PDA

View Full Version : Brake unions: Seized



Wobba
19-02-2009, 09:24
Hi all, I need to re-hose my brake lines but all the unions are rounded off and wont move at all.

I am going to get new unions, and cut the metal pipe and re-flare them, but...the spring mounting is locking the old hoses on. Is there a way of getting them off without cutting them off, and needing new ones?

geesus
19-02-2009, 11:22
sorry mate you've lost me there :?

'spring mounting is locking the old hoses on' what do you mean?

geesus
19-02-2009, 11:23
do you mean the bracket on the inner wing?

Wobba
19-02-2009, 11:54
do you mean the bracket on the inner wing?

Yes, the bit that holds the pipe up within the braket, not the mounting itself but a seperate part.

Wobba
19-02-2009, 12:21
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w102/barneywobba/Williams%20217/lol.jpg

geesus
19-02-2009, 12:32
lmao at the pic, quality :lol:

mate they are a pain in the ass, if the unions are rounded/corroded (which yours are, and most other cars are aswell!) they will cause you some real grief

i got so annoyed with mine that i took the angle grinder to the brckets and removed them completely! my brake pipes are now secured with rubber lined p clips screwed into the inner wing, again not sure what mr MOT man will make of that, but they are secure so i cant see a problem?!

all i can say is good luck! sorry :(

Wobba
19-02-2009, 13:41
haha, thanks :D

P-clips eh? Yea not bad idea but I dont want to chop the brake mounting off.

I've been thinking and I reckon I can saw into the spring bit to get it hooked over the old rounded union after I saw the pipe. I will then remove it and the old brake hose, flare the pipe with a new union, stick the cut spring bit back on with a thin washer so it wont fall off due to cutting it and plug in the new brake hose.

I'll be doing all 4 hoses when my Goodridge ones arrive anyway.

I see now why people have posted here about damn brake unions :(

What a pain in the arse! I'll manage it though, I don't like quitting.

white16valver
19-02-2009, 13:57
I salute your persistence and achievements :salut: =D> :D

MAXIBOY
19-02-2009, 14:08
cut them though with a grinder on a dremel then remake the end a swap the hoses..

Wobba
19-02-2009, 15:55
cut them though with a grinder on a dremel then remake the end a swap the hoses..

That's the plan mate, just asking about the spring section that holds the pipes in place and stops them moving about.

busterhymes
19-02-2009, 17:08
that spring clip is just that and they should just pull out m8, where the brake line pass through the clip its slotted :)

Justin..
19-02-2009, 18:43
the union goes through that 'U' shaped plate, i had to cut mine off once i had cut the line

Wobba
19-02-2009, 20:29
Yea see I cant see how they come off unless you get the union off the brake hose. If you cant get the union done you cant take it off the normal way do it has to be cut off.

Justin..
19-02-2009, 20:41
82 00 037 431 is the part number

Wobba
19-02-2009, 20:43
Nice one mate! I'll ring them tomorrow and order :D

northy
19-02-2009, 22:25
heat from a blow torch, heat till cherry red and try and undo

Wobba
19-02-2009, 22:51
heat from a blow torch, heat till cherry red and try and undo

I'll probably try this before ripping it to shreds then, cheers :D

northy
19-02-2009, 23:08
get a decent spanner on it mate...think its a 11mm from memory.

Before u start, heat it up red, let it cool, spray wd40 then heat again and when red try and undo....take your time they are soft

oh and im not sure if u can reflair original pipes as they are very hard

Justin..
20-02-2009, 01:33
managed to flair mine

AndyFielder
20-02-2009, 01:50
you can reflair them...

I did on mine cut next to union, remove bracked re flar... jobs a goodn

Wobba
20-02-2009, 08:56
Hmm, I will go the heat route for the others and assume they are seized.

The current one has been mauled already. I used 11mm brake spanner and made sure it was on good and solid, but got rounded off on he union very quickly. I am going to cut it and pray it flares.

white16valver
20-02-2009, 14:00
Good luck! :)

Wobba
21-02-2009, 19:24
Well, what a shitty job this turned out to be!

I applied some heat after running out of gas and getting a lift to B&Q for some more gas.

The heat was directed away from the hose but still, it got so hot it blew itself off the end cap! Smoke everywhere and I had a bit of a panic making sure it didn't catch alight! The union STILL wouldn't budge, and with brake fluid all over the place I decided to take immediate action and proceeded to saw the pipe off just above the union.

I had to saw the spring clip off as well as it was holding the end of the old hose and union in place still. Not fun with fluids pouring all over the place.

I got the bugger off though and proceeded to slide a new union in place, and then use the flaring tool Justin had lent me to flare the end of the metal brake line. I did it perfectly, despite my panic, and the end product held the new union in place and sat perfectly flush with the bottom of it.

I removed the old hose (which, now I look closely, was perished badly and split) and tightened the new one from the caliper end first, as advised by someone here in another thread. I then put the other end in place and screwed down the new union until it could turn no more.

After that, I bled the system and added new DOT4 fluid on just that caliper (do I have to do all of them? I didn't lose that much fluid). A lot of air came out.

Good as new!

Wobba
21-02-2009, 19:25
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w102/barneywobba/Williams%20217/DSC01124.jpg

http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w102/barneywobba/Williams%20217/DSC01125.jpg

white16valver
23-02-2009, 16:15
Make sure you get all that fluid off the paintwork!!

Respect is due once again though for getting your hands dirty and not being scared :) (like me :oops: lol)

Wobba
23-02-2009, 16:21
I was a bit scared when it blew up lol. Luckily, none of the fluid got on any of the paintwork, other than wishbones and they dont count :D