Flare Nut Wrench Sizes Needed

[Eddystone]

What size flare nut wrenches do we need for these cars? Mine are 1998 and 1999.

I need to get a proper set. Any brand suggestions that are not at MAC prices? I know fit and sizing are critical. In online reviews, someone always trashes every brand while others say it's great. My best route might be to go for quality but just buy what I need.

[pgill]

I don't know what size you need.

But for your question about brand

I like SK tools

https://sktools.com/shop/3-piece-6-poin ... h-set.html

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000I1QA2S/?c ... _lig_dp_it


Just check the size that you need for the job that you are planning to do and get one wrench at a time instead of the set.

You can likely find the wrench you need on Amazon and you can get it in a few days with free shipping.

Good luck

Paul

[volvolugnut]

It seems a set is priced at less than the individual pricing for 3 or 4 wrenches. If you expect to have other vehicles in your fleet in the future you will need other sizes. They can also be used for nuts or bolts that are in danger of rounding off, but you don't have a closed end wrench of 6 points.
Get a name brand with wide grip section. Try to avoid any brand made in China. Even USA brands can be found used and cheap at flea markets and pawn shops.
I have an SK set with a storage bag I have used for decades. Check where these are now made.
volvolugnut

[MoVolvos]

What size flare nut wrenches do we need for these cars? Mine are 1998 and 1999.

I need to get a proper set. Any brand suggestions that are not at MAC prices? I know fit and sizing are critical. In online reviews, someone always trashes every brand while others say it's great. My best route might be to go for quality but just buy what I need.

I have a set of Craftsman similar to the link below that was purchased probably over 20 years ago. Has served me well though have not use it much. May have used it changing the OEM P2 brake lined to FCP's stainless a year or two ago. Currently not in my tool box so I can't upload a pic of the set which probably also means it's at my parents garage where I did the work.

I would say get the largest set as much as your budget allows in Craftsman, Husky or Kobalt with a Lifetime Warranty.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/CRAFTSMAN-5-Pi ... 1000600333

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[Eddystone]

I have a set of Craftsman similar to the link below that was purchased probably over 20 years ago. Has served me well though have not use it much. May have used it changing the OEM P2 brake lined to FCP's stainless a year or two ago. Currently not in my tool box so I can't upload a pic of the set which probably also means it's at my parents garage where I did the work.

I would say get the largest set as much as your budget allows in Craftsman, Husky or Kobalt with a Lifetime Warranty.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/CRAFTSMAN-5-Pi ... 1000600333

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That's the set I ordered from Lowes after doing my own research. I know Lowes now owns the Craftsman line. I don't know whether the Craftsman line of tools has decreased in quality, but a lot of my old tools are Craftsman, and I have always found them to be just fine. I do have a couple of very expensive Snap-On tools I inherited, and they are peachy.

For some reason, this set can be bought for $37 in several places including on Amazon but is only $20 at Lowes.

CRAFTSMAN 5-Piece 6-Point Metric Flare Nut Open End Wrench Set
Item #1102459 Model #CMMT99333
9/11 10/12 13/14 15/17 18/19 mm

It looks like 10mm, 11mm and 14mm are the ones I will use most often on the Volvos.

Buying used top line wrenches I could find were about $20 per wrench, if you could find the right size.

One of the reviews on Amazon concerning a highly rated set of flare wrenches said that the buyer had to borrow a set of Craftsmans in order to get a proper fit on the nut. That was about the most useful bit of info I read. I have some standard SAE Craftsman flare wrenches from days gone by, and they seem to do fine.

[MoVolvos]

I have a set of Craftsman similar to the link below that was purchased probably over 20 years ago. Has served me well though have not use it much. May have used it changing the OEM P2 brake lined to FCP's stainless a year or two ago. Currently not in my tool box so I can't upload a pic of the set which probably also means it's at my parents garage where I did the work.

I would say get the largest set as much as your budget allows in Craftsman, Husky or Kobalt with a Lifetime Warranty.

https://www.lowes.com/pd/CRAFTSMAN-5-Pi ... 1000600333

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One of the reviews on Amazon concerning a highly rated set of flare wrenches said that the buyer had to borrow a set of Craftsmans in order to get a proper fit on the nut. That was about the most useful bit of info I read. I have some standard SAE Craftsman flare wrenches from days gone by, and they seem to do fine.

I broke a breaker bar that I purchased in 95. Sears did not have the same replacement so gave me a long pivoting ratchet handle as a replacement. Can't beat the warranty!

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[scot850]

For brake lines the size is 11mm which is fairly standard on European cars. I ended up paying up for a Snap-on flare wrench after trying some cheaper brands and they were either sized wrong or bent allowing them to open up enough to round the nut. On my AWD P80's rounding a brake nut can mean having to remove the whole rear sub-frame and fuel tank to replace lines so I took no chances. I don't often buy expensive tools but where mission risk is high I will do, or where regular use or experience tells me to buy better gear.

Neil.

[RickHaleParker]

I know Lowes now owns the Craftsman line.

Lowes does not and never has own Craftmans.
Sears did own Craftmans but sold it to Stanley Black & Decker in March 2017.
That why Craftsman is carried by Lowes and Sears now.

Craftsman hand tools have a lifetime warranty. No proof of purchase required. Return damaged product to a stocking Retail Partner for an exchange.

[abscate]

I’ve never taken my flares out since I’ve learned the virtues of %15-30 seconds of heat from propane or maap.

[RickHaleParker]

I’ve never taken my flares out since I’ve learned the virtues of %15-30 seconds of heat from propane or maap.

How do you get a torch started without a flare?