Brakes and brakeline upgrades

I recently added some larger wheels, 17", to my 89 911. These wheels show a lot more of my Dirty brakes and hardware than the original fuch's. Has anybody tried those caliper paints I see in Automotion and Performance? I'd hate to go through the effort and have them look cheesy. How about stainless steel brakelines? Are they worth it if I'm going to change Brake fluid. Thanks, I appreciate any feedback.

Can't give any feedback on those new caliper paints, the only thing I ever tried was the Sperex paint intended for exhaust systems, and it worked fine, but nothing stays clean for very long on calipers!

As far as the stainless lines go, the failure mode is to spring a very dramatic leak at a crack near one of the fittings, something I have never seen on a VW, BMW, AUDI, MB, Ford, or Porsche using ATE OEM lines! Make up your own mind, whether your car and your life are worth the risk! ALL of the stainless lines I have seen have a tag on each piece stating 'Not intended for street applications. For racing use only!' !!! I'm not sure I could make a more emphatic disclaimer!

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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa

Stainless brake hoses are banned from road cars in New Zealand, with the exception of one brand (not sure which one) as they fail some of the tests

89 911:

It seems that this subject will be very similar to those about oil type (manufacturer) and oil change frequency. So many opinions and so difficult to assess.

But....

I had installed stainless steel brake lines on my 1983 911 SC when I brought it back from the factory, and I have NEVER had any problems with them. I use the car on the street, on tracks with the PCA, and on autocrosses, and have never had any problems with them. Of course, I bought them from Alan Johnson Inc. in San Diego, and they still look like new even after 18 years.

They do not leak, they do not swell (no noticable softness of pedal feel), and they result in a nice firm brake pedal feel. Due to their robust construction, from a reputable source, they perform as they were advertised, and as other PCA-ers have experienced.

They may be banned in New Zealand, but I suspect for other reasons than that they do not perform.

On this one issue I disagree with Warren, with whom I have agreed on most other subjects. Quality SS lines do not crack at the fittings; I would trust the rubber one less, since rubber ages, and SS and teflon do not. Besides, these lines do not flex at the fittings. That is why all brake lines have S curves in their installation, much like oil piplines have curves to allow flex and expansion/contraction.

So, ask around some more, ask your racer friends, and you should get the same answer - SS lines are worth their cost (assuming you can get them for about US$50).....Andras

The caliper lacquer paints will look ok for awhile, but if the calipers are not PERFECTLY clean when you apply the paint, it will eventually discolor, crack, and peel. A much more permanent solution is to remove the calipers and have them powdercoated-a lot of work, I know, and inconveinent, but it will last just about forever. The stainless lines are available in DOT approved form--but remember, you get what you pay for--and the braking system on a Porsche is NOT an area you want to skimp on quality.

You might want to check out the powder coat process that you may purchase a kit from Eastwood (Eastwood.com) to do. A lot of work and the kit is not cheap, but usable for a number of things. The results turn out very good. Make sure you do not use your wifes oven for the curing part of the process (or any oven you may put food in later). The curing generates a strong odor that will stay in the house for a long time! I have a friend that tried this one day when know one was home thinking that it would go un-noticed. Several days later it was still around! You can bet his family was not too happy .... the parts looked nice though!

In the past, all stainless steel lines were "offroad use only," but in the last few years, some DOT approved SS lines have been introduced.

Nevertheless, there are some failures that are associated with SS lines. The stock rubber lines will last for decades, and are likely more reliable. The thing about SS lines reducing "sponginess" is, IMO, a bunch of bunk.

I would only use SS lines of cost were an issue, as they are usually cheaper than factory lines in many applications. If given a choice, I'd take factory lines.

I tried the 'early AN-4' SS lines back in '78, with mixed results on several vehicles! All of the kits were from Earl's Supply, a highly reputable supplier of SS hose and fittings. Four vehicles, total, 16 hoses with adapters at each fitting. Silicone brake fluid, too! Two of the hoses failed in a front brake line application, admittedly the most 'strenuous' test, and that was after about 10 years and 100K miles of use, both were on the same vehicle, a '74 Datsun 620 truck. I have a set of AN-3 lines from Alan Johnson Porsche, purchased as spares 6-8 years ago, and still sitting in a drawer. In my collective experience with my own and my dad's vehicles, only one factory rubber brake hose ever failed! And that spans about 45 years and 40 or so vehicles, so the numbers, while probably not statistically significant, don't look so good for the SS hoses. I suppose I should say that I have no experience with the very late hoses, some of which do now meet German TUV standards, but I just don't see any advantage to them. And, like a lot of things for sale to replace OEM Porsche parts, if you can't see an advantage, why go changing parts just for the sake of looks?

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Warren Hall
1973 911S Targa