Best way of sealing brake banjo after removing caliper
Discussion
What seemed like a simple question is now really frustrating me!
I'm planning on removing my calipers to get them repainted professionally and want to seal the banjo connection on the brake lines to stop the majority of fluid loss and prevent moisture getting in. They will be off the car for about a week, so it's important to get a good seal.
So far, after plenty of searching, the options seem to be:
- Ram a Golf Tee in there (Yeah Right!).
- Insert some hose (will silicone work?) into the banjos and seal it tight by threading a bolt through the hose (might work!).
- Use an Acorn Nut to stop up the banjo bolt aperture (Again, might work, but not sure if the thread will be tight enough to stop fluid loss).
Would any of those options work well, or if not, is there any, reasonably professional, way to do this and get a good seal?
ETA: don't want to clamp the lines and risk damaging them...
I'm planning on removing my calipers to get them repainted professionally and want to seal the banjo connection on the brake lines to stop the majority of fluid loss and prevent moisture getting in. They will be off the car for about a week, so it's important to get a good seal.
So far, after plenty of searching, the options seem to be:
- Ram a Golf Tee in there (Yeah Right!).
- Insert some hose (will silicone work?) into the banjos and seal it tight by threading a bolt through the hose (might work!).
- Use an Acorn Nut to stop up the banjo bolt aperture (Again, might work, but not sure if the thread will be tight enough to stop fluid loss).
Would any of those options work well, or if not, is there any, reasonably professional, way to do this and get a good seal?
ETA: don't want to clamp the lines and risk damaging them...
Or of course, regular pipe clamps.
Or...if you depress teh brake pedal slightly and shove something in to hold it there...the master cylinder hole to reservoir will be covered and due to the small bore of brake pipes, virtually no fluid will move in the system. So fluid loss out any unbolted hoses should be minimal.
ie like sticking your finger over the end of a straw with liquid in it
Or...if you depress teh brake pedal slightly and shove something in to hold it there...the master cylinder hole to reservoir will be covered and due to the small bore of brake pipes, virtually no fluid will move in the system. So fluid loss out any unbolted hoses should be minimal.
ie like sticking your finger over the end of a straw with liquid in it
cambiker71 and stevieturbo - thanks for those suggestions 
- I liked the clamp idea, but would need 4 the same size. I was just wondering where I could get four when I remembered that I had 4 normal clamps in the garage anyway!!!
Just need to put something in between them at each end as a seal (rubber washers etc) and it should be jobbed!
ETA: Butyl gloves! Have a pair knocking around somewhere. Just need to cut the fingers off one, invert them, stick them over the banjo, then clamp them using rubber washers at either end to keep a good seal.
Sorted!
- I liked the clamp idea, but would need 4 the same size. I was just wondering where I could get four when I remembered that I had 4 normal clamps in the garage anyway!!! Just need to put something in between them at each end as a seal (rubber washers etc) and it should be jobbed!
ETA: Butyl gloves! Have a pair knocking around somewhere. Just need to cut the fingers off one, invert them, stick them over the banjo, then clamp them using rubber washers at either end to keep a good seal.
Sorted!
Edited by Mike_Mac on Tuesday 22 March 08:30
Edited by Mike_Mac on Tuesday 22 March 08:44
E-bmw said:
^^^^Wot 'e said.
Brake fluid can capillary down the threads with that way and out past the nut.The simplest and free method is simply depressing the brake pedal slightly and also doesnt matter if you have teflon hoses which you dont want to clamp
And this covers all 4 corners in one simple action.
The other Sealey etc clamp tools are handy for brake and fuel fittings
stevieturbo said:
Or of course, regular pipe clamps.
Or...if you depress teh brake pedal slightly and shove something in to hold it there...the master cylinder hole to reservoir will be covered and due to the small bore of brake pipes, virtually no fluid will move in the system. So fluid loss out any unbolted hoses should be minimal.
ie like sticking your finger over the end of a straw with liquid in it
This absolutely all the way, I use this trick virtually every day. On the few cars with an odd setup that it doesn't work on then I'll use a freezer bag over the brake fluid reservoir filler and screw it down with the cap. Clingfilm isn't strong enough to maintain a seal.Or...if you depress teh brake pedal slightly and shove something in to hold it there...the master cylinder hole to reservoir will be covered and due to the small bore of brake pipes, virtually no fluid will move in the system. So fluid loss out any unbolted hoses should be minimal.
ie like sticking your finger over the end of a straw with liquid in it
Worth mentioning that with the first method you should release the light pressure with the bleed nipple before undoing the banjo or it gets quite messy.
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