Other cars I have worked on used a clip and simple mechanism to hold the brake line to the strut, meaning you don't have to disconnect the brake line when doing work there. Maybe I'm missing something, but I don't see why I couldn't just cut out part of the strut brake line bracket and then use a clamp (in addition to the stock clip) to hold it in.

Any thoughts?

I was wondering this same thing myself. I've heard about others cutting a slot in the brake line bracket to allow the hard line to slip through the slot so you don't have to open the fluid part of the system to get the caliper off the strut, but I've never seen pics of such a modification.

I was hoping that someone who has done this would chime in with their experiences?

I decided not to do this in the end because I didn't feel like sawing and drilling through steel last week (when I had the struts off). The plan I ultimately decided to not pursue went like this:

1. Cut through raised bump that braces one side of the square portion of the brake soft line to allow removal of the line from the strut.

2. Drill hole through point shared between the clip and strut.

3. Run small bolt and nut through hole to keep clip on, which should now prevent any vertical and mostly all horizontal movement.

That seemed like the cleanest way to approach it; it's basically just creating a way to literally bolt on the clip. I initially just considered cutting a slot for the brake line to come out and then using some sort of tie or clamp to prevent the brake line from escaping, but I didn't see a good spot to put a tie or clamp without more even more modification.

I hope someone has something to say about what worked for them.

Got any pics of what you did?

Zoom in on the pictures: Front Struts | Fiddling With Z Cars.

Tim McGovern showed me his method.

1. Cut a small slit on the bracket.

2. Bend the flaps in opposite directions.

3. Pull the brake line through after removing the caliper from the strut.

4. (My preference) Zip tie the caliper to the TC rod.

  Captain Obvious said:

Got any pics of what you did?

No, I didn't end up doing it out of laziness. That was just my idea that I hope someone else tries or improves upon.

Gotha. I just reread what you wrote before and just realized that you had not made any mods.

You just thought about making mods but didn't actually make any.

  SteveJ said:

Zoom in on the pictures: Front Struts | Fiddling With Z Cars.

Tim McGovern showed me his method.

1. Cut a small slit on the bracket.

2. Bend the flaps in opposite directions.

3. Pull the brake line through after removing the caliper from the strut.

4. (My preference) Zip tie the caliper to the TC rod.

That looks like a good way to do it. The picture shows it with the clip out. How is it with the clip in? If the clip is tight, it should be fine. It can't go up or down because the fitting is slotted in to the bracket and it can't force the clip out because the gap is too small for the fitting. The line can only come out if the clip comes out first and the fitting moves up.

When the clip is in place, you cannot see the slot. It still fits snug, and you still need pliers to pull it off.