Is Flexible Brake Line Required at the Back of a Boat Trailer Master Cylinder

Updated 03/01/2017 | Published 02/28/2017

Question:

Is there any reason why I cannot attach the metal brake line directly to the actuator instead of using the flexible line? I have a straight shot inside the tongue of my trailer that would accommodate the metal brake line without using the flexible line. The metal line would then exit the back of the tongue and continue to be secured to the frame until I get to the axel where I will use the rest of the lines to connect to the calipers. Thanks for your help.

asked by: Matt

Helpful Expert Reply:

Usually the flexible line is used if the trailer has a folding tongue. A solid metal line would not allow the tongue to fold. But on trailers that do not have a folding tongue you could use a regular metal line directly at the master cylinder like you said.

Flexible lines should be used at the calipers because they need to be able to move and it accounts for the travel of the suspension.

expert reply by: Michael H