Hi,

OK, I must not be naturally mechanical.

I am trying to remove the driver's side brake hose, to replace it. I have been staring at the retainer clips for a while, sprayed them with wd 40 and liquid wrench, pried at them with a screwdriver, pulled at them with a vice grip, and compressed the ends with a pliers.

So far I've been able to get one of them to move about an eigth of an inch out, but it doesn't want to come out any more.

The ends up the clip turn up like the tips of skis, and hold the clip in place.

What is my problem, besides being unmechanical ? My Chilton's just says "remove retainer clip".

What is the trick here ? I haven't used much force yet, since I don't want to bend the clips.

The clip that is NOT next to the pipe is the one I've been able to move about an eigth of an inch.

I got both new calipers in fairly easily. Don't want to stop now.

Also, how do I get the clips back in ?


Thanks

GTA88

 

Yea, they can be tough. What I did was to use a regular sized screwdriver (not too big & not too small, LOL), and inserted it through the U portion of the clip. Then pried a little until it moved then pulled (both hands) on the screwdriver to pull the clip off.

DO NOT STAB OR SMACK YOUR FACE WITH THE SCREWDRIVER!

May also be able to use a piece of wire (clothes hanger), run it though the U portion again, grab both wire ends with vise grips or pliers and pull.

To put them back on I started them on by hand and seated them by tapping them with a small hammer (8 oz or so).

RBob.

 

I've done what RBob wrote; I put the screwdriver inside the closed end of the "U" and pry backwards against the brake hose fitting. They're a complete pain in the butt... but that's probably why they work so well!

On the front of my car, the "U" shaped clips are on the driver's side. The passenger side has flat clips with the ends bent up a little, and those can be pulled off easily with pliers. I have to find an '86 Firebird in a junkyard to see exactly which clips are stock, and which shouldn't be there.

 

i just stick a screwdriver and pry in there...

to get them back on,push them partway on, then tap them the rest of the way.......

and if you do tweak one, they do sell them in the autoparts store.

 

OK, thanks, guys, I'm going to give it a try tomorrow morming. :lala: