Line wrench or Box-end for brake bleeder fittings?

[mslim]

I get that you have to use a line wrench or flare nut wrench for tightening a union on a hard line. I'll use an open end to hold the union stationary and a flare nut on the actual fitting, but..... I can't think of any reason to necessarily use a flare nut wrench on the actual bleeder fitting. I've done this in the past but it's easy to dislodge the flare nut wrench faffing around with the drain hose and container.

Wouldn't it make more sense to just use a 6 point box wrench and this take it off when the job is done?

 

[liliysdad]

If you can get a box end on it, use it.

 

[Stelzer]

I'm not a pro, but I play one at home for friends & family. Never once used a flare nut wrench to tighten/loosen bleeders. Usually the smallest 10/12mm I can get in there. Maybe professionals would have a different opinion

 

[sweet victory]

For brake bleeder fittings, I prefer 6 pt box wrenches. I've nearly rounded off bleeder fittings on my 911 even while using snap on flare nut wrenches. I imagine the heat cycles from all the canyon roads get them hot and seized. An 11mm Armstrong I got from cripe distributing lives in my cart for this sole purpose.

 

[Fedwrench]

Probably old school but, I have more than a few six point boxed end bleeder wrenches in assorted sizes. lengths, and shapes just for this purpose. Did the trucks stop selling these?

 

[finn]

Box, or even a ratchet and socket.

Line wrench for brake lines.

 

[sweet victory]

Probably old school but, I have more than a few six point boxed end bleeder wrenches in assorted sizes. lengths, and shapes just for this purpose. Did the trucks stop selling these?

My SO dealer carries a bunch in large and interesting shapes and sizes. I believe they're shaped the way they are so brakes can be bled without removing wheels. I've never worked on cars professionally, so that doesn't really appeal to me.

 

[Qualitytools]

Box end in either 6 or 12 point, bleeders are not made to be on that tight.

 

[Dave455]

Absolutely! Use the box end!

I actually have a 9mm semi deep socket in my vehicle box, specifically for loosening the bleeders initially (much better access with a socket and extension), then I use the box end wrench for bleeding!

 

[Chipm]

Box end in either 6 or 12 point, bleeders are not made to be on that tight.

6 point only. They are not "made" to be that tight, but often they are.

 

[ecotec]

All my brake bleeder wrenches are 6pt.

 

[strutaeng]

Just use a crescent wrench.

 

[jrsulo]

Just use a crescent wrench.

Vice grips fit better !!!!!!!!

 

[lilredex]

These are my brake bleeder wrenches, once one piece, they were separated for ease of use.

 

[dmaxfireman]

I tend to end up using a mig-nut wrench more often than I'd like out of pure necessity.

 

[mikedodge]

Box end or 6 point socket. If they've been in a long time or is in or from an area that gets snow and humidity bleeders love to seize in place.

 

[mrjaw14]

I use a 6 point box wrench as well. I make sure I can loosen them, then slip my bleed tool hose through the box onto the bleeder. With the hole in the middle bleeders just seem softer and easier to round, so I take no chances with 12 point or flare nut wrenches.

 

[mreisner]

I use a 6 point box wrench as well. I make sure I can loosen them, then slip my bleed tool hose through the box onto the bleeder. With the hole in the middle bleeders just seem softer and easier to round, so I take no chances with 12 point or flare nut wrenches.

6 point always, Mac rbrt if I have one that small.

 

[Madjik Man]

I’m a DIYer so take my opinion FWIW but I only use a 6pt box end on the brake bleeders.

 

[MovingAlong]

Wouldn't it make more sense to just use a 6 point box wrench and this take it off when the job is done?

Yes.

 

[rooster59]

Bleeders that haven’t been opened in years, driven in winter in heavy salt … or bleeders cracked every year in no salt?

My fav would be 6pt wrench, or 6pt socket on a breaker bar follow with box end wrench. If it’s all rusty replace the bleeder screw. Whatever you do, don’t round them off. Or worse break them off.

 

[MovingAlong]

Whatever you do, don’t round them off.

But when you do, Vice-Grips!

And then replace...

 

[AEAdam]

My SO dealer carries a bunch in large and interesting shapes and sizes. I believe they're shaped the way they are so brakes can be bled without removing wheels. I've never worked on cars professionally, so that doesn't really appeal to me.

I think there's more to it than that.

A normal box wrench is designed to clear the largest std fastener. The wrench is then rotated until features inside the wrench (or socket) contact NEAR the corners of the fastener. Snap on called this "flank drive".

If I'm not mistaken, brake bleeder wrenches are not "flank drive" and instead are proper hex recesses that taper ever so slightly top to bottom. So you push the wrench down until you get firm contact.

Because I drove old cars or crappy cars for a long time, I've had trouble with simple brake jobs. I picked these up on eBay for a couple bucks each. Even at list price, they are worth the money for the one bleed screw you wreck and need vise grips to mess with.



Snap on has made these for a long time, and obviously made them in the sizes most often needed. I have 1/4"-3/8", 8-10mm. Other std bleeder sizes include 5/16" and 7/16", 7, 9, & 11mm.

Just note, because of the taper 5/16" = 8mm and 7/16" = 11mm. 3/8" might fit the 10mm. 7mm is a bit bigger than 1/4" so I'd try 1/4" on a 7mm bleeder*

So I'd think about what sizes you need, then start searching on eBay to see if you can find what you need.

*NOTE: When I find these "strange" sizes, I often wonder if they are metric equivalents for a SAE std. Example: I'm not sure the caliper bolts on my Durango are actually 11mm SHCSs or are just std 9/16" bolts with 7/16" internal hex heads that an 11m Allen fits nicely.

I know this has come up before and someone found a reference to a metric std for 7mm heads. I wonder if Germans chose that hose clamp because it's small and can be turned with either a 1/4" socket or a 7mm.

In my machine shop there are a lot of devices etc with 8mm hex heads. I call that size the "Machinist's friend" because 8mm and 5/16" are very close together and sometimes its just more convenient to have one set of tools in the machine shop.

Bleeder screws could be similar, designed to be turned with either SAE or metric tools.

 

[Mr_B]

Box, or even a ratchet and socket.

Line wrench for brake lines.

+1 on a socket and ratchet to loosen it if the bleeder looks like it could be difficult or access not best with a long box wrench .
I pretty much always use 12 point box wrench purely for wrench clock positioning/swing clearance (decent quality wrenches make big difference on not rounding out fittings) but been a few times it been handy have 6 point box wrenches so worth grabbing a half decent set when see a deal .

 

[rust in the eye]

^^ Another vote for a (6pt) socket to break them loose. Once free any wrench that fits.

 

[mikey03]

The only reason to ever use a line wrench on anything is cause a box end won’t fit because there’s a line on both sides. Otherwise why would you ever use one on purpose?

now with regular open end wrench some guys use them for speed on already broken loose fasteners but there also mostly for where you can’t fit a socket or box end wrench tbh

 

[AEAdam]

The only reason to ever use a line wrench on anything is cause a box end won’t fit because there’s a line on both sides. Otherwise why would you ever use one on purpose?

now with regular open end wrench some guys use them for speed on already broken loose fasteners but there also mostly for where you can’t fit a socket or box end wrench tbh

Are you asking us or telling us?

You use a line wrench because sealing nuts on fluid lines are often soft, either because they are brass or they are thin. Line wrenches are thicker to spread the load out and to contact more sides to avoid distortion/damage to the nut to allow it to function correctly.