front caliper replacement - 2wd

[p7387]

ready to replace both front calipers along with the hoses, everything looks straight forward EXCEPT the lovely attachment method of the rubber hose to the metal line buried within the rail. what is the easiest way to get at this? i removed the retaining clip on the outside of the rail and thought pushing the fitting through the hole towards the outside would work but that lousy large backing nut is rusted on.
than i thought about pushing it to the inside bending the metal line just enough to get some work clearance. when i do get convenient access should i hold the small nut on the end of the metal line stationary and twist the hose or vice versa?
how much bending play do i have with the metal line?

anyway i see this is the part that turns a 2 hour job into a 2 day lob for us novice guys.

thanks

[bobcooter]

Why are you replacing the calipers? Are they both messed up or do you just need new pads?

[p7387]

one caliper is shot, other is just old.

[Dr_Snooz]

I removed the backing nut and threw it away. Then I pulled the nuts through to the outside of the frame rails. With some patience and a lot of swearing, I was able to get them off. The driver's side is a lot worse than the passenger side because the steering box is very much in the way.

[p7387]

did the same, except by the time i managed to get the hose off the the nut around the nipple was stripped to a circle and was not spinning around the tube. my plan is to reinstall the new hose by holding the rusty nipple stationary and screwing the hose on.