How to Install an Automotive Brake Line

Automotive brake lines are part of a sealed hydraulic system that will fail to function correctly if you don't install your brake line properly. It is highly recommended that you purchase prebent automotive brake line specific to your automobile. A prebent automotive brake line will help with ease of installation.

Instructions

Your lug wrench has an extra-long handle to provide more leverage.

Break loose the lug nuts on all four tires using your lug wrench, but do not completely remove.

Improperly placed jack stands result in disaster.

Raise the vehicle in the air with your floor jack and support it securely with a jack stands. Push down on both ends of the vehicle to ensure proper placement of jack stands.

Remove all tires from the vehicle and place them aside. Check for additional repairs that may be needed.

Brake calipers hold brake fluid behind the piston located in the center.

Place the drain pan directly under the fitting you are removing and use your line wrench to loosen and remove the fitting.

Locate all brake line support brackets for the brake line to be replaced and remove them. Set the support brackets aside. The old brake line should now be free and you can now dispose of it properly.

Route your prebent brake line in the same way the original was. Lift the brake line to the body or frame of the car from the front of the vehicle back, using the support brackets to secure the new brake line to the vehicle.

Thread the brake line fitting by hand into the brake caliper or wheel cylinder, as well as the master cylinder. Apply a light torque with your line wrench, but be careful not to over-tighten the fitting.

Remove the brake fluid reservoir cap and fill with new brake fluid. Be careful not to overfill

The bleeder valve is always located at the highest point of the wheel cylinder.

Place your wrench over the bleeder valve and ask your helper to pump the brake pedal until stiff. Keeping pressure on the pedal loosen the bleeder valve slightly, breaking the seal.

Notice that the fluid and air is released from the bleeder valve the brake pedal will fall to the floor. Instruct your helper to hold it there until you have tightened the valve. Repeat this multiple times until there is absolutely no air coming from the bleeder valve.

Repeat steps four and five on the rear driver side, then the front passenger side, and finally the front driver side. If done correctly, you will have a stiff pedal and there will be absolutely no air in the hydraulic brake system.

Have the vehicle running and have your helper continuously apply the brake and check for any leaks throughout the system.

Replace the wheels back onto the vehicle and tighten the lugs down as much as you can with your fingers.

Using your automotive jack, raise the vehicle up and off the jack stands and remove them from under the vehicle one by one until all four tires are on the ground again.