Periodically examine all hydraulic brake lines, both rigid and flexible, for rusting, chafing, and general deterioration, while also checking the security of the connections. If hoses or pipes must be disconnected, extensive loss of fluid can be avoided by taping over the vent holes in the master cylinder fluid reservoir cap to create a vacuum. For drum brakes, use a back-up wrench on the hose fitting to unscrew the connector, remove the U-shaped retainer, withdraw the hose fitting from the support bracket, turn it out of the wheel cylinder, and remove the copper gasket. When installing, use a new copper gasket, moisten the screw threads with brake fluid, and torque-tighten to the wheel cylinder. With the weight on the suspension and the wheels straight ahead, insert the female end of the hose through the support bracket, allowing it to seek its own position without kinking, then install the U-shaped retainer and secure the hose in the bracket. Turn the wheels from lock to lock to ensure the hose does not contact other parts, repositioning the female end if necessary. Place the tubular steel connector in the hose fitting and torque-tighten using a back-up wrench. Remove the tape from the master cylinder reservoir, top up with new brake fluid, and bleed the system of air. For disc brakes, to disconnect a rigid line from a flexible hose, unscrew the connector from the hose end fitting, located at the support brackets, while holding the flexible hose and fitting still with an open-ended wrench. To remove the flexible hose, extract the retainer and pull the hose from the support bracket, then remove the hose to caliper bolt, center connector, and the hose. Installation is a reversal of removal, always using new copper gaskets with the flexible hose end fittings and allowing the flexible hose to take up its natural curvature without securing it in a twisted or kinked position. Rigid lines that need replacement can be purchased at many service stations; take the old pipe as a pattern, ensuring the pipes are fitted with the correct connectors and that the ends are double-flared.
