TR4/4A Rear Brake Hose Replacement

[RJS]

Hi

A couple of years ago I had to replace my front brake hoses as they had become swollen and affecting braking. So, now I want to replace the rear brake hoses as preventive maintenance. But...access to them is severely limited. I just don't see how I can get a flare nut wrench in that limited space. I am talking about the interior connection which is in a narrow area between the differential bridge supports.

Any idea if/how this job can be accomplished?

Thanks

Bob

 

[trrdster2000]

Bob, not a fun job, just take it loose from the hub area first, take way when you break it at the connector, which you will be able to hold with a adjustable wrench, (it has wider jaws, better hold), you can unscrew it by the hose. There is a lot of difference between the 4 and 4A, the 4 only having one flex hose and the 4A has one on each side. The hard one is in the wheel cylinder on the 4A.

Wayne

 

[RJS]

Thanks Wayne

I'll study it some more with your advice. Can you explain again the technique with the adjustable wrench?

Appreciate any other ideas/ experience of others as well. I'm soaking them now with PB Blaster to help them come apart. And just for sake of clarity for every one else, I am talking about the rubber flex hoses - not the metal brake lines.

Thanks again

Bob

 

[Geo Hahn]

Certainly a job that is much more pleasant with the car on a lift - but doable in any case.

I would undo the connector first - otherwise (with the hose still connected there) you would be having to twist the hose as you loosen at the cylinder. When you undo at the connector you will need to use a (2nd) back-up wrench to hold the hex on the backside, otherwise you just twist the bracket or worse.

FWIW - I generally prefer the braided lines for brake hoses but stay with rubber on the rear one so I can easily clamp it off if I experience a failure or lock-up in the rear. That has got me home a couple of times.

 

[trrdster2000]

Plus on what Geo said. Ran over a dog on interstate one day and somehow it cut the rear flex hose. Pair of vise grips and made it home safe. Not a lot of difference in braking on just routine stops.
The connector has square sides and a adjustable acts like any wrench, just has wide jaws, put the connector in the jaws and brace it up against the frame, then use your line wrench to break it loose.
I'm going with you have a 4 and not a 4A. My comment on the metal hose was just a reference to a more PIA one to get off without breaking it.

Wayne

 

[RJS]

Just a quick follow up note. I completed the project (successfully) yesterday. The RH flex-hose was reasonably easy to swap out. I wasn't quite sure how I was going to access the LH side (the inner union is buried beneath the differential bridge making access to the unions with a flare nut wrench nearly impossible). But, I dove in anyway. Turns out I had to access the inner union from under the car. Could have used a third hand but, an open end wrench duct-taped in place on the other side did the trick.

Not sure it was entirely necessary job but, I feel better as the old hoses were 15+ years old. The front hoses had to be replaced two years ago as they were swelling on the inside - the car would pull severely to one side when braking.

Bob

 

[Geo Hahn]

My apologies, my comment was about the hose (just the one) on a TR4. Obviously the rear end including brakes is very different on a 4A.

 

[DougME]

Not sure it applies in this case but I realized that if I'm replacing a rubber or metal line I can cut off the bad at the fitting for easier access, perhaps even with a socket.