The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area General Truck Talk Removing a master cylinder.

How do you bust the brake line nuts loose on a crudded up master cylinder? There's two of them that are almost rounded off, but are frozen tight. I don't want to replace the brake lines themselves if that's possible.

I have a pair of Channellocks that have a pipe wrench style jaw for dealing with those. Otherwise, it's the same as dealing with a stuck bolt, penetrating oils and perhaps heat. You want to be very carefull with heat, especially if you're going to reuse the master cylinder. There is a very good chance that the nuts are actually seized to the line itself, rather than in the master cylinder. I see this very often.
Honest opinion time, with as bad as the nuts are, you would be best at least replacing them, and possibly the line as well. Line and fittings are cheap, no need to fight something that will most likely need to be replaced anyway.

You should have used tubing wrenches before you rounded them off.

However, it is time to replace those lines. Do it right, do it once. If they are that bad on the ends they are most likely corroded on the inside. Brake lines are a lot cheaper than (whatever might happen when one bursts).

Nothing will tick you off more than having a restored truck with stupid brake fluid that leaked on your frame and ruined the paint.

cletis is right. just happened to me,lucky for me I was just testing my brakes before I drove any were. one pump brakes next pump nothing! front steel line under front motor mount rusted out.

Replace the lines. Don't take any chances with brakes.
You can get pre flaired lines of many lengths at you local flaps and a cheap tubing bender for a couple of bucks.

Measure the lines and get a pre flaired line that is the next size longer. You can put a pigtail in the line near the master to take up the extra if you have to.

Going is good ...stopping is essential.

Rich

hey rust bucket 53 what our the # off your carb.that is a YF carter? and year. just for my info.

Yes a YF carter. The truck is a 53. I just left it at my house in Maine 100+ miles away)so I can't get the number for you. I will be visiting it next week to drive it in the local parade there. I will get the number and send it to you

PS on the tubing bender get a decent one (still only like 15 bucks). I had to fix something this weekend when I was away and I had to buy a tubing bender as mine was at home. The cheap one kinked the tubing very easily as it only has one size groove... too big for the small tubing I was working with.

I had the same problem getting the lines off. My mother told me to heat the bolts up. Take a candle and rub the space that was stuck. I waited a minute and the lines came right off. I have used this several times for other stuck nut and bolts and it has worked most of the time.