A puddle of amber-colored fluid under your car and a spongy brake pedal are red flags that could indicate a cracked brake hose.
This flexible hose is vital for delivering pressurized hydraulic fluid to your wheel cylinder or brake caliper to facilitate braking. If it cracks, your braking system could fail, so a timely replacement is critical for your safety.
Wondering what’s involved in the brake hose replacement process?
Let’s break down the steps to understand it better and check out the early signs to spot a leaky brake hose quickly.
This Article Contains:
- How Do You Replace a Brake Hose?
- 7 Glaring Signs of a Defective Brake Hose
- Can You Drive with a Damaged Brake Hose?
- How Much Does Brake Hose Replacement Cost?
- How Often Should You Replace Brake Hoses?
- 3 FAQs About Brake Hoses
How Do You Replace a Brake Hose?
Replacing brake hoses is difficult as it requires specific tools that you might not own, such as:
- 15 mm line wrench (for the hose connection to your caliper)
- 9 mm wrench (for the bleeder valve)
- Pliers
- Hydraulic jack
- Jack stops
- Hammer
- Brake fluid bleeder
- Drain pan
You also have to deal with multiple components underneath the car, which can be daunting without ample repair experience. That’s why it’s always best to have an auto repair mechanic perform the replacement.
Here’s how they’ll change the hoses:
Step 1: Prepare for the Replacement
The mechanic will park your car on a flat surface, engage the parking brake, and raise the vehicle using jack stands. They’ll also wear safety goggles and gloves to protect themselves from the corrosive brake fluid.
Step 2: Remove the Front or Rear Wheel
They’ll detach the wheel near the faulty hose for clear access to the brake assembly and place a drain pan to catch leaking fluid.
Step 3: Disconnect the Damaged Hose From the Line
Next, using a flare nut wrench, they’ll remove the fitting that connects the rubber hose to the metal brake line. Afterward, they’ll remove the mounting bracket clip with pliers.
Once disconnected, the mechanic will plug the metal brake line to prevent fluid leaks. If there’s a leak, they’ll wipe it off immediately.
Step 4: Disconnect the Hose From the Caliper or Wheel Cylinder
They’ll use a line wrench to detach the rubber hose from the brake caliper (in disc brakes) or the wheel cylinder (in drum brakes).
Step 5: Install the New Brake Hose
They’ll take the new hose and connect one end to the wheel cylinder or brake caliper.
Next, they’ll use a flare nut wrench to fix the hose to the brake line. Then, using pliers, they’ll reattach the mounting bracket clips.
Step 6: Check the Brake Fluid Level and Bleed the Brakes
After fixing the new hose, they’ll inspect the master cylinder to check the fluid level and top off as necessary.
Afterward, they’ll bleed your brake system using a bleeder to remove any air that might’ve seeped in during the replacement.
Step 7: Reattach the Front or Rear Wheel
Finally, they’ll fix any leaks, reinstall the wheel, and lower the vehicle.
Then, they’ll release the parking brake and test-drive the car to ensure the brakes work correctly.
But how do you know your brake hose needs a replacement?
Let’s find out.
7 Glaring Signs of a Defective Brake Hose
Your vehicle might need a brake hose replacement if you notice:
- Brake fluid leak: Rubber or steel brake hoses can slowly wear out and develop cracks due to age, heat, or exposure to road debris. Even a small crack in the hose can cause a leak, letting amber or yellow hydraulic fluid pool beneath your car.
- Spongy brake pedal: A soft or mushy brake pedal is usually the result of a low brake fluid level in the system. The liquid level drops when a ruptured or cracked brake hose starts leaking fluid. Without ample fluid, the brake fluid pressure reduces, making the pedal soft and decreasing your ability to control your car.
- Brake noise: A damaged hose may prevent proper fluid flow to the caliper or wheel cylinder. In disc brakes, this might cause the brake pad and rotor to grind and create loud noises. In drum brakes, a stuck wheel cylinder may force the brake shoe against the drum, which may result in screeching or grinding sounds.
- An illuminated brake light warning: Insufficient hydraulic fluid or faulty system components can prevent the brake system from working efficiently. This causes your car to activate the brake light.
- Poor braking power: The brake system relies on pressurized fluid to engage other components for braking. But if a hose starts leaking, it won’t effectively deliver brake fluid to other components. This will reduce your braking power, affect your ability to control the car’s speed, and increase stopping distances.
- The car pulls to one side: Each wheel has its brake hose. If one fails, it can reduce pressure on that wheel’s brake rotor or drum, causing uneven braking and making the car veer to one side.
