How to Replace the Rear Brake Line on a KIA Sportage
- 1). Jack up the rear of the Sportage. Place jack stands under the frame and lower the vehicle. Locate the damaged steel brake line, either left or right along the top of the rear axle. The rubber flex hose in the middle rides up and down with the rear axle. Fluid flows through this hose into the brass junction fitting, where the left and right lines meet in the center.
- 2). Remove the left or right flair nut at the back of the rear-brake backing plate. Capture the brake fluid with a drip pan. Be sure to use a flair nut wrench to prevent the nut from rounding. Remove the flair nut at the brass junction fitting in the middle of the axle. Loosen two bracket bolts on the left side line or three bracket bolts on the right side. These brackets hold the steel brake lines to the rear axle. Once the bracket bolts are removed, he brake lines will come off.
- 3). Loosely fit the new lines into place and start the flair nuts on both ends before tightening them by hand. Unless the nuts are directly straight into the threads they fit into, they can be easily cross threaded. After hand-tightening them, install the retaining clip bolts. Snug them in place and use a flair wrench to tighten the flair nuts.
- 4). Top off the brake master cylinder with brake fluid and have an assistant pump the brakes and then apply steady pressure to the brake pedal. Loosen the brake bleeder valve and have the assistant notify you when his foot has depressed the pedal to the floor. Close the valve and have your assistant pump the brake pedal once again and hold steady pressure against the pedal. Loosen the bleeder valve and watch as air and fluid are discharged from the valve. When the assistant's foot has fully depressed the pedal to the floor, close the valve. Repeat this process until no air escapes the valve and the assistant reports a full, strong brake pedal. Lower the vehicle to the ground and test-drive it to make sure the brakes are fully operational.
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