[solved] Brake line flare nuts stuck; cut hard line out, replaced with new

Don't worry, can confirm - Brake hoses in 2018 still suck. Passenger rear changed without much problem. Broke lower driver nut loose and disconnected from hard line. Tried upper driver nut - nut spins with clip and rubber hose when turned. Took break, trying passenger front. Both upper and lower nut, clip, and rubber hose spin together. Will need to re-evaluate situation with more vice-grips and lube. I knew there was a reason these hoses sat in my garage for almost 2 years. But look, I have one pretty!

 

I got one done smoothly, the other was bad, bad and resulted in a visit to my local garage.

 

Follow-up:
I was successful getting all my brake hoses switched out. For the fronts, it took a vice grip on the rubber hoses, a flare wrench and a rubber mallet to shock the flare nut loose. For the remaining rear driver hose, I ended up rounding the upper flare nut - even using a flare nut wrench, but was able to use 2 vice grips, one on the hose, one on the flare nut to break it lose. The new hoses had a 19mm nut on the hose side that I was able to use to re-tighten my rounded flare nut.

I found it easier to remove the upper hose bracket from the frame. Use a 12 mm wrench to remove the two bolts and bend the hard lines down. This will give you a little more working room.

 

You can't use cheap line wrenches when you're doing this job, they have too much flex. The other key is to "double wrench" while you're trying to either loosen or tighten. Use the line wrench on the line end use the equivalent open end on the other side and squeeze the the wrenches together. Picture attached gives you the idea, it works both ways and has a lot of torque.

 

All I can say, is fuck those flare nuts. Think I rounded one of mine on the rear.. happy to have found this ancient wisdom

 

Had some so ridiculously tight, on the rear of an '09, that I had to take a map gas torch to it, then a flare nut wrench and knipex parallel pliers.

 

I’m just glad I’m not the only one

 

Luckily I found this thread. I’m upgrading to SST lines. All of the hard lines are corroded so the flare nuts are stuck and I need new ones. The parts diagram on the Toyota parts website doesn’t match my VIN and they give multiple part numbers for the 47314, 47316, 47317, and 47318 hard lines. I was able to pick the correct ones using the information in this thread.

I’m also going to buy a Snap On 10mm flare nut wrench. I have a harbor freight and Stahlwille (made in Germany) flare nut wrenchs and they rounded the flare nuts.

 

Is there a trick to tightening the flare fittings? I bought a new #4 brake tube (47314-04150) and it keeps weeping no matter how tight I crank it down. It weeps at the connection at both the frame and brake hose. I cranked it so hard that the flare nuts are almost rounded at the corners even with the holy grail Snap On flare nut wrench. I might have to buy a new #4 brake tube to try again.

However I also replaced the #7 (47317-04050) brake tube at the caliper with a new one and it does not leak at all.