SS brake lines

Chulo · 05-01-2006, 01:26 PM

While my clutch is being replaced, and my cat bybass pipe is being put on, and my exhaust changed, I figured.... SS brake lines? Can't hurt right? How many Pelicans out there have done so? Is it noticeable on the track?

charleskieffner · 05-01-2006, 01:32 PM

mine oem lines were 20 yrs old.................nuff said!

Chulo · 05-01-2006, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by charleskieffner
mine oem lines were 20 yrs old.................nuff said!

And the ones I am going to replace are 18 years old. No doubt that OEM is good stuff.

charleskieffner · 05-01-2006, 02:48 PM

but not good enough for the track! they actually looked very good for how old they were. a little armor all and theyd look new? with zimmerman drilled rotors, pbr pads, brake ducks(ducts) and speed bleeders and new e-brake shoes.............the brake issue is a closed chapter for now.............finally!

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

Quote:

SS brake lines? Can't hurt right?

Yes and no. old rubber lines do need to be replaced, they will fail internally and you may be none the wiser.

The ss versions can also fail, but so long as regular visual inspection is done they will be fine.

So if you are a maintainance intensive person then the ss lines are a good addition.

I do use them on 2 out of 3 of my cars. but I also pull the wheels at least every other week, often sooner.

Quote:

Is it noticeable on the track?

It can be, but there are so many variables involved that there is no definite yes or no here.

charleskieffner · 05-01-2006, 03:06 PM

bill what is normal service life on a set of DOT approved stainless lines?

randywebb · 05-01-2006, 03:32 PM

Be sure they are DOT certified. Some years ago the metal lines got a nice write-up in Pano. -- they were failing at the 'joints' -- catatrophically...

ianc · 05-01-2006, 04:29 PM

If I'm correct in assuming that SS lines are just rubber lines with a braided SS sheathing on them, I would say no. The SS sheathing would help to protect them, but it would also inhibit inspection of the rubber line underneath. I have seen them with cracks and small bulges that dictated an immediate replacement, and this visual cue would not be apparent with the sheathing.

Or if my assumption is incorrect, then just ignore me.

ianc

Chulo · 05-01-2006, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ianc
If I'm correct in assuming that SS lines are just rubber lines with a braided SS sheathing on them, I would say no. The SS sheathing would help to protect them, but it would also inhibit inspection of the rubber line underneath. I have seen them with cracks and small bulges that dictated an immediate replacement, and this visual cue would not be apparent with the sheathing.

Or if my assumption is incorrect, then just ignore me.

ianc

I believe they are teflon, covered with SS. If I'm wrong, we can ignore each other!

ianc · 05-01-2006, 04:40 PM

Same principle. Do I get to vote again?

ianc

Super_Dave_D · Super_Dave_D's Garage

They way I see it, it took 18 years for me to replace mine with SS and I dont even think I needed to. I doubt I will ever have to replace them again. One of us will probably be gone in 20 more years.

Rick V · 05-01-2006, 04:54 PM

I have to replace them on the SC but when I replaced the hoses on the BMW I noticed the pedal got very firm. My rubber lines had gotten old and were starting to show some signs of wear.(no cracks or bulges but softish)
The only advantage of the braided steel hoses is the higher burst pressure. I expect you would break the pedal before you burst a hose.
I plan on using them when I re-do the brakes on the SC, but that is just me.

lateapex911 · 05-01-2006, 04:59 PM

When I got my 911, the first thing I attended to was the crappy braking. new pads, and a good bleed and SS lines. Of course, the pedal was much firmer.

But as the brakes needed bleeding before, I can't attribute the difference to the lines alone.

However, I did the SS lines because of a good experience I had with an RX-7 racecar. I replaced 2 year old stock lines with new SS lines, and back to back, on the same tires, the difference was clearly a more "articulate" pedal.

Now....that was with Yoko R compound tires known for good feedback. If the tires are the average middle of the road tire, or a sport tire with poor feedback, the difference will likely be negligable.

As always, the tires are the single most important part of the car for so many issues.

porschenut · 05-01-2006, 07:02 PM

Will they make a difference on the track? Possibly, IF you're a professional driver and you have a full-bred race car. But if you're driving a track-prepped street car at DE's, or something like that, I think you'd be wasting your money. The only real advantage that I can see is that the lines are a little better protected from being damaged by road debris - but I've never heard of anyone who ripped open a brake line by hitting something unless they crashed. Most guys seem to like SS brake lines because they're "cool". Again, maybe if you're into serious racing and you see really high pressures, you might detect a performance improvement. But for the type of track driving most of us do here, I say no. On the other hand, they're not that much more $$ and if you like bling, put them on.

Bill Verburg · Bill Verburg's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by charleskieffner
bill what is normal service life on a set of DOT approved stainless lines?

There is no such thing, hey need to be inspected regularly.

Quote:

If I'm correct in assuming that SS lines are just rubber lines with a braided SS sheathing on them

They are not. There are some armored rubber lines that are often used on the newer models.

There are good lines w/ and w/o DOT rating. Dot rating just means that the lines were submitted to the approval process. What you want are proper ends using Earl's Speed-Seal (the new name for Fluor-O-Seal) or Aeroquip Super Gem, and "real" hose as Earl's Speed-Flex (the new name for Fluor-O-Flex) or Aeroquip. The cheap way is to crimp or swage them onto the hoses, like the fittings on rubber hoses. The more-expensive way is to use a two-piece replaceable hose end that captures a portion of the hose between an inner nipple and a concentric outer socket. These hose-ends (often referred to generically as "Aeroquip fittings" because they were invented by the Aeroquip Corporation) are used EVERYWHERE on aircraft and race cars.

Nine9six · Nine9six's Garage

Bill Verburg - The last words in braking.
Bill, thanks again for your most knowledgable responses on the subject, and the clarification on the "Aeroquip" fittings.

Early_S_Man · 05-01-2006, 08:01 PM

Dave,

I can guarantee you SS flex brakes won't last 20 years before catastrophic failure!!! Probably not even 10.

randywebb · 05-01-2006, 09:08 PM

yes, they are (or were) a hard plastic tubing - prob. teflon.

Dave/Pnut has divined the reason they are so popular...

Chulo · 05-02-2006, 03:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by porschenut

On the other hand, they're not that much more $$ and if you like bling, put them on.

I wonder if I can get them in race satin, to match the Fiske's I am drooling over...

In all seriousness, I appreciate all of the replies - it was much more of a debated topic than I thought.

Early_S_Man · 05-02-2006, 03:50 AM

I am amazed how many people here promote SS brake lines without the basic knowledge of their construction ...

http://hydraulics.eaton.com/products/pdfs/a-hopt-mc001-e1.pdf