Need Help with a brake line !!!!

Hi everyone,

While changing the rubber brake lines on the left rear caliper, my friend accidentally broke off the hard, metal brake line that goes to the "T" junction behind the trunk area heat shield. The heat shield is a solid piece that gives no access through the trunk. The heat shield can only be bent down an inch or so on the bottom to even see this "T" junction.

How can you get a tool in there to unscrew this hard brake line ? Do you have to drill rivets and remove the entire heat shield to change this hard brake line ? I really don't want to do that. Any technique for this ?

Any insight Much appreciated,

Skipp
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The heat shield will likely have to come out and this means drilling out rivets. Be sure to soak the assembly with PB Blaster or another penetrant and use flare end wrenches to avoid rounding off your fittings.

Another approach would be to remove the access panel between the trunk and engine that is necessary for engine removal. This MAY give you the access you need. Either way you have a BIG job ahead of you and while at it you may want to replace both hard lines at the rear.

 

Thanks for your reply.

Rather than tear everything apart, how about just cutting and riveting a new access door into the heat shield so these lines can be changed when needed without this ordeal ?

I'm a stickler for originality, but I have my limits.

 

Personally, I would replace ALL the brake lines on a car as old as this one. They are not part of 'originality', they are part of staying alive...

It is a matter of preventive maintenance, as a burst line is not a pretty experience.

Buy a bending kit, many feet of Cupronickel lines, fittings and off you go.

Regards, Alberto

 

Thanks Alberto, some have been replaced and some haven't. The issue is access to the area. Was hoping to not have to remove all the trunk pieces to get to this area. I have the new lines, just trying to gain access.

 

I want talking about originality of the brake lines, rather the idea of cutting a access hole into the heat shield so that these brake lines could be changed without having to drill 20 rivets to remove the trunk floor and the access hatch to the engine area, or remove the entire heat shield separating the engine compartment and the trunk.

 

Other than ignoring, there are no easy ways to deal with issues like this on any 40+ year old vintage cars. Brakes, steering, suspension and tires are the last things one should approach without willingness to do everything correctly and completely.
I've dealt with more than one Daytona in which OEM brake line tubings have failed due to aging/(external)corrosion.

BTW, the structural(?) panel or tubing in the middle of the last photo appears to exhibit some fairly serious corrosion and it might be a good idea to investigate further when removing whatever panels are required to gain proper access to replace all brake lines.

 

I believe that a proper dis-assembly is required here rather than the creation of an access panel. I am normally the first one to jump down Ferrari's throat for not making a car user friendly to work on but in this case the hard lines are far from a service item. They are fairly permanent fixtures to maybe be replaced every 30-40 years.

In this instance I would not focus on getting a wrench on the fittings on the T junction. Rather disconnect the hard lines at each side (where they transition to soft lines) and from the brake compensation valve that feeds the T. This way all you need to focus on is the removal of the one M6 nut that holds the T in place on the chassis and you can remove the entire assembly as a whole. This would make a world of difference to the access required for removal and allow you much better access when trying to split the whole assembly apart. In this fashion you might get lucky and have enough access to avoid removing any shields or the center trunk median.

 

and perhaps that `friend' too!

 

I've been thinking about this strategy too, but may just remove the trunk panels to treat the surface rust at the same time.

 

Do you self a favor...do not "cut" in anything to get access, you will eventually end up with a Swiss cheese...-. These cars are too valuable to cut and hack in if you ask me. Put you self in a buyers place and think of all the the good arguments for not getting full value for the car one day in the future. Rob's advice will help you a lot and you will have free access to a good part of the remaining aft end pipes for change out if you like.

Best Peter

 

Thanks to all that responded. No Hacking will occure. I've been working on the car for a month now and have been photo documenting everything. I'll be sharing the process soon.

Skipp

 

Great news !

Removed trunk to engine trap door / heat shield and gained great access. Thanks again to those who responded.