Hello,

I'm putting the popular Goodridge brake lines on my 02 WRX. Easy bolt on mod, right?

Well, when I started to disconnect the male fitting at the junction between the hard line and the stock rubber line, the corners of the hex started to deform slightly. I stopped before doing more damage and went and brought a 10 mm flare nut wrench (I know, should have had it from the start). However, once I fitted on the flare nut wrench, I found the fitting was TIGHT. Well, I pushed hard (counter clockwise) and ended up rounding the corners of the hex fitting. Arrgghh.

OK, my questions are:

How best to get this off? Vise grips seem pretty harsh, and I'm afraid they could just reduce the fitting to a pile of little metal chips.

Do you think I can re-use the fitting? If not, can I nip the end of the hard line, slip on a new fitting and re-flare the line? If this is the better way to go, any ideas what size the fitting is (dia., thread). SubaruParts.com just sells the complete brake line kit with the fittings already attached to the hard lines. A lot of $$$.

Was the little damage I did to one pair of corners on the fitting's Hex with a regular wrench enough to explain this, or might the connection be too tight? I don't have a good feel for how tight these are. Should I spray with penetrating oil first? (BTW, the connection appears very clean and "new".

Thanks for any help you can provide to this ham fisted soul!

Allan

 

I would say vicegrips would be your next option, if they don't get them off maybe take it to a brake shop and have them redo the end of the fitting and put a new nut on there if that is possible to do.

Would this be on the passenger front?

 

Oh, and make sure you are loosening the nut. It is upside down.