brake hoses

ride it like you stole it · Derestricted Danger Joined: 08 Jan 2013 Karma :

After a bit of advice please, my brake hoses are standard and have a date on them of 2009. In the manual they state they should be changed every 4 years.

Ive ordered a full set of braided hoses to replace these but am waiting for these to arrive, what i need to know is will the old hoses fail the mot because they haven't been changed, on the basis of the date?

Hetzer · Super Spammer Joined: 19 Feb 2007 Karma :

No, they won't, not for that.
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The Artist · Super Spammer Joined: 06 Jan 2008 Karma :

No. Will be fine. Probably be fine for another 10 years but they say change them to cover their ass in case of failure.

ride it like you stole it · Derestricted Danger Joined: 08 Jan 2013 Karma :

Oh right. on visual inspection they look as good as new. still going to change them for the braided ones when they arrive but with the artic conditions outside, i've not seen a postman for weeks.

blurredman · World Chat Champion Joined: 18 Sep 2010 Karma :

One of my bike's is 25 years old, still on original front brake hose..

I don't know how much is absurd over-exaggeration of brake hose life span though.
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CBT: 12/06/10, Theory: 22/09/10, Module 1: 09/11/10, Module 2: 19/01/11
Past: 1991 Honda CG125BR-J, 1992 (1980) Honda XL125S, 1996 Kawasaki GPZ500S, 1979 MZ TS150.
Current: 1973 MZ ES250/2 - 18k, 1979 Suzuki TS185ER - 10k, 1981 Honda CX500B - 91k, 1987 MZ ETZ250 (295cc) - 40k, 1989 MZ ETZ251 - 51k.

Raffles · World Chat Champion Joined: 14 Apr 2009 Karma :

I've never had to change a brake hose due to ageing.
As The Artist posted, they're probably just covering their arses.
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Walloper · Super Spammer Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Karma :

'They' say tyres should be replaced after four-five years from date of manufacture so it makes sense the same 'theory' should aply to rubber brake lines.

I wouldn't worry too much unless you can see cracking when you bend the hoses or if they are very stiff and difficult to bend.
When like this they are brittle and may fail.

Any failure would probaly be as weeping leak as opposed to catastrophic failure where the brake fluid pulses out at 10,000Mpa and decapitates some random kitten. Very Happy

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W-ireless A-rtificial L-ifeform L-imited to O-bservation P-eacekeeping and E-fficient R-epair