Wheel cylinder removal

I'm in process of removing the front driver side wheel cylinder from my '66 Barracuda. I'm to the point of removing the flexible brake line. I was able to get the line loose but I can't continue to unscrew the line from the cylinder because the line is fixed at the other end at a bracket and connected to the hard line. Picture attached. I'm not sure how to proceed at this point. Should I be able to detach the hard line from the flexible line at this point? There is also a u-clip that looks like it holds this junction to the bracket. Should I try to free this junction from the bracket before I try to break the connection between the two lines?
Any input would be welcome.

The line detaches just above the clip, where the spring stops and that fitting is, then you remove the clip and the flex line is removed. Put some PB Blaster on the fittings and let them sit. Also purchase a set of brake wrenches, don't use an open end, they will round them.

Soak the connection with a good penetrating oil, (I like PB Blaster) and use a small wire brush or something similar to clean up the connection where the wrench goes on. Before you unclip the hose from the bracket, unscrew the fitting on the hard line. Use line wrenches to avoid rounding off the fitting. If the guy before you has "pre-rounded" the hex fitting, you'll have to use vice grips.

As bad as this sounds, I always use vise grips on those hard line fittings coming from the frame screwing into the hose. If you clamp them on the flats tightly it will not hurt the fitting. I have rarely had a line wrench break those loose, because normally, they are either rusted up or have all kinda of crap in the threads. Once the fitting is broken loose, I remove the vise grips and use a regular open end wrench. Once the hard line is disconnected from the hose at the frame end, slide the little horseshoe clip off and the hose will fall out. Then you can unscrew the entire hose from the wheel cylinder.

Garry in AZ said:

Soak the connection with a good penetrating oil, (I like PB Blaster) and use a small wire brush or something similar to clean up the connection where the wrench goes on. Before you unclip the hose from the bracket, unscrew the fitting on the hard line. Use line wrenches to avoid rounding off the fitting. If the guy before you has "pre-rounded" the hex fitting, you'll have to use vice grips.

Click to expand...

Agree 100%...looks as though the fitting has been pre-rounded already!

If you are trying to replace the cylinder and not the flex line.

If the flex line is broken loose from the cylinder, un bolt the two bolts from the cylinder and rotate it off the flex line