Brake lines connect the brake calipers to the master cylinder, transferring brake fluid between these two critical components. Along with brake rotors and pads, brake fluid is what delivers the power to help your car stop. Therefore brake lines are essential components of a vehicle’s overall braking system.
Let’s uncover more about why brake line repair and maintenance is a crucial part of being a responsible and safe driver.
What Can Neglecting Brake Lines Do?
Rubber can crack and wear over time, springing leaks and losing structural integrity. And while metal brake lines should last a long time — perhaps even the lifetime of your car, they can rust or become bent or dented from things like potholes or accident-related damage.
When brake lines go bad, whether due to neglect or a simple lack of knowledge about the importance of regular brake system checks, some of the following things can happen:
- Rusting, corrosion, leaks, or rupture of metal brake lines.
- Cracks, leaks, and rupture of rubber brake lines.
- Longer stopping distances and a spongy brake pedal.
- Safety issues, including a complete loss in the ability to stop your car.
Why is Brake Line Repair Important?
Brake lines that are in good working order are an absolute necessity for any driver. Brake lines can be made of metal and rubber, and each type of brake line presents potential problems with wear.
But whether you’ve got stainless steel brake lines or rubber brake lines, it’s important to replace them if you’re experiencing any common signs that may indicate (a) brake line(s) gone bad:
- Your brakes are spongy or your brake pedal depresses all the way to the floor.
- Your low brake fluid warning light is visible.
- Brake fluid or rust is visible on your brake lines upon inspection.
Why is it important? Replacing brake lines that are worn or damaged is a must for several reasons:
- Brake Failure: As we mentioned earlier, brake lines that are going bad can suddenly rupture, causing complete brake failure, and thus, a total loss of ability to stop your car. This not only poses a safety risk to you and your passengers but also to others on the road.
- Accident Risk: A spongy brake pedal due to bad brake lines that have developed a leak and let air in can cause your car to take longer to stop than you’re used to. The associated disconnect between how much time you think you need to stop and how much time you actually need to stop with bad brake lines could pose an accident risk.
- Increased Brake Pad/Rotor Wear: Leaking brake lines that affect stopping times can place more of a burden on your brake pads and rotors, wearing them out more quickly and costing you more in the long run.
What Are Average Brake Line Repair Costs?
What’s the average cost for brake line repair? It’s hard to say for sure because individual brake lines can be as cheap as around $5 per brake line and as expensive as around $200+ per brake line. The majority of brake line repairs fall somewhere between $250-$500.
For rusted brake lines, repair costs can be higher than corroded rubber ones, since metal brake lines are often more expensive than rubber ones in general.
Innovative Auto Services: Brake Line Repair Experts in OKC
If your car is in need of new brakes, brake lines, or rotor replacement, ask about our brake repair services today or schedule an appointment now.