- Excessive brake hose wear: After prolonged or heavy-duty use, the surface of your brake hose will wear down. If the wear is excessive, your hose will be susceptible to a brake fluid leak and can reduce braking performance. However, this issue is only noticeable through a visual inspection.
NOTE: A damaged old brake line will also have similar signs to a failing hose. Before getting a hose or brake line replacement, ask a mechanic to inspect both parts carefully.
With all these possible issues, you’d think driving with a faulty brake hose must be impossible…or is it?
Can You Drive with a Damaged Brake Hose?
You technically can, but it’s not recommended.
A broken hose prevents the flow of pressurized fluid, which is essential to engage the brake rotor, pads, and other components for braking. Without ample brake fluid pressure, the pedal will feel spongy.
Eventually, the brakes may become unresponsive, making it difficult or impossible to stop the car. This creates a serious safety risk for you and others on the road.
If you suspect your brake hoses are compromised, it’s best to avoid driving and call a mechanic for an urgent replacement.
Wondering how much it’ll cost to get a new brake hose?
Read on to know more.
How Much Does Brake Hose Replacement Cost?
Replacing a flexible brake hose will cost you around $70 to $290, which includes:
- Parts’ cost: $10 to $100
- Labor cost: $60 to $190
However, the expenses will vary depending on the make and model of your car, the hose type, as well as the local labor charges.
Moreover, if you leave bad hoses in place for a long time, they may prematurely damage other components like the brake pads and lines. A brake line replacement will cost around $105 to $440 per pipe.
If you’re unsure whether your hose is past its prime and needs replacing, we’ve got you covered.
How Often Should You Replace Brake Hoses?
You should change the brake hoses every 50,000 miles or six years. If you diligently get regular maintenance and repair, the hoses may even last up to 100,000 miles.
However, this timeline can vary based on factors like:
- Your driving habits
- The road conditions
- The hose material and quality
Want to understand brake hoses better?
Check out these popular queries for additional information.
3 FAQs About Brake Hoses
Here are the answers to three common questions you might have on brake hose replacements:
1. How Does a Brake Hose Become Defective?
Your hydraulic brake hose can degrade and lose its effectiveness due to:
- Friction: As you drive over different surfaces, the brake hose moves up and down to keep up with your wheel’s movement. During these movements, the brake hose surface can rub against nearby vehicle components, which creates friction. This friction can lead to wear, causing cracks in the hose. Gradually, your hose loses its structural integrity and starts leaking brake fluid.
- Corrosion: Brake hoses are constantly exposed to moisture and road salt, which can cause corrosion. This rust accumulation is particularly evident in a rubber brake hose that uses metallic end fittings to connect to the brake line. Over time, atmospheric moisture and salt corrode these metal fittings, weakening the hose and affecting the braking performance.
- Brake fluid leak and contamination: Brake fluid is corrosive and can degrade your hoses during a leak. If the leaking fluid is contaminated with debris, it can eat away at rubber linings and crack the hoses.
2. Is the Brake Hose the Same as a Brake Line?
No, they’re not the same.
Although the brake line and hose help transmit brake fluid, there are some critical differences between the two.
The brake line is a rigid metal tube that carries pressurized fluid from the master cylinder to the caliper or wheel cylinder. However, it doesn’t connect directly to the caliper or wheel cylinder since it can brake as the wheels move.
Instead, the metal line connects to a flexible brake hose via banjo fittings. The flexible hose handles wheel movements and vibrations, safely delivering fluid to the caliper or cylinder.
In short, the brake line and hose are two different parts that work together to transport hydraulic fluid from the master cylinder to the wheels.
3. What Are the Different Types of Brake Hoses?
Your brake hoses would fall under one of the following two categories:
- Rubber brake hose: A rubber hose is flexible, less expensive, works well across wide temperature ranges, and provides excellent braking performance.
- Stainless steel braided hose: A steel braided hose offers superior durability, resilience to physical damage, and the ability to withstand expansion under high pressures.
Keep Your Brakes in Top Shape with AutoNation Mobile Service
A healthy braking system is crucial for road safety. So, if you notice signs of defective hoses or rubber lines, inspect them carefully.
However, failing brake pads or an old brake line can show similar symptoms, which makes it hard to identify the real culprit of your driving troubles.
That’s where AutoNation Mobile Service comes in. Our experienced technicians can quickly access your brake assembly and fix the root problem right from your driveway. You also get a 12-month, 12,000-mile warranty and after-hours support, which makes your repair journey smooth and hassle-free.
Reach out today for a quick brake hose replacement.