I need to learn all about Corvette brakes

[Patrick H.]

Re: I need to learn all about Corvette brakes

Lots of great info. given here. I've received the two front calipers rebuilt by Vette Brakes. Every thing looks good and the bolts to remove the old ones were no issue at all. I am having trouble with the steel line connection to the flexible hose. My craftsman wrench is not very tight fitting at all. I'm wondering if it's the wrench. I've been through this before with many Mustangs but I really want to avoid changing the steel lines. Any good tricks to loosening these? I've already tried heat but nearly lit the car on fire and I don't want to take chances on that!
Thanks,
Greg

Don't even think about attacking those fittings without using flare wrenches, pictured below. Otherwise you'll just be inviting trouble. If you don't own flare wrenches you can buy an inexpensive set of wrenches at Sears or even AutoZone.

Also, I've sometimes had better luck removing the horseshoe clip, pushing the line down a bit, and unscrewing the hose with a wrench while keeping the metal line end in one position. The end may be rusted to the line, and it won't turn.

I just worked on a caliper by "unscrewing" a caliper from the flexible rubber hose and then reversing the procedure to reinstall the caliper. It's a pain to rotate the caliper in the air while trying to get the hose threaded, but you won't have to disturb the flex hose-to-steel line connection either. Don't forget the copper washer between the caliper and the flex hose.

Patrick

[Terry M.]

Re: I need to learn all about Corvette brakes

This is one of the situations when the quality of a professional tool MAY save the day. I wouldn't attempt to remove the body end of the flexible brake line without a new Snap-on flare nut wrench, but that is just my $26 or $27.25.

[Greg H.]

Re: I need to learn all about Corvette brakes

Thanks, guys. I do have flare wrenches but they are craftsman. There's a lot of slop so I think that's part of the problem. I'm also trying to change the flex hoses or I'd go with Patrick's plan. I may have to leave my old hoses in place and do that but since I have the new ones it seems I should replace the old rubber.

[Greg H.]

Re: I need to learn all about Corvette brakes

Is the hex size 3/8 or is it actually 11/32?

[Terry M.]

Re: I need to learn all about Corvette brakes

Greg, You can replace the hoses using Patrick's method. You just unthread things from the outside working toward the inside. Rotate the caliper off, then take the clip off the brake line mount and holding the brake line nut (called a B-nut) rotate the flexible line off. Then you can work on the B-nut to loosen it from the pipe.

It is easier to get the nut to slide/turn on the pipe once the hose is off the nut. Heat will then be more effective since there is less mass to heat up. Do be careful with heat in that brake fluid is highly farmable, so once the flexible line is loose the fluid is exposed and the applied heat will expand the fluid. It might be best to suck all the brake fluid out of the master cylinder and flush the lines before trying th heat the B-nut. Keep a good supply of fire extinguishing material handy. Water will work fine for this duty.

[Alan S.]

Re: I need to learn all about Corvette brakes

Hi Greg,
I just put my calipers back on this afternoon and used my 3/8 Snap-On flare wrench.
Regards,
Alan

PS: My brother-in-law's, father-in-law was a Snap-On dealer in Grand Rapids. I was able to buy very nice tools, at great prices, many years ago.

[Tim S.]

Re: I need to learn all about Corvette brakes

Definitely the Snap On's. Too many others spread when leaning on them and round the edges. This is one of those times where Snap On is worth every nickle!
Tim

[Patrick H.]

Re: I need to learn all about Corvette brakes

Hi Greg,
I just put my calipers back on this afternoon and used my 3/8 Snap-On flare wrench.
Regards,
Alan

PS: My brother-in-law's, father-in-law was a Snap-On dealer in Grand Rapids. I was able to buy very nice tools, at great prices, many years ago.

Is he still a dealer there?

[Patrick H.]

Re: I need to learn all about Corvette brakes

This is one of the situations when the quality of a professional tool MAY save the day. I wouldn't attempt to remove the body end of the flexible brake line without a new Snap-on flare nut wrench, but that is just my $26 or $27.25.

I've been lucky (?) that my Craftsmans have been fine, but I can see how a nicer set would come in handy.

A friend recently ruined some lines and a master cylinder using flare wrenches that were cheep Chinese chit.

Patrick

[Mike M.]

Re: I need to learn all about Corvette brakes

about 30 years ago, i was using a Craftsman line wrench to remove a frozen fitting on one of our midyears(that had lived thru years of salt-contaminated W.Va roads).The Craftsman wrench broke in two, and my precious little knuckles slamed into the frame, bringing blood to the surface. i got in my truck with the broken sears wrench, went to their store and traded the broken wrench for a new one. went home, used a little heat on the fitting, positioned the new Craftsman on the fitting and it promptly broke in two like its older sibling had done.Old laceration erupted for the second time that day. Swore i'd never use another Craftsman POS again and started replacing all my hand tools with Mr Snap-on. Have never broken a Snap-on line wrench since. mike

[Patrick H.]

Re: I need to learn all about Corvette brakes

about 30 years ago, i was using a Craftsman line wrench to remove a frozen fitting on one of our midyears(that had lived thru years of salt-contaminated W.Va roads).The Craftsman wrench broke in two, and my precious little knuckles slamed into the frame, bringing blood to the surface. i got in my truck with the broken sears wrench, went to their store and traded the broken wrench for a new one. went home, used a little heat on the fitting, positioned the new Craftsman on the fitting and it promptly broke in two like its older sibling had done.Old laceration erupted for the second time that day. Swore i'd never use another Craftsman POS again and started replacing all my hand tools with Mr Snap-on. Have never broken a Snap-on line wrench since. mike

That 3 foot long breaker bar probably didn't help.

[Greg H.]

Re: I need to learn all about Corvette brakes

Well I got my flared fittings loose with my craftsman wrench and some heat. So I'm back in business. Replaced the calipers, and let them open until the fluid bled through.

Now bleeding the brakes, I thought I would have an easy time of it as I did not let the reservoirs get low, and only had the fronts opened long enough for fluid to drain through. But as we bleed them, the rear reservoir is pushing bubbles, the front reservoir seems to be pushing only fluid.

So which reservoir is the front assigned to? The front brakes?

Do I need to bleed the master? What is the proper procedure for that?

Thanks for any advice.
Greg

[Alan S.]

Re: I need to learn all about Corvette brakes

Hi Greg,
I'm bleeding the brakes on my 71 right now too.
Yes,the front reservoir is for the front brakes.
You can use the 2 bleeder screws on the side of the master to bleed the cylinder. If you have the fittings and short pieces of tubing you can also bleed the master cylinder through the 2 brake line outlets And yes, it's a good idea to do that first if the master cylinder has been empty.
Regards,
Alan

[Tom D.]

GM brakes - How to Bleed 'em

Good Article in "Chevy Classics" dated Sept 2008. Starts on page 70 - Might be on line too, I'd have to look...

td

[Steven B.]

Re: I need to learn all about Corvette brakes

about 30 years ago, i was using a Craftsman line wrench to remove a frozen fitting on one of our midyears(that had lived thru years of salt-contaminated W.Va roads).The Craftsman wrench broke in two, and my precious little knuckles slamed into the frame, bringing blood to the surface. i got in my truck with the broken sears wrench, went to their store and traded the broken wrench for a new one. went home, used a little heat on the fitting, positioned the new Craftsman on the fitting and it promptly broke in two like its older sibling had done.Old laceration erupted for the second time that day. Swore i'd never use another Craftsman POS again and started replacing all my hand tools with Mr Snap-on. Have never broken a Snap-on line wrench since. mike

Who makes Craftsman now? I believe in the mid 70's SK Wayne did but I remember the SK rep who came to where I worked, then Maremont Corp. (can still see the asbestos flying in the air, some even made it intot he brakes and clutches we made), said that the Craftsman specs. wer eless than the SK's. Steve