The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk 1953 Chevrolet 3100 - brake line clip - how to remove?

1953 Chevrolet 3100 Series

brake lines

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Hi folks, I am trying to remove the brake lines from this truck, so that I can replace them. I got to the cross member that goes under the cab... there is a brake line there with a 7/16 fitting on it... and it is held on by these two large fasteners, which I think are large clutch heads? I dunno, been awhile since I messed with those.

Do they screw out or not?

Do any of you know what size it is? I need to get a proper tool to take it off so I can get the brake line off.

This is the fastener I am referring to :

image of fastener in question

the folder of brake line photos :

album of 1953 Chevrolet 3100 Series - brake line photos

Thanks folks.

-Woog

Soak for a couple of days with PB Blaster or Kroil then proper size clutch head bit in a hand hammered impact tool will break it loose.🛠

Ok, so it does come off... that's good to know.

Anyone have an idea of what size clutch head it is?

-W

I don't know specifically. I just have the set of 4 clutch head bits that go on a socket set and try each till I find the one that fits correctly. It helps to take a scribe and scratch the accumulated rust/crud out of the recess so the tool fits all the way in.

Ah, I guess I need to find some of those clutch head bits then!

I just want to use the right tool for the job.

This was my dad's project truck and I know he had some clutch head bits... but I dunno where they are yet and I don't know if he had one that would fit this one or not.

Yep, I had to hit it with brake cleaner and my wood handled wire brush to get that photo... it was caked up with muck....

old trucks are fun, right?

-W

Crawl under the crossmember and actually look at what you are working on. You will see what holds those brake line clips on.
I could just tell you what it is, but I don't want to be the "the guy" who took all the fun out of your hobby.
(Tip. Bring a 7/16" wrench with you.)
Carl

Yeah, the fun of not getting it off in the driveway, ok.

hmn.

-Woog

Just make sure to use a large enough bit, might have to clean well and push bit in hard, too small bit will just strip head.

Ed

Hi folks...

so I have a set of clutch head drives now that fit my 3/8 drive ratchet, very handy.

For anyone that may come in here in the future, there is a square bolt on the inside of the cross member that you will have to hold to get it loose.

Now my problem is this, the line in question is the one that runs along the backside of the cross member that goes under the transmission between the frame rails... and it goes into the back of the master cylinder :

brake line - back of master cylinder

Now, I had my brake line wrench on there and tried the righty-tightey, lefty loosey action, but it didn't budge. Is there a trick to getting it off? I sprayed some pb blaster on there and I will try later but thought I'd come in and ask some other folks for tips and tricks.


also, added some more brake line photos to the folder here, same the one linked in the original post :

album of 1953 Chevrolet 3100 Series - brake line photos

Thanks.

-Woog

yeah boy, it needs a good soaking for sure. After a good soaking I'd use a box-end wrench on the big nut and a "line wrench" on the smaller fitting to get them loosened. Are you putting on new lines? You'll probably have to as I suspect the little line going into the big nut will round off and you'll have to get nasty with a BIG pair of vice grips.........then again, it may break fairly easy after a good soaking with Kroil.

....as rusted as the little line is the nut may not turn on the rusty line and twist into?

...boy, aren't I full of good news today?! You can do it Woog, or bring it on up to see us and I'll help you. Hot dogs and Pepsi waiting.

Cut the line off so you can put a hex head socket on it and remove it with a ratchet. If the brake line doesn't budge, but the cap comes out of master cylinder, all the better. Then you can work on it in a bench vice.
Carl