DOT and Non-DOT Approved Brake Lines

[wcc]

What's the difference?

The way they are made?
Quality?
Longevity?
Looking at them side by side in pictures they look the same.

[HawgRyder]

If you look carefully...the approved ones have a yellow tag on them!!.
That's the difference.....LOL
Bob

[Nine9six]

I believe I read somewhere that the DOT's have an additional teflon liner

[Bill Verburg]

Originally posted by wcc
What's the difference?

The way they are made?
Quality?
Longevity?
Looking at them side by side in pictures they look the same.

Somtines but not always the difference is just that the vendor deals w/ race parts and didn't bother to go through the DoT certification process, as w/ all govt beurocasies it is an expensive nightmare.

To be sure of a safe product just buy DoT tagged lines, please do inspect them regularly

[wcc]

Well the price difference wasn't a big deal, so I'll just get the DOT ones. It just made me wonder cause as I was looking around they all looked the same. Dealing with the Gov't makes the most sense to me.

Thanks guys...

[Quicksilver]

DOT brake lines are required to have the hose attached using a crimped fitting. The high quality non-DOT brakelines use a threaded AN style connector which when correctly assembled are much more reliable then the crimped connectors.

DOT lines do not have to be Teflon lined. There are plenty of rubber ones out there. As a rule all extreme pressure stainless hoses are Teflon lined.

[TimT]

Here is an interesting, if somewhat biased read regarding brake hoses

http://www.goodridge.net/usa/pdf/all_markets/Goodridge_stainless_v_rubber.pdf

[Early_S_Man]

Well, that certainly is a report/hyped sales document worth questioning!!!

Their catalog is bound to be a treat for the ricers!

No brand names mentioned in the report ... doubtful all have same specs, and none I have seen for sale in the USA had a warranty or lifetime claim! I guess Goodridge is trying to make a name for themselves!

My experience during a long-term test of four Earl's [now a division of Holley] PTFE hoses installed on a Datsun 620 truck from 1978 - 94 did not demonstrate superior life compared to OEM rubber hoses! Three hose failures, two at crimp, one mid-hose ... at 8, 9, and 10.5 years installed time. None of the failures involved abrasion, foreign object damage, or accidents ... all were leaks from the Teflon liner. Earl's hoses are now DOT-approved, and I have no complaints about them. Everybody knows you are supposed to inspect brake hoses annually, and I don't think 8 - 10 year lifespan is unreasonