Brake fluid tank hose replacement

My brake fluid level in the tank has been consistently dropping down to about the opening where the hose is attached. It never drops below that level, which leads me to conclude that the leak is either at the clamp somewhere or within the hose. Initially, I thought the tank was leaking so I replaced it but it still leaks so I would like to try replacing the hose and clamps.

My questions are:

1. What is the name for this hose (so that I can Google for it and order it)?
2. Will replacing this hose involve having to drain the whole brake system of the fluid or can I just replace it without the danger of air bubbles? When I replaced the tank, I just held the hose pointing upwards until I replaced the tank and reattached it.

It is the big hose that is attached to the left of the electrical connector in the picture.

 

Have you found any leaked fluid? To lose that amount of fluid, it has to go somewhere.

 

where would I find it if it dripped out of the hose somewhere either at the ends or in the middle ?

 

Things look pretty clean in that pic. Seems like a lot of fluid loss to not be noticeable there, I'd be looking elsewhere for your leak.

 

is your clutch spongy? cus that tube feeds the clutch master cylinder.

 

all of those things would cause the fluid level to keep dropping below the point where it stops. the ONLY explanation i can think of why it stops where it does is that it leaks somewhere in or near the hose outlet. i appreciate everyone's ideas but what i'm really after in this question is how safely the hose can be replaced without risking air bubbles in the brake system.

 

Looks like part number 44571-04010. See the PDF attached below. Scan for this part number.

If your brake pedal is spongy I would wonder about the caliper(s).

Seems like there would be a mess somewhere with this kind of loss.

 

it is only a few ounces of liquid that leaked out over a period of several months under the truck, what kind of mess are you talking about ?

 

Yes you will need to bleed system. All you have to do get 4 2' long pieces of 1/4" tubing and 4 of your wifes cereal bowls(she doesn't know about this). Attach the hose to the bleeder on all four wheels then into the bowl. open all four bleeders to a drip. Keep resevoir filled as it drips. This will get the air out and exchange your fluid. Easy as eating pie.

 

can I do it one by one as opposed to what you're suggesting to do all four simultaneously?

 

That feed the clutch master cylinder. If it's only leaking down to that point I would pull back the carpet near the pedals and look for fluid there. If nothing there look underneath at the slave cylinder on the side of the transmission. One of them must be leaking unless you have obvious fluid loss right at the fluid reservoir itself.

 

that kindof makes sense actually. thanks

 

You can but it will take alot longer. It doesn't go down fast with all four dripping. I just let the fluid go down a couple of times and your good. Don't let the fluid run out though.

 

actually, now that i think better, my driver floor cover seems drenched in something that i thought was just street gunk from my shoes but maybe it is the brake fluid leaked onto it...

 

I have no clue what that hose is for but it's not for brake fluid.
There is no way a rubber hose with spring clamps can hold any hydraulic pressure.

 

if you read above, it was established that if feeds brake fluid from the intake tank into the clutch cylinder.

 

Posting some info about your truck would help

 

2007 V6 4WD TRD extended cab (i know this should be in my footer)

 

Well there the mess you were asking about. It had to be going somewhere.

 

Just a hypothesis for now. In case this is verified to be the leak source, how do I fix it ?