1994 850 non turbo brake lines

[adrian22]

I have a cracked brake line for 3 years near the caliper
The mechanic said I must replace it-I need to decide soon I I can keep it any longer since there is no fluid leak
The crack is on the exterior rubber sleeve
Question is if the brake line have a metal line covered by rubber or is just rubber?

Also second question-how often I should change the brake fluid and what is the procedure to do it
Thanks

[Ozark Lee]

The brakes lines have a laminated layer inside of the rubberized outer jacket. Cracks in the jacket don't necessarily mean an imminent brake line failure but it is a "shot over the bow" and as the cracks get worse and pieces of the jacket start to flake off it is likely time to deal with them.

When you do replace the brake lines you will open the system and doing a full fluid flush is pretty much a no brainer as a part of the bleeding process. I actually use ATE Super Blue Racing Fluid when I do a flush, not so much for the high boiling point but more for the color change when it is fully flushed.

...Lee