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[MichaelF]

Hoping someone might be able to offer some help

I've been sorting out the front brakes on my old Omega 3.2 elite (2002).  Have cleaned up and painted the calipers (with fancy supposedly super high temp paint from Brake Caliper Specialists), got new seals and pistons for them (from Big Red), replaced discs and have new pads of course ready to go in.  So far so good.  I decided to go the hole hog and replace the flexible brake hoses with lovely new braided steel ones.  Got them made up by Hel and they look lovely (in the box!)  Now I want to fit them and stick everything back together.

What I'm a bit nervous about is undoing the old flexible hose from the little joiner thingie (sorry - dont know its proper name) that sits on a bracket welded to the chasis and connects the flexible hose to the rigid brake pipe.  I've cleaned it up really well but of course the metal looks rusty and i don't want to end up bending the flexible pipe and knackering it.

Any tips?

Should i just undo the 17mm nut that sits at the end of the flexible hose - on the top of the joiner thingie?  And while doing that do I just hold the joiner unit from underneath the bracket/plate it sits on with mole grips (I see it's round and not got flats to hold with a spanner).  And/or should I undoe the little (is it a 9mm? not a size I'm used to - I am newish to working on cars - have spent many a year working on my motorbikes) that holds the rigid brake pipe into the underside of the joiner unit?

Apologies if this is a really dim question.  I just reckon it's one of those little jobs that experienced mechanics may have done and worked out a good methodology for.

Many thanks in advance to anyone who has done this before and can help

And finally - what's the necessary order for bleeding the calipers in once I refit them?  And should I just bleed the two front ones a bit to get some fluid into them and then go round all four (I havent done anything to the rears) in whatever the official order is - or do I have to start straight away doing them in the official order without first partly bleeding the newly replaced fronts?

Thanks

Michael

[jb]

Have to say that unless they have perished would leave well alone........

[MichaelF]

Hmm. Thanks. That's exactly what one of my good motor biking friends said yesterday! Might just accept writing off the cost of the lovely new braided hoses and do that. Then again.....migh have a go.....and then regret it when I knacker the fixed. Rake pipes in the process! Cheers. Michael

[lee4206]

If you are going to change them undo the 10/11mm on the pipe side whilst holding the hose with a 17mm spanner (if the nut locks on to the pipe and starts turning the pipe STOP#). Remove the spring clip that holds the hose into the bracket (i find side cutters or mole grips best).  Remove the hose from the bracket. Replacement is reverse.

.# If the nut does lock onto the pipe you can usually free it by working the nut back and forth in small amounts(I tend to find if you do it fairly quickly the heat generated seems to help. If it doesn't free off then do the nut back up and leave the old hose. You then have the option of taking it to someone who has the equipment/more experience to get them changed.

Once all re-connected bleed the front calipers first then go around all 4.
Hth
Lee.

[Andy H]

If your brake pipes are too weak/rusty to cope with changing the flexi pipes then they probably need changing anyway

In my experience fitting braided hoses has made a noticeable improvement to the feel at the lever/pedal every time. (but I have only fitted them to old japanese motorbikes with excessively long rubber hoses and an old Range Rover with lots of long hoses).

[flyer 0712]

I soaked mine with plus gas,then as the other member stated ...undo them while in position on the car...easy peasey..job done...just go for it ,,i did..