What does a brake hose do?

A brake hose is designed to transport hydraulic pressure from the brake pipes of your vehicle to its wheel cylinders and brake calipers. They are usually made of hard-wearing, flexible rubber or stainless steel, making them far less prone to wear, expansion and other damage, keeping them working perfectly for longer. Due to the brake caliper being attached to the wheel, the hoses must be flexible in order to accommodate for the vehicle's suspension and wheel movement when turning and traveling over uneven surfaces.

As with any component of a braking system, brake hoses are absolutely vital to the safe operation of any vehicle using a hydraulic braking system – which is why you should have them replaced as soon as you notice any issues or damage.

Mini

Mini is a British automotive marque that has been owned by the German multinational vehicle manufacturer BMW since 2000.

The Mini brand was originally introduced in 1969 when the vehicle model became a marque in its own right, breaking away from the Austin and Morris brands under the British Leyland umbrella.

How popular is Mini in the United Kingdom?

The Mini Hatch was the 7th best selling car of 2018 in the UK. Mini is a consistent favourite among buyers with a leaning for British cultural icons and retro styling.

There are around 750k Mini cars on the roads, showing that the brand is still as popular as ever due to their compact sizing, attractive styling and its reputation as a classy and classic small car.

Mini: a premium product of British motoring

With its unique and unmistakable styling, Mini is firmly placed as a premium product. Its ownership by BMW has added advantages in production, by being able to lean on the executive luxury German marque for many of the advanced technological systems and specialist industry knowledge used in their manufacture.

A piece of British culture and a Hollywood star

Enhancing its popularity as a household name, the original British Mini became a star of the silver screen when it appeared predominantly in the gold-heist movie ‘The Italian Job’ in 1969, starring Michael Caine and Noel Coward. With a remake hitting the screens in 2003, the new Mini was called on to star once again, and a selection of Mini hatch models continued the tradition by featuring in the film.

Mini: a new competitor to the most popular 3-door hatchbacks

Despite its small footprint, the Mini hatch is providing real competition to the Audi A1 and VW Polo due to its premium quality build. And with the weight of BMW behind them, it’s easy to see why.

How often should a brake hose need replacing?

Brake hoses will usually last for at least 6 years, however this can vary depending on driving conditions, frequency of use and the quality of the hose. Mechanics recommend that brake hoses should definitely be replaced after 15 years. At this point they will most likely be very worn and the risk of them dangerously breaking is very high.

The law, vehicle regulations and your MOT

It goes without saying that your braking system is crucial to the safety of your vehicle, and is therefore thoroughly inspected during the annual MOT. If any of your brake hoses show signs of excessive wear, damage, twisting or chaffing this will result in an MOT failure. Less serious wear and tear will most likely be classed as a minor, but is still important to keep an eye on.

What causes a brake hose to break?

Brake hoses are constantly exposed to moisture, dirt and road grit, as well as high heat generated by braking. Therefore, over time brake hoses can become worn out and damaged.

What are the signs of a bad brake hose?

Usually, there a few signs you can look for:

• Spongy brake pedal

• Leaking brake fluid - usually a light brown colour

• Faulty or failing brakes

• Visible damage to the hose

How often should you replace your brake hose?

A basic rubber brake hose should last for up to six years depending on its quality. As with any car part, its lifespan will also depend on the amount of wear and tear that is experienced by your braking system. For example, if you regularly use your vehicle on rough terrain or in heavy traffic, it's likely that your brake hoses will need replacing earlier.

What happens during a brake hose replacement?

During the repair our certified mechanics will:

• Inspect the brake system to establish which brake hose needs to be replaced.

• Replace the damaged or faulty brake hose.

• They will then top-up the brake fluid.

• Bleed the brake system.

• Finally they will inspect the brake system and test drive the car to ensure it’s safe.

What is the average life of a brake hose?

Brake hoses will usually last for at least six years, however this can vary depending on driving conditions, frequency of use and the quality of the hose. Mechanics recommend that brake hoses should definitely be replaced after 15 years. At this point they will most likely be very worn and the risk of them dangerously breaking is very high.

Can you drive with a broken brake hose?

No, a car with damaged or faulty brakes is unsafe to drive. Because brake hoses are a part of the vehicle’s braking system, they inherently become an important component to the overall safety of the vehicle.

For this reason, if you suspect that there may be an issue with one of your brake hoses, it's important to have the brake system inspected by a professional technician, such as one from Fixter, to determine if your car needs a brake hose replacement.

Do brake hoses deteriorate with age?

Because brake hoses are constantly exposed to moisture, dirt and road grit, as well as high heat generated by braking, over time they can deteriorate becoming worn out and damaged.