The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Driveline Cleaning brake line fittings

Replacing all the brake lines and master cylinder on my 55.2 and was hoping to use three of the junctions. How can I clean them up without contaminating the brake system when I put it all back together? I know brake fluid is particularly sensitive, so I thought I would come here for some advice. The three junctions are small and I'm guessing are brass.

By junctions do you mean the "union" between two lines you connect? If so just spray them with some brake cleaner. A can is about two bucks here. If you have air blow them out and your good to go.

If you have a junction, like over the rear-end or a connection where a banjo type fitting is then clean it as above and use two new copper washers, on each side..if it had them on yours.

...and one last tidbit. Take a look inside the "connectors/unions" to see what kind of shape its in where the "flares" mate up. The unions, as I prefer to call them, are cheap at any place so I like to use new ones...from NAPA which are the Weatherhead type which is now made by Eaton.

Heres a photo of the "junction box" on the back of the master cylinder:

http://flic.kr/p/rDNaQy

Those are brass and clean up nicely.
I take them off, wash the major gunk off with Naptha and use the wire wheel to finish them off.

I use mag wheel cleaner made for all types of wheels to clean brass parts in. Let them soak for a bit and they come looking new. Brake clean to dry if you want, but not really needed. Brake fluid is not all that touchy, just keep the water away from it. Most all solvents will dry out before you install the part. Be sure to check the internal flare like Alvin mentioned, over tightening can really cause havoc with them making it nearly impossible to seal new line to them.

Thanks to all. Got all the brake lines off, have the nuts and bolts soaking in apple cider vinegar. Going to let the brass parts soak in some cleaner. I checked the fittings and all appear ok.

Just make sure to replace any copper washers/gaskets with new ones. Other then that just make sure to blow them out so not to have any fluid left over inside the fitting.