How to Replace Brake Lines

One of the most important systems on your vehicle is the braking system. Everything from the rotors and calipers to the lines that apply the brakes are equally important and from time to time must have inspections performed. Routine maintenance is a prudent safety measure that everyone should be in the practice of doing or having done at the shop.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Inspect the brake line of each wheel and trace the line from the master cylinder to the wheel. The line material is rubber and holds up well from the standpoint of chemical stability to the brake fluid. Rubber lines need extremely close inspection as damage or wear may be difficult to see. At the first sign of wear, have the brake line replaced. It is a good practice to change all the brake lines at the same time.

2. Measure out the distance for each brake line. If you make it a practice to replace all the brake lines when one line shows any wear, you can use rubber tubing as the replacement lines. If you are not going to replace all of them, then you should definitely plan to replace the lines with stainless steel lines. The repairman will make a flared fitting on the tubing before the reassembly of the system.

3. Begin at the master cylinder and as you disconnect the old brake line, make the new connection with the replacement hose. Follow the path of each of the four lines all the way to the wheel and the end of the brake line. Repeat this process for each of the four brake lines.

4. Bleed each brake line to remove all the air and refill the system with brake fluid. Test your brakes before taking it out for a drive.

[WebYankee]

on 8/26/2008 I have done major repairs but it has been many years since I have done the work myself and so I have forgot a lot. Iwould like to see more specific detailed information about doing the job not told to have a mechanic do it for me. That said; Nothing is said about different kinds of brake line materials that can be used; Steel, Stainless steel, and PolyArmour Brake Lines. Nothing is mentioned about brake line sizes or what is needed to do the job such as materials, parts or tools. If this information can not be given here then list links where the mechanic can get the information.