One of this past Christmas gifts from loving significant (for 25 years)
other, was a set of 3/8 drive crowsfoot wrenches/sockets. Problem was, they
were metric, so after many long weeks of waiting, last weekend, they
finally arrived, just in time for the front brake hose replacement. For
those who may have tackled same, you know how tight space is near the
shock, and trying to get two 9/16 wrenches in there (one to hold the line
mounting bolt, the other to loosen the brass brake line nut (without
wrecking the line, or rounding the bolt) would have been virtually
impossible without these crowsfoot(feet?) socket attachments. Their design
allows grip around the nut, plus as a bonus, because they're slightly
open-faced, I was able to get over the bolt, line intact.
You NEED a set of these, especially with the confines of the Midget. (No
financial yahda yahdah, YMMV etc.)
Final result, RH side brake hose removal/replace no problem, driver's side,
weellll....thankfully, it's the shortest line (union to bulkhead) and will
be relatively easy to replicate & install, they sheared off at both mounts,
but here's the thing I discovered...
On the passenger side, where the brass brake hose banjo joins the caliper,
the hose fits into a U-shaped retaining bracket (which is held in place by
the two bolts that mount the caliper) yet on the driver's side, this
bracket is reversed, and the U shape fits OVER the brass sleeve of the
hose? What's up with this? Could someone have replaced one side? Manuals
are vague, parts books only show the mounting bolts, not this/these
retaining mounts? Which is correct? Were there two types of hose retainers
at the caliper, LH & RH?
Inquiring minds want to know.
So, weekend results, two new shocks, two new brake hoses, one new tie rod
end.
And now, it's on to rear spring/shock replacement....
You need those wrenches!
Terry 'Now With Crowsfeet In The Tool Chest, And The Eyes' Williams
Halifax, Nova Scotia
'77 MG Midget
'70 MGB BGT
'68 MGB roadster
|