Recognizing The 3 Most Likely Causes Of Brake Fluid Leaks
Modern manufacturers design their braking systems to be relatively bulletproof. Your tires and braking system are the two components most responsible for keeping you (and other motorists) safe on the road. As a result, most braking failures are not catastrophic, and you'll usually have plenty of warning when your brakes begin to wear out.
Unfortunately, brake fluid leaks are often the exception that proves the rule. Your braking system relies on hydraulic pressure to operate the calipers, bringing your car to a controlled stop. If the system loses enough fluid, hydraulic pressure will drop, and your brake pedal will fall to the floor. While catastrophic fluid leaks are relatively rare, it's still important to understand these three ways they can occur.
1. Worn Soft Lines
Your brake hoses (or soft lines) make up the relatively short connections between your hard lines and the calipers at each wheel. These lines must be relatively flexible since the caliper moves with your suspension. Manufacturers typically use steel for the main brake hard lines, so they lack the flexibility to cover this gap.
Unfortunately, the nature of soft lines means that they can wear out over time. In most cases, the internal lining breaks down, blocking the flow of brake fluid and preventing the caliper from operating. However, very old hoses can crack and leak, causing you to slowly lose brake fluid until there's no longer sufficient pressure to operate your brakes.
2. Rusted Hard Lines
The hard lines are relatively durable metal lines that carry fluid from the master cylinder to each wheel well. These lines can stand up to far more abuse than the soft lines, but they can still fail on very old cars or vehicles exposed to harsh conditions. Hard lines don't have many potential failures and, besides physical damage from an impact, usually leak due to rust.
Since your hard lines run along your car's undercarriage, they must face exposure to moisture, road salt, and other harsh contaminants. As a result, you can expect them to develop minor surface rust relatively quickly. However, this rust can often worsen over time, eventually causing the lines to fail and leak.
3. Piston Failures
Your calipers use brake fluid to extend the piston and push your brake pads against the rotors. This fluid remains contained by several seals that help prevent leaks and stop moisture and contaminants from entering the piston chamber. However, your piston seals can wear out over time, and extended brake change intervals can cause the pistons to overextend and tear their seals.
In either case, the result is usually the same: fluid loss and damage to the piston or caliper. In addition to addressing the immediate problem, you'll often need to replace or rebuild your caliper to repair the issue fully.
For additional info, reach out to a brake shop near you.
Share