Help! brake line rounded off

[coffeejolts]

UPDATED: brake line rounded off

Well, I received my new brake kit from VB&P. I managed to change the front left caliper with no problems at all, but I've run into a big problem with the front right:the brake line fitting is rounded off. How do I loosen the fitting without making it any worse? Does this mean I have to replace the whole brake line (which seems like a royal pita to do without removing the body from the frame)?

HELP!

 

[coffeejolts]

btw- yes, I was using brake line wrenches.

 

[Crimson Thunder]

You may have to go rent/borrow a flare kit from your local auto part store and replace the fitting.

 

[coffeejolts]

Forgive my ignorance, but is that even an option? The steel lines seem like they were molded exactly to length. If I cut them, then they are going to be too short, aren't they? How could I pull this off, so to speak?

 

[6880 Mike]

Work slowly with vise grips, but I believe I would order a replacement line for the install.

 

[Phill]

samething happen to me. the line looked like a pita to replace so i ended up using vise grips to remove and install and no leaks as of yet.

 

[GTR1999]

Work slowly with vise grips, but I believe I would order a replacement line for the install.

This is probably your best option. If done correctly it will be sloppy looking but sealed up. Otherwise you replace the line and a lot of new lines need to be tweeked to fit.

 

[92BlackVette]

Same thing happened to me on the right side (1976), only I had no choice but to round the fitting because it was so tight. Tried using flare wrench, guess what happened when I used vise grips? Bye-Bye brake line. I ended up buying the following to fix the problem:
Corvette Brake Line, Front Crossover, Steel, 1974-1982

....and no the frame was not removed.

 

[LVMYVT76]

I replaced all my lines with the body on, so it can be dne.

 

[tcxd40]

A good dose of penatrating oil, your choice, and vice grips.

Had the same problem with my '81.

tcxd40

 

[coffeejolts]

Update

I drenched the fitting with liquid wrench, then hit it carefully with vice grips Saturday morning. A few hours later I had all the calipers installed and the system bled. I decided not to replace the line for now, but it's on the agenda.

However...

I took the car for its first extended drive since 2003 on Saturday evening and developed a nasty transmission leak. It looks like the rear seal is shot- I had transmission fluid all over the exhaust pipes- smoke everywhere. I had my two year old son with me in the car (in a car seat). Luckily I was almost back home when the leak got really bad. A guy in a Mustang stopped and helped me get the car off the rode and gave us a lift to my house. I dumped three quarts of ATF into the transmission and got it home in one piece. That's what I get for letting the car sit too long.

I'm going to take it in to the transmission shop tomorrow. Lucky for me, there is a reputable one less than a mile away.