Unlike the brake lines, which are metal tubes that run the length of the car, the short brake hose found at each wheel is made of rubber. The hose’s job is to carry brake fluid from a brake line fixed to the car’s body the rest of the way to the brake caliper on the wheel. Its flexibility is what allows the wheel to move with the suspension. Brake hoses are intended to last for years and tens of thousands of miles, but they should be inspected regularly for damage, cracks or other signs of degradation, and replaced, if needed.
