 |
Sometimes, the brake line can get pinched, damaged or worn out and will need replacing. Most often, the flexible hoses at the front wheel are replaced rather than the rear rigid lines.
To repair the brake line on the front wheel of the vehicle, first obtain a new flexible brake hose from the auto parts store of your choice. Raise the wheel
in question, place jack stands under the car for safety, and remove the wheel. Removing the wheel is just for ease of access. Usually, there is a sliding clip
or a bracket mounted to the upper strut or upper support arm that holds the brake line. Unscrew the brake line from the end of the rigid brake line, then unscrew
from the front caliper. There will be a gasket between the line and the caliper, usually copper. Your new brake line should have a new gasket. If not, you will
need to reuse the old one. A new gasket is recommended.
Install the new line and take care not to cross thread the fittings. When the brake line is installed and the bracket is reattached, loosen the bleed screw at the
top of the caliper. Brake fluid and air should begin to seep out. Fill the master cylinder with fluid and reinstall the cap. Close the bleed screw on the caliper.
Enlist a friend's help to bleed the brakes. Have your friend pump the brake pedal a few times and hold. Loosen the bleed screw slightly. Fluid should squirt out.
The fluid comes out under pressure and is harmful if it gets in your eyes. Wear safety glasses. Use a small hose to direct the fluid into a container.
When the bleed screw is loosened, the pedal will go to the floor. Tighten the bleed screw and tell your assistant to then pump the brakes up again. Continue until
you see no air escape from the bleed screw when it is loosened. Reinstall the wheel. Just for safety's sake, bleed all four wheels to make sure no air entered the
system when you had the brake line off.
Make sure to check your brakes before taking to the road. If they do not work properly, bleed them again to ensure that all the air is out of the system. Be sure
to recheck the fluid level.
