Snapped brake pipe

[Scottcooper85]

Whilst changing the rear wheel cylinder the pipe which runs on the drivers side of the beam split. I've got the end off the back of the drum but the other end is rounded and seized into the flexi.
ive snapped the pipe off and tried putting a socket on but 10mm spins and 9mm is too small, I've tried mole grips but that made it worse, tried heat and penetrating fluid and I can't remove the flexi as it's as bad at the other end and I really don't want to change all the lines back to the master cylinder just yet.

any ideas?

Would an an easy out work or would it be risky running it down towards the sealing face?

[conza123]

See if they undo brake hose ends then make up to new rear axle pipes ;)

and they are normal 8,9,10,11,12 mm depending on the car lol

And if mole grips don't work I normal use a small pair of steelsons

[Stuart]

Heat

[Scottcooper85]

I've had the little stillsons on it and just tried a snap on bolt head extractor set both wouldn't turn it at all lol

i tried heat as much as I dared but didn't want to melt anything.

can I change the flexi without taking the end of the hard brake pipe which runs the length of the car? Also if I have to cut the union off could I re-flare the green steel pipes? I'm close to saying f*ck it and running full new lines lol

[meritlover]

Take the flexi off and do it at the bench. Hold the nipple in the vice and turn the flexi. If that fails you are going to have to change the flexi anyway.
If you wreck the fitting on the long line you are as well replacing the whole length you could probably do it in less time and tears as the messing around with it in situ.

you clearly have to make up the short section between the flexi and the cylinder anyway. So its not much extra work.

you can flare the old steel pipe but if its painted or rusty you'll have a hard time getting the flaring tool to bite.

[Scottcooper85]

Just had a bit of a break through and got the flexi off with the main brake line in tact. I've already had a short pipe made up this morning so just off to see if I can get a flexi now.

[paul james]

Using specific brake union spanners makes it easier to get the unions off or tightened up without damaging them, worth getting them for your toolbox.
I got no luck trying to reflare the steel pipes on the car so ended up remaking the whole lot, its not difficult to do.

[conza123]

U won't reflare the metal ones as they don't realy squash like copper pipe

[meritlover]

You need to get better flaring tools.

[Scottcooper85]

I've got it back together now with a new flexi and copper pipe to the cylinder. Just put the drum and front caliper back on also so going to bleed them up now with hopefully no dramas lol

cheers for the comments though lads ;)

[Jonesfach]

I have hammered a socket, just a little bit smaller than the actual size needed on things like this before and found it can work. Obviously you were going to renew the small pipe on the beam. So you could have cut the pipe flush and perhaps undone the nut this way. Helps to have plenty of old size sockets too. Whitworth etc stuff your grandad had!