How to Change a Brake Hose

The rubber hoses on your vehicle's brake lines need to be checked every six months or so. Any hoses that are dry, cracked, leaking or show other signs of damage need to be changed to prevent loss of fluid, and to keep air from entering the brake system. You will inevitably cause air to enter the system when you change any brake hoses, so bleeding the brakes of every caliper you change a hose at is crucial.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Jack stands Lug wrench Flare-nut wrench Crescent wrench Brake hose Sealing washers Container w/brake fluid Clear tube

1. Raise the vehicle securely on jack stands and remove the wheel using the brake hose that is to be changed. Loosening the lug nuts on the wheel before raising the vehicle will make removing the wheel easier.

2. Disconnect the brake-line fitting from the hose at the bracket using a flare-nut wrench. Grasp the hose with a wrench while unscrewing the fitting to avoid twisting the frame bracket. Remove the clip and then detach the hose from the bracket.

3. Separate the hose from the caliper at the hose's other end by removing the inlet fitting bolt. Discard any washers that were with the fitting bolt.

4. Connect the new brake hose to the caliper using the original fitting bolt with new washers (make sure you know the correct torque for the bolt on your vehicle). Route the hose to the bracket, making sure it isn't twisted, and tighten the hose bracket bolt. Connect the brake line fitting, tightening it first by hand and finishing it with the wrench.

5. Bleed the brake system at the caliper. Loosen the caliper's bleeder valve and connect a clear tube to it, placing the tube's other end in a container with brake fluid. Have an assistant press the brake pedal for a few seconds while you slowly open the valve to purge the air out. Close the valve and repeat until all air is removed.

6. Replace the wheel and lower the vehicle.