Wrench vs Crows Foot

[mrg7243]

My project car has some stuck brake lines. I am debating at getting either a flare nut crow foot set, or a flare nut wrench set. If it were you what route would you go?

 

[young_buck]

from what little use I've had with crows feet, I don't like to use them, I say wrenches

 

[absolutelybillsmood]

I have the SK wrenches, I like them a lot. I used a coupon code at Advance Auto, which made the price really good.

 

[Inkncraig]

I have two sets of metric wrenches. Standard length and stubbys. I have specific crows feet and and line wrenches. I must have at least 50 different wrenches. You'll find out what specific sizes you'll need for what vehicles You mainly work on. You don't need to buy complete sets of everything.

 

[Midman914]

There have been times when I had to use both. The rear brake line that runs just inside the fender of the box on a 1999 3/4ton Chevy truck, but that was a rare occasion. If it were me I would start with the flare nut set first and get the crow foot as needed. If money is not a problem, I would get both and work them against each other to break the line free. One bonus to the crows foot is the extra length when put on a breaker bar, but that can be detractor in tight spots. Some times you can get around this with an extension as I did on the Chevy. Hope this makes sense. I know it sounds kind of confusing without actually seeing the particular situations.

 

[volvo92906]

As Midman914 said, start with the standard flare nut wrenches, and get the crow foot ones later if need be. And I tell ya, for a person as myself who never cared for wasting money on flare nut wrenches.. Experience put me in my place.

 

[mrg7243]

This would be to get the lines off the proportioning valve and master free. A regular 10mm wrench was about to strip it thats why I need flare nut style stuff for it. As for a set, it never hurts to have too many tools but as of right now budget permits for either the crows feet set or the wrench set not both.

 

[soj]

Go with the wrenches, they will do probably 99% of what you need to do.

 

[Midman914]

If this is going to be primarily for this project, you could save some money by finding the sizes you actually need and then go on ebay and purchase just those wrenches and or crowfoot individually. Doing it this way you will save money plus the added benefit of being able to buy the nicer high end individually eg. Snapon. Having the complete set looks cool and feels good, but in all honesty I have only used one or two wrenches from each set. If you were a pro I would suggest buying complete sets, but for a hobby where money is a concern, just get what you actually need. You can add to it down the road a needed.

 

[Chuck122]

I figure that putting a crowfoot on a breaker bar is kind of like having a 4 position, flex head wrench with the possibility of using extentions for added offset.
Quite versatile!
But it is less compact than an actual wrench

 

[Midman914]

I figure that putting a crowfoot on a breaker bar is kind of like having a 4 position, flex head wrench with the possibility of using extentions for added offset.
Quite versatile!
But it is less compact than an actual wrench

Yeah, when I was working on said Chevy, the union was deep between the inner sheet metal and the fuel tank. I put the flare in place up against the tank then fed the crowfoot with extension from the wheel opening to the union. It was a pain in the a$$, but it worked. Better than having to drop the fuel tank. In working on projects like these I always wonder if the engineers take into consideration that somebody some day will actually have to work on their creations some day? It sure would help to have guys that actually wrenched as part of the design process to make their stuff more user friendly.

 

[mrg7243]

I think I am going to go with the 9 piece wrench set that is USA craftsman for $50, the SK set was nice for 103 but that extra 50 could buy me the crows feet too.

 

[devoncoolman]

Ypur best bet if you dont need to reuse the line. Just cut it and use a socket. I do that most of the time with seized and rusted lines.

 

[mrg7243]

I would like to reuse the line as in the end that is more work and $$ to bend and flare all new lines.

 

[mrg7243]

and bought the craftsman.

 

[Farmall450]

Go with the wrenches, they will do probably 99% of what you need to do.

I agree.

 

[rlitman]

I have both, and almost never use the crowsfoot flarenut wrenches. The only advantage to a crowsfoot, is that you can use it with a torque wrench.