What is the trick to disconnect brake "drop" line? (I failed... see pics)

[garydan]

I dropped the 10 bolt axle out of the blazer this weekend and bolted in the 14-bolt. I decided to just cut off the emergency brake lines and the brake "drop-line" from the axle. I'm not going to reuse either.

What is the trick to disconnecting the fittings for the emergency brake line where it attaches to the frame?

And how do you disconnect the brake line so I can reattach an extended line I'm getting from ORD?

(Sorry if this is a dumb question but the attachments weren't simple nuts/bolts.. and I'm a simple man )


UPDATE:
As you can see from the pics below, I failed miserably. I couldn't get it loose no matter what I used... flare nut wrench, Vise-Grips, PB-Blaster... nothing help. So I basically just snapped it. Right now I'm thinking about having it towed to get the rest of the lines connected at a shop somewhere.

Rounded off and snapped

And now I have this:

I guess I can just replace the line from this fitting back right? The fitting is inside the frame rail.

The problem is that its bracketed in with the fuel lines all the way back, looks like a major PIA:

Well I have everything else done with the 14-bolt FF install w/Disc brakes. I never thought this damn brake line would be the worst part of it all

ORD long brake line kit... not secured yet.

Thanks,
-Gary

 

[bp71k5]

One bit of advice is to use flare wrenches instead of ruining the fittings with standard box wrenches.

There's usually a small fitting around the tube you can see and another fitting on the backside that unscrews as well.

 

[garydan]

One bit of advice is to use flare wrenches instead of ruining the fittings with standard box wrenches.

There's usually a small fitting around the tube you can see and another fitting on the backside that unscrews as well.

Are you referring to the normal brake line fittings? Those are just nuts that you can unscrew. I'm talking about the emergency brake line and the fitting that attaches to the frame (coming from the tee at the axle).

Maybe I'll take a better look at it when I get home, but there didn't seem to be anything I could put a wrench on and turn.

 

[bp71k5]

I thought you were talking about the standard brake line fittings since you mentioned the extended drop line from ORD.

I'm talking about the emergency brake line and the fitting that attaches to the frame (coming from the tee at the axle).

Mine are just wire clips, but yours are probably different. Look for a clip to pull out and then you may be able to pull the wire out of a slot in the bracket.

 

[chulisohombre]

mine has the two sides of the cable attached with a center u cable holder.basically just loosen the main line and push in and the center pulls apart from both sides.the head on the cable when it is tight keeps it together.there is a c clip on the back side that holds the ebrake sleeve to the frame.

 

[garydan]

Ok, I figured out the drop line. I removed the clip, but as mentioned above I need a flare wrench. I believe I need a 7/16" flare wrench since the 7/16's open end wrench seemed to fit. I tried budging it after spraying down with some PB Blaster. It didn't move and I did slightly strip the nut. I was careful not to do too much damage though.

Will a 7/16" flare nut wrench work? Will it get around the line and get on the nut? I'll have to go to the hardware store tomorrow to pick one up.

 

[garydan]

This brake line (the drop line to the rear axle) is going to be the end of me. I really don't want to make any additional work for myself. I bought a flare-nut wrench, but the wrench didn't quite fit on there (maybe the nut is deformed now). I used a 7/16" wrench which was the size of my open-end that fit perfectly.

Anyway.... I put a pair of vice grips on there, the damn thing is rusted solid. I even tried applying heat (although using a torch so close to the gas tank doesn't seem right). I will try again tonight, the battle will go on.

How hard is it to bend up a new line should I fail miserably?