Symptoms of a leaking brake hose.
So you are noticing less than adequate brake response lately? If you tap on your brakes while your car is parked, do you notice a puddle of fluid near one of your wheels? These are the likeliest signs of a bad hydraulic brake hose. Sometimes the inner lining will wear thin and the hose will develop a bubble; other times the hose will simply start leaking at one of the connections. This causes you to require more force when applying the brakes. If your brake hose has a leak, then a small amount of brake fluid is leaving the system each time - ultimately depleting your reservoir. This can turn deadly, since your brakes require hydraulic pressure to function. No fluid = no brakes, and that can be a disaster in an emergency when a sudden stop must be made or evasive maneuvers must be taken. Leaking or failing hydraulic brake hoses are no joke, and should be replaced ASAP.
How old are hydraulic brake lines?
Brake hoses have been around for about 100 years. Believe it or not, the first cars that were made in the end of the 19th century were stopped by simply pressing a block of wood against the rim of the wheel. The driver would pull a lever, and the block would gradually slow the car down - like a carriage. This was fine when cars traveled 10 mph and the wheels were also made of wood. But as technology advanced, so did the need for more effective systems. Hydraulic brakes employ a master cylinder to compress fluid with a piston and transport via a system of brake hoses it to slave cylinders at each wheel where they apply a proportionate amount of force to a rotating surface with some sort of friction material. In most of today's cars, that slave cylinder is the caliper, the rotating surface is a disc brake rotor, and the friction material is a brake pad. All of these parts are great, but none of them would be able to perform their job without hydraulic brake hoses.
Fixing your brakes.
Replacing your brake lines should be done in pairs - meaning, if you are changing the left side you must also change the right side. Since equal amounts of pressure must pass through both hoses, it only makes sense for them both to be new. Doing this requires time and patience, but is a relatively simple procedure.
- First, identify which brake hoses need to be replaced and how to access them.
- Next, lift your car or truck and set it on jack stands. Make sure this is done on level ground.
- At this point, you must decide whether or not you need to remove your brake caliper in order to get the old hoses off. Most of the time it is not necessary, but if it is you should do that now.
- Now, disconnect the hoses from the caliper and from the hard line connector. Brake fluid will start to leak out, so put down a bucket or pan to catch it.
- Your new brake hose can now be installed at this point. If you need to do the other side, perform the same steps.
- Once both sides have been replaced, you need to bleed the new lines one at a time from the longest to the shortest. Remove the bleed screw from the caliper, and have another person depress the brake pedal. As soon as fluid comes out of your new brake lines, put the bleeder screw back in. Do the same for the other side.
- Finally, top off your brake fluid reservoir and you are done.
Shop smart at CPD!
Buying new parts online can be tricky, especially if you are in a hurry. At Car Parts Discount, we offer only the best replacement brake lines and hoses from top brands and manufacturers. Whether you are looking for a quality reproduction or the genuine original equipment, we've got you covered. Our prices are low, shipping is quick, and the brake hoses always meet SAE standards and requirements. Don't delay, get your car or truck back on the road right away.
