Is it possible to remove the front shocks without unscrewing the brake lines?

I removed the clip that keeps the lines from slipping, but forcing the metal lines out of the shock's connector is impossible without damaging the line.

thanks

-- vaughnc

 

Sounds like you answered your own question

Try unbolting the caliper so you can move the line more or unbolting the strut from the front suspension.

I haven't done the fronts but I did the rears without removing any brake lines.

 

Yeah I didn't have the 17mm socket & 1/2" wrachet on me last night, so unbolting the fronts was impossible.

The rear bolt is only 14mm - go figure

Well the pressure on the brakeline wasn't too bad and didn't leak that much.

I probably should have rented an impact gun as I'm having to "run to the shop" to remove the old shocks from the strut assembly & install the new ones.

thanks

-- vaughc

 

dude.....you don't even have to do that.....you can remove the brake line from the shock pretty easily. All you have to do is pull the brake line a little so that you pull the metal piece out of the bracket on the shock. This way when you go to pull the brake line out of the slit on the shock bracket, it will just be the rubber part of the line, not the metal piece, and it will slip rite through. Hope you didn't unbolt your calipers yet. But if you did....just a heads up for next time

 

I'm fairly certain that the lines will just slip out of the connector once the clip is gone. If you can't pull it straight sideways, try to slide the line forward through the connector a bit and the pull it out. there should be enough play in the line to do it.

 

you cant just pull it out of the "bracket" you need to move it side ways... picture it and move the line so that it (not the connection) in in the bracket and just pull it out.

 

exactly....but you don't try pulling it forwards or backwards....you are going to bend the something trying to pull the metal piece on the brake line through the slit. So jus pull enough so you're pulling rubber through the bracket, not metal

 

Hell, just bend the brake line and get that bastard out of there. It's a real no-brainer. The steel brake line can take a lot of abuse.

Dale

 

Thats what I do, every time. Bend the steel line some so that it fits through the slot.

I've done it at least 10 times.

 

Once I unbolted the steel line, it came right out (the other side is rubber). I was pushing sideways pretty hard before, and didn't want to risk breaking something.