There's Fluid In Them There Brake Lines!

Remember that murder mystery you watched growing up? The one where the victim was in a terrible accident because someone cut the brake lines? What does that mean to you? Allow me. Most of the brake lines on your vehicle are likely made of rigid metal tubing that runs from the master cylinder under your hood to each wheel well of the car. Often the metal line will connect to a rubberized hose that continues the journey to your calipers, unless you have drum brakes. When you push the brake pedal, the master cylinder pushes against the fluid in the lines, causing the caliper or wheel cylinder to react and pushing the brake linings against the friction surface. If the lines were cut, there would be no reaction at the wheels to the action at the brake pedal. How should you maintain this system? Other than the obvious need for good brake linings and friction surfaces, the brake fluid should be flushed every so often as it, like other fluids, breaks down over time. Most auto shops can test the condition of your brake fluid with copper content test strips. Maintaining this system can prevent nature from cutting your brake lines!