The Types of Brake Lines

Brake lines are an essential component of your car's brake system. They transfer hydraulic force from your brake pedal and master cylinder to the wheel cylinders that push your brake pads or shoes against the disc or drum to stop your car. Brake lines are comprised of rigid tubing and flexible hoses available in different types of materials.

Rigid Tubing

Brake systems include rigid metal tubing that carries the brake fluid from the master cylinder to a point near the wheels where the tubing connects to the flexible lines going to each wheel. Most original brake tubing on automobiles and light trucks is made of steel coated with tin or zinc to retard rusting, according to the InlineTube.com website. But despite the coatings, steel tubing exposed to extreme environmental conditions eventually will rust through.

No-Rust Replacements

Auto parts suppliers for years have offered replacement brake tubing made of rust resistant stainless steel, according to InlineTube. New to the market is brake tubing made of a copper-nickel alloy advertised as rustproof and easier to install than stainless tubing, according to the Copper.com website of the Copper Development Association. This material is being used on some European cars.

Flexible Hoses

Brake lines include flexible hoses that connect the rigid brake tubing on your car's body to the wheel cylinders. Flexible hoses are required because car wheels turn and move up and down as the car travels, according to the OffRoadWeb.com automotive website. Factory-stock flexible rubber lines are made of rubber-impregnated fabric layers wrapped in an outer sheath of rubber or plastic. This type of line has a long history of reliable service in everyday driving.

Teflon Braided

Automotive parts suppliers offer an alternative to rubber brake hoses for extreme driving conditions such as racing and off-road use. These high-performance flexible lines are made of a Teflon-based hose protected by inner sheaths of Kevlar and braided stainless steel mesh, covered by an outer plastic sheath, according to OffRoadWeb.com. Teflon hose is better than rubber at resisting extreme pressure and extreme temperature but is fragile against abrasion and punctures, hence the protective sheaths.