Complete rear axle removal

Hi all.
My rear axle became really rusty in the last few years. I'd like to take it out and treat its surface properly and possibly I would also get my axle truss welded on whilst it's out. However I'm not sure how to disconnect the brake lines. I suspect it's not as straight forward as at the front axle and I hope it's doable. Can someone point me to the right direction how to separate the rear axle/drum brake/ from the chassis whitout loosing all brake fluid or snapping off the brake line, please? Thanks.

There is a flexible hose to the rear axle, you should be able to disconnect it there, and cap the end of the line. Easier is to remove fluid from the reservoir first and accept that some will come out.
tbh, the bake line is the least of the problems, it is far more work removing the axle than I'd bother with for paint, and you can weld the stiffener in situ.


The abs wires need disconnecting if you have it.
The handbrake cables either disconnect at the lever, and all the support clips underneath, or dismantle the rear brakes and slip a 10mm (I think) ring spanner right over the cable end and it will compress the expanding clip on the cable and release it from the backplate.
The compensator (not there if you have abs) spring needs disconnecting.

Then you have to disconnect the shock absorbers & propshaft, let down the springs and undo the radius arm bolts, and if you blocked the chassis high enough the axle will wheel away, or more likely, remove the wheels to let it down and remove on a trolley jack.

Thank you for the advice.

The more I work on my car the more often I have to realise that there is always something else on the top of my original task which needs to be sorted aswell due to the age of my car.
I guess it will suddenly turn into a "Let's fix also this here and that there" job and I will end up rust treating and undersealing the whole underbody of my car ...as usual

Right people, the weather is great, the sun is out! And finally my rear axle is as well!
What a bloody task it is! This job just got bigger than ever! Not because of lots of parts to remove. Nooo, no, no. That was a piece of cake. I expected a lot of labour and I could do everything what facade suggested except the very first step!
Removing the bloody brake line from the flexible hose! Cleaned the nut with the wire brush, sprayed with WD40 then gently tried to undo it using an M10 size spanner. Rounded off...
I have extended Goodridge braided brake hoses installed at front and rear. They were replaced by a mechanic 3 years ago hence I thought removing them will be easy. I was wrong. I ended up using a bloody angle grinder and cutting the rigid brakeline just after the bracket so a small piece is still attached to the flexible hose...now I need to replace the brakeline also. Anyway...
Next task was to remove the handbrake cable. Off side went well. Near side was rusted and jammed. Took me half an hour to get it out.
When finished I decided to sort this crap out for ever hence quickly ordered a full disk conversion kit from Jimmybits. Has anyone installed this before? Is it really a bolt on kit? Any known disadvantage?

Rear disc conversion is one of the best mods I've done. It's all bolt on, easier to work on and better performance than drums. No disadvantages in my opinion!

Cheers for the good news ahtr!
Does the full bundle kit have a replacement brakeline to be installed on the axle? I completly removed the old one so I'm wondering if I need to source a brake line repair kit as well?
I saw this video about doing the same job on a Gen4 Jimny.

They kept the back plate in place after conversion. Just made a cutout for the brake caliper.
Did you do something similar?