Hose Pinch Pliers

[aka Larry]

I'd like to buy a pair of these if someone can recommend a set that would be useful to clamp-off brake lines like when changing a caliper.

I stumbled across this offering from Gearwrench, but the reviews lead me to believe they won't work for my application.

Thoughts and recommendations?

 

[Robby321]

I just use vise grips set low enough pressure to close the hose when working small gas engines, gas line to carb........

 

[JoshDPi]

I use these from SK (Gearwrench offers them as well), but I believe that Lang Tools actually makes them. I really enjoy using these, but so far, I've only used them for fuel lines.

SK: Amazon Link

Lang Tools: eBay

Gearwrench: eBay

 

[PartsGuy]

I know people do this, but it really isn't recommended to clamp off brake hoses. It can damage the inner liner of the hose, and cause hang-ups just like a stuck caliper.

 

[rlitman]

I know people do this, but it really isn't recommended to clamp off brake hoses. It can damage the inner liner of the hose, and cause hang-ups just like a stuck caliper.

+1. If you're just changing pads, you don't need to clamp anything.

When I'm changing calipers, I'll clamp off the hose with vise grips, attach a NEW hose to the caliper, and then switch the car side over to the new hose quickly enough that there's little mess.

 

[L.Cheapo]

I've yet to find any that work as well as my bent needle nose vise grips with fuel line over the jaws.

I've never bothered clamping off brake hoses. Just switch from one caliper to the next. Not enough mess to worry about. Eric O. does it all the time though, and says he's never had a problem. I believe him.

 

[rsanter]

i would never clamp off brake hose
the pliers you refer to even say do not use on wire reinforced hose

 

[BuffettFan]

2nd for not using this method on brake lines!

Honestly, if you have everything handy and ready to make the swap, you shouldn't lose much fluid.

Edit: Make that 4th!

 

[Sevenhills1952]

Thanks for posting! For years I use small standard slip joint pliers. I've always wanted the cable style like this but too expensive.
Then I saw WalMart site has them for $12.95 free shipping on clearance.

Sent from my SM-S320VL using Tapatalk

 

[metlmunchr]

They say to not use them on wire reinforced hose (like brake hose, for example) because crushing any sort of hydraulic hose carries a high likelihood of ruining the hose due to the way the hose is constructed.

 

[jdewitt]

They make sets of little clamps too.

Like this: https://www.harborfreight.com/4-piece-fluid-line-clamp-set-65116.html

or this: https://www.harborfreight.com/line-clamp-set-3-pc-63596.html

 

[eschoendorff]

Thanks for posting! For years I use small standard slip joint pliers. I've always wanted the cable style like this but too expensive.
Then I saw WalMart site has them for $12.95 free shipping on clearance.

Sent from my SM-S320VL using Tapatalk

Those are for use on spring hose clamps. Not to clamp the hose itself.

 

[oldwino]

Agree on not pinching brake lines. Too much potential problems down the line

As for pinch pliers, the best I’Ve found are BluePoint (pretty sure there made by Lang). Even better than SnapOn and made in USA

 

[smuro04]

I use the Harbor Freight ones and I like ‘em. Cheap and easy to use.

 

[Milton Shaw]

I use a valve stem in the banjo fitting to seal the leakage, don't ever try to clamp a brake hose, it will probably damage it.

 

[Ramblin Man]

aka Larry, if you decide not to clamp the hose, which I would not do myself, you can do the job and not spill but a few drops of fluid by buying or configuiring a proprod to press the brake pedal about 1 to 1 1/2 inches. No further. Leave pressed till job done.

 

[M_George]

Just plug the line so it doesn't drip on the floor. You need to bleed the brakes anyway.

 

[Sevenhills1952]

All great advice here! Brake hoses of all things you do not want to damage, pinch off, etc.
I just did brakes on my Ford truck. So simple, I had a wooden box to carefully support caliper while I compressed piston, installed new pads.
Hose clamp pliers I ordered, great for changing a lawn mower fuel filter.

Sent from my SM-S320VL using Tapatalk

 

[snyder]

If I need to seal off a banjo fitting I use a Stanley squeeze clamp that has the rubber padded jaws.

 

[anndel]

I have an old school Petersen long nose Vise-Grip (6LN) and cut 2 pieces 3/8" power steering hose each about 3 inches long and slipped them over each jaw and used that to pinch hoses. It works very well.

 

[eschoendorff]

I have an old school Petersen long nose Vise-Grip (6LN) and cut 2 pieces 3/8" power steering hose each about 3 inches long and slipped them over each jaw and used that to pinch hoses. It works very well.

I’ve done the same thing with good success

 

[aka Larry]

Thanks for all the replies everyone.

I've read that pinching the hose could damage it, but I didn't know if that was true or not.

The last time I replaced the calipers on my Mustang, the fluid seems to get everywhere and once it gets on your hands/gloves everything is so slick it's hard work quickly. I freaking hate working with brake fluid. I swear it's "slicker that eel ****"!

 

[visionguru]

Thanks for all the replies everyone.

I've read that pinching the hose could damage it, but I didn't know if that was true or not.

The last time I replaced the calipers on my Mustang, the fluid seems to get everywhere and once it gets on your hands/gloves everything is so slick it's hard work quickly. I freaking hate working with brake fluid. I swear it's "slicker that eel ****"!

I agree that pinching off the brake line is not a good idea, and not necessary.

When I was replacing 2 calipers recently, the brake fluid loss was minimal (a few drops):

• Remove everything EXCEPT the brake line from the old caliper.
• Install new caliper.
• At the very last step, remove the brake line and attach to the new one immediately.
• If you can't do immediate swap, such as needing time for rebuilding the caliper, find something with proper diameter to plug the brake line, then hang it up high.