anumber1]

 

thanks that was one of my plans. What'd you use to cut the line? Would a line wrench work ok to retighten the new line? I bought new fittings.

Yeah, a line wrench will work fine on new fittings. I use a small set of bolt cutters to cut the line.

[Belo]

Only thing about the fittings on the ABS is they are not a standard 3/16 fitting, they are unique to the unit

 

my research shows these are the correct replacement fittings into the abs http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/american-grease-stick-co.-steel-tube-nut-5-per-card-1-4-in.-1-2-20-inverted-blf-44c-5/22190121-P

 

i've heard it's a 14mm socket, but the replacement was 9/16. so i'm unsure if the truck is metric and the replacement is sae, but it'll be easy enough to find out.

 

Yeah, a line wrench will work fine on new fittings. I use a small set of bolt cutters to cut the line.

 

man i tried to get tin snips in there and couldn't they're rusted enough where needle noses might work to just twist it off. will see soon i guess. Been spraying it daily with pb blaster.

[efritz]

Try them and see if they work, all I know is that a standard 1/4 (sorry not 3/16 like i said earlier) fitting (such as the hard line to flex hose) fittings do not work.

[anumber1]

Try them and see if they work, all I know is that a standard 1/4 (sorry not 3/16 like i said earlier) fitting (such as the hard line to flex hose) fittings do not work.

It's not a standard fitting 1/4" fitting, correct.

 

You have to buy new, correct sized, gm abs fittings and flare the 1/4" line yourself.

 

Or, you can attempt to use the adapter fittings that are out there but that solution is not ideal due to space limitations on the abs block.

[anumber1]

 

my research shows these are the correct replacement fittings into the abs http://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p/american-grease-stick-co.-steel-tube-nut-5-per-card-1-4-in.-1-2-20-inverted-blf-44c-5/22190121-P

 

i've heard it's a 14mm socket, but the replacement was 9/16. so i'm unsure if the truck is metric and the replacement is sae, but it'll be easy enough to find out.

 

 

man i tried to get tin snips in there and couldn't they're rusted enough where needle noses might work to just twist it off. will see soon i guess. Been spraying it daily with pb blaster.

Bolt cutters... a small pair.

 

Perhaps a big pair of diagonal cutters but not healthy for the dikes.

[Belo]

Bolt cutters... a small pair.

 

Perhaps a big pair of diagonal cutters but not healthy for the dikes.

Bought a small pair tonight so I'll try that. If not I can probably fit a small hacksaw blade in there. Thanks for the help guys.

[brucelimerick]

Yes the ABS area is very tight. On my 01 the line was 1/4" and the fitting thread was 5/16". Or 3/16 and a 1/4" fitting. It was 2 summers ago. You can buy the fitting but it is not standard. GM has the line size smaller than the standard fitting thread. I would recommend Easy bend Line. Doesn't corrode and is almost impossible to kink. You can bend it with your hands. i ended up getting the standard lines and using adapters. It was a total pain in the ass.

[GreasyHands]

Bought a small pair tonight so I'll try that. If not I can probably fit a small hacksaw blade in there. Thanks for the help guys.

 

So, if you do not mind how did it go tightening the new ABS fittings? Or did you use adapters? Starting mine is a few weeks so I am following these threads close. thanks

[anumber1]

 

So, if you do not mind how did it go tightening the new ABS fittings? Or did you use adapters? Starting mine is a few weeks so I am following these threads close. thanks

I use a line wrench to re-install/tighten the new fittings.

 

The difficult part is getting the old ones out.

 

Be careful not to cross thread the new fittings however.

 

Its pretty fiddly work getting them started if the new lines are not quite square to the abs block. A regular open end wrench will suffice to "run them in" until the final snug up with a line wrench.

 

 

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