Brake Line Repair

You use brakes to stop your car whenever and wherever you wish too. There comes a time though, where the brakes stop functioning or you need to press the pedal real hard for the brakes to have any effect. Lack of brake fluid in your vehicle or a problem of the brake line cause this malfunction. In case of the latter, you need a brake line repair to solve the problem.

Brake lines in cars are responsible for the traveling of brake fluids from the master cylinder to the wheels. Cracking of the brake lines, corrosion or rusting of the brake lines are some of the common brake line problems. Constant wear and tear, or rubbing of the brakes with any metal objects can cause rusting of the brake line. You may choose to replace the whole brake line, or just a part of it. However, it is always better to replace the whole brake line, so that you don't face the same problem again and again.

Tools Required

You would need the following tools for repairing your brake line :

• New brake lines
• Brake Fluid
• Compression kit
• Tubing Cutter
• Set of normal wrenches and line wrenches
• Penetrant
• Support Stands
• Tape measure

How to Repair Brake Line?

Once you have gathered all the tools, it is time to start the procedure.

1. Check the extent of rust on the brake line. If the whole brake line is rusted, you will have to replace it. In such a case, soak the fittings you wish to remove in penetrant.
2. Unscrew the brackets which are holding the brake line on to the frame using a ratchet.
3. If you are replacing only a part of the brake line, then cut out the section with a tubing cutter and remove the brake line with the help of line wrenches.
4. Once you remove the rusted brake line, you need to use it, to check the size of your new brake line. Place both the brake lines one beside the other. Now ensure that the length of the new brake line is equal to the old brake line and make similar bends on the new one, using a tube bender.
5. After making the new brake line like the old one in terms of its size and bends, you will have to fix the new brake line in the car. Tighten the fittings using line wrenches.
6. Using a tubing cutter, cut out any extra brake lines. The compression kit consists of two ferrules, two end caps with a hole in the middle, and a center tube. At one end of the brake line, fix the end cap and at the other end fix the ferrule. Now hold this brake line in one hand with the center tube in the other. Take the brake line and press it hard into the center tube, locking it with the end cap. Using a wrench, tighten the end cap.
7. Take the new brake line and push it into the old line, drawing the old line on the barrel extremely tight. Repeat the same for the other side.
8. Now that the work on the brake lines has been done, you need to bleed the brakes, to remove any air from the brake line. For this, ensure that brake fluid is completely filled in the master cylinder reservoir. Loosen the brake bleeder screw on any one of the wheels. Ask someone to sit in the car, start it, and hold the brake pedal completely down. Hold it down till all the air is gone and brake fluid starts coming out from the brake line. Do this for all the four wheels, and once this is done, refill the master cylinder with brake fluid.

For your assistance, brake line repair kits are also available in the market. These kits consist of all that you need for the repair, including brake pads, brake lining and brake rotors. Buy proper branded repair kits, as you would not want to use sub-standardized parts for your car.

The repair cost comes out to be anywhere around US $70 to US $100 depending upon your car. The parts are not that expensive and it's a 2 to 3 hour job at the most. It is advised that, if you have no prior experience in repairing a car or are not well versed with the car mechanism, take your car to a mechanic.