How to Check Your Brake Lines

If you notice your vehicle starting to lose brake fluid, you’re going to need to carefully inspect your vehicle, keeping an eye out for possible leaks in the brake lines or wheel cylinders. Of course, checking your brake lines isn’t the easiest task, because you have to be able to get comfortably underneath your vehicle and have enough light to be able to see what you’re doing.

Short of hiring a professional for the job, the best way to check your brake lines is to raise the vehicle up over your head using a hydraulic lift, and pass through underneath it, carefully analyzing all of the lines that run from the front of your vehicle to each wheel. You’ll need to see where the leaks are coming from, and if there are any holes in the lines. Common trouble spots include the connections between the brake lines and wheel cylinders, or spots where steel lines become rubber lines.

Here’s a quick overview of the process you should use for checking vehicle brake lines in Athens County, OH:

• Perform a visual inspection: As mentioned above, your first step after getting the vehicle up in the air should be to simply conduct a careful and thorough visual inspection of all the brake lines. What you should be looking for is any signs of dried fluid, or spots where the lines appear to be wet.
• Remove rust: If, during this process, you see any rust or corrosion starting to form on the brake lines, it is important to remove it immediately. You can gently sand off those spots with a high-grit sandpaper or steel wool. Carefully look at any rusted spots to see if there is any risk of them turning into holes.
• Analyze the rubber: After removing any built-up rust, you should pay some attention to the rubber portions of the brake lines. If the rubber feels spongy, worn or sticky, this could be a red flag. Brake lines should be able to last you for the entire life of your vehicle, but if they look bad, you may need to have a professional give you a determination as to whether or not you should replace them. If it’s a recently purchased vehicle, you should pay a visit to the dealership and have them replace the part.
• Check the tires: After analyzing the rubber portions of the brake lines, your next step is to pay attention to the tires. Specifically, you’re going to need to focus on the inner surfaces of the tires. If you see any dripping or fluid spots on those inner surfaces, this is a sign that you likely have a leak coming from the wheel cylinders. In this situation, you should get the vehicle in to a professional mechanic for a more thorough inspection and to have the problem fixed.

For more information about the importance of good brake line maintenance in Athens County, OH, we encourage you to contact Dana’s Tire Center today with any questions. We look forward to assisting you.

Categorised in: Brake Service

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