Brake Line Clamp

[The Critic]

I'm looking for a special clamp that is used to clamp off brake lines so that the fluid will not spill out when I have the brake caliper removed.

I heard that there are special clamps that you can buy that will not damage the brake line when you clamp it.

What do you folks recommend?

Thanks.

 

[bennyy]

I use Lisle 22850 Hose Pincher. not sure it is a surprise clamp but it works.
here is a link for the picture. http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002NYB78/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[Blacknwhitepit]

http://www.kd-tools.com/3438.htm

or

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00994288000P?vName=Tools

-BWP

 

[nissan_crawler]

I would be careful what kind of hose you're pinching.

 

[Fedwrench]

We're talking about clamping the rubber flexhose that runs from the caliper to the steel brake line?

I use a small pair of needle nose vise grips with rubber hose over both jaws to keep the teeth from cutting into the hose with light pressure. I would recommend the yellow plastic clamps pictured in the link above. You would be less likely to damage the brake hose internally by over clamping it with a metal tool. The plastic ones work great. You just don't want to deform the hose and cause brake drag problems later.
If you're replacing the calipers, I would replace the hoses too.

 

[Nealcrenshaw]

Needle nose vise grips with light pressure.

 

[nissan_crawler]

problem is, those hoses aren't always just rubber. Go ahead and throw a clamp on a teflon line, I bet it won't be pretty.

I just throw a rubber plug on or in the line.

 

[krusty the clown]

i NEVER clamp a brake line.........

 

[nissan_crawler]

i NEVER clamp a brake line.........

Exactly. Have you ever seen the psi on a brake line? It's pretty freaking high. I really don't care to give it a weak spot to swell and/or blow out.

That's why I just remove the hose, then shove a plug in the line if it'll be off for a while.

 

[krusty the clown]

i'm not as concern with weak spots as i am damaging the lining of the hose and causing the brake to stay applied..........i have replaced too many hoses for dragging brakes to cause one.

 

[nissan_crawler]

Good point, I haven't had to deal with that, since I only work on my own junk, usually. I had poor brake pressure in my old nissan, though. I finally put two and two together, and remembered I had a shock mount fail offroad that I had to repair a month or so before that.

I undid that shock again, flexed the pickup, sure enough, the brake hose shrunk to about 2/3 of it's diameter. OOPS. I had stretched it to the point it just swelled up with brake application.

 

[volvo]

i NEVER clamp a brake line.........

Like holding your finger on top of a straw full of fluid.. Use your adjustable hood prop and depress the brake pedal, then do your work and tighten up all fittings and hoses , then bleed. This will give you none to very little drip-age after the pressure bleeds off and keeps air from entering the system...quick/fast/ easy and you won't let the whole system drain out making a large mess and saves time and fluid on re-bleeding.....H

 

[ImportTuner]

i NEVER clamp a brake line.........

+1 .. I would never clamp a brake line; heater hoses and even radiator hoses are ok, but not brake lines ..

 

[rsanter]

+1 .. I would never clamp a brake line; heater hoses and even radiator hoses are ok, but not brake lines ..

I would be afraid to clamp brakehoses and I would be afraid to use a brake hose that someone has clamped

if you still want a set then have you looked at these
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00947051000P
they are made by SK

I can assure you that the all plastic version will not get the job done. I have both sets and the plastic ones will flex too much

bob

 

[T56 Impala]

I use a cap on the end. Most parts store sell a variety pack of vacuum plus. I keep a box of them around for just such a thing.

FWIW, I no longer have rubber hoses on my cars. One of the first things I do when I do brakes is swap them for braided stainless lines. It will give a much better and firmer feel.

 

[Frank Elson]

All my lot changed to braided long ago - most of us run a lift anyway and need custom made longer hoses - so it's no clamps for us.

 

[lametec]

I use a set of these:

Motormite item 13889, BRAKE HOSE PLUGS.

They're not perfect as they still leak a little bit, but as long as you don't leave it for hours it's fine. I only bought them 'cause I needed to pad my order to get free shipping. They're $2.50 for a set of 4. I got mine from Autozone. They list it as 13888 and only show a single plug, but it's a set of 4.

 

[r6_cannibal]

FWIW, I no longer have rubber hoses on my cars. One of the first things I do when I do brakes is swap them for braided stainless lines. It will give a much better and firmer feel.

+1
first thing i do when working on the brake system for a new car is steel braided lines and super blue fluid.
I have a slew of rubber plugs accumulated over time i use for brakes, though i did use silly putty once in a pinch

 

[rhandwor]

I use the Lisle tool and I never had a problem. It does speed up bleeding when done. Just be careful and watch what your doing. If the hose looks bad replace.

 

[The Critic]

Thanks guys.

I like the yellow pliers that blacknwhitepit posted, I think I"ll get some of those. But I'll also get some of the plugs as well. You guys are the best.

 

[Mr_fixit]

i NEVER clamp a brake line.........

Me either.

I just depress the brake pedal a little, force a block of wood or something between the seat & pedal. that will keep the fluid from leaking. But in your case, a small amount of fluid willl be lost, since you need to relieve the pressure from the caliper. I thought this was a common practice.. I guess not.. I'd never clamp a rubber brake line..

 

[johnny1290]

FWIW I've used those plastic pliers and thrown them straight away, a brakeline laughs at them.