OK, this thing killed me. Got the hardline out intact from master back to this fitting.
This is where the front to rear hardline connects to the flex line that goes to the rear axle.
Twisted and pulled with every kind of pliers I have to get the clip out, no dice. All I could do was twist it back and forth perpendicular to the line. It does not have a spring clip on the other side (axle side) like the 1994 XJ I got another line from. On the 1994, after pulling the spring clip, the steel clip was not that bad to get out with pliers. It has hex flats on the axle/flex side of the line, which didn't help a bit in my case. After I removed the hardline and fought it for about an hour, I cut the rubber line and got a deep well socket on there, all it did was spin the whole remaining fitting and still could not get the clip off the front side.
Have not crawled under my 1996 to verify what I have either.
Found this video, but the clip he pulls out with pliers (same place as the one I could not get out) looks a bit flimsy compared to the one that stopped me. Bottom of that fitting looks the same.
I put vice grip pliers on the clip and tap the pliers with a hammer (granted you arent working in a super tight spot). Hasnt let me down yet.
Super tight spot. In pic one, the bracket is to the right and spot welded to the frame rail. To the left is the anti-sway bar. And I made a no-go for junk yard anthropology, did not bring a hammer.
If that Jeep is still there next weekend, I might go back and try out the suggestions from this thread.
Confirmed: My 1996 XJ has the same style fitting there as the 1998 pictured. Since the fabricator wants the fittings to match them, I need to go back and knock that one off the 1998 Jeep to bring in with the rest of that line. Hopefully I can get the same style fittings in stainless throughout, except at the axle. That one seemed fine in brass on all three XJs (1994, 1996, 1998) that I've tinkered with.
Picked up a chisel and punch set at Harbor Freight to make sure neither the junkyard Jeep nor mine wins this battle.
I usually get a flat screwdriver to lever against the clip and the frame where it mounts. Most of the time, once you get it to move out slightly, you can get a screwdriver in between the flexi hose and the clip as per the bad diagram. Red being where the scredriver levers.
I usually get a flat screwdriver to lever against the clip and the frame where it mounts. Most of the time, once you get it to move out slightly, you can get a screwdriver in between the flexi hose and the clip as per the bad diagram. Red being where the scredriver levers.
That was something I attempted. Part of the problem was having a long skinny screwdriver. The other part was could not get the freaking thing to move laterally with any tool. Was able to wiggle it with pliers, but couldn't get it to move out at all.
Will go back in a few days and see if I can knock it loose with a chisel, or punch, and hammer.
That clip was stuck hard on my 97. A hammer and punch got it loose. Eventually. Hitting the clip on the side to walk it out little by little is what got it going. It got to the end and flew into the floorpan pretty hard. Wear safety goggles before you start hammering away at it in case it richochets into your face. And to keep any dirt from falling into the eyes.
I needed a 5lb hammer to break that clip loose, btw.
Was puzzled for a little while how I was going to connect with the hammer for a bit. Then got out the longest handle chisel I had with got me down below the frame and was able to bang away. Still took a bit of doing but made it.
