Ford F-350 Brake Lines
Every time you need your Ford wheels to stop, you use your braking system. The brake lines are an essential part of this system, which ensures the safety of your Ford F-350 Super Duty, Lariat, SuperCab, Crew Cab, or XLT. There are a variety of brake line types available for all Ford vehicles.
What are brake lines and how do they work?A brake line is an essential part in any gasoline or diesel vehicles braking system. Your braking system can include pads, rotors, wheels, lines, and other parts that ensure not only the optimal performance of your truck, but also your safety. Most contemporary vehicles use hydraulics in their braking system, which make your brake lines that much more important.
Every time you push on the brake pedal while you drive, it engages the master brake cylinder. The master brake cylinder sends a message to your braking system, which uses hydraulic pressure to push on the brake pads. This pressure on the pads causes your Ford F-350 truck to stop. This hydraulic pressure must have help from a specially designed brake fluid; this is where your brake lines come in. Your Ford F-350s brake lines provide your braking system in both the front and rear with brake fluid.
Which kinds of brake lines are available for your F-350?There are a broad range of OEM and aftermarket Ford brake line parts available for your F-350. They can come in many shapes, sizes, and diameters, but will be designed to fit your specific model and year. They can be made of various materials, though the two main categories of brake lines are characterized as the following:
- Pipes - Brake line pipes are typically made of stainless steel, though they can be coated with additional materials like plastic, zinc, or even Kevlar. They are usually designed as a singular, immobile, rigid piece that can be installed in a few different places underneath the vehicle, specifically, in a place where the brake line cannot be moved. Pipe varieties are especially durable and long-lasting, making them an ideal part for performance drivers or those with high tow usage.
- Hoses - Brake-line hoses are designed to be flexible, and can be longer than pipes. They are typically made of various rubbers, though they can also have additional fibers added for strength. Hoses are the less expensive, standard option and they usually come stock on most vehicles. These are an ideal option for your typical, everyday driver.
Regular maintenance is extremely important to both the performance and safety of your F-350 truck. Many parts on your truck should be replaced or maintained after a specific mileage or time. Your brake lines and other braking-system parts do not come with a specified replacement time. But each time you use your brakes, it creates wear on each one of these parts. You may need to inspect your brake lines if you experience the following symptoms:
- Noticeable corrosion or damage to any brake-line parts
- New appearance of your trucks brake warning light
- Fluid leaking from your line or braking system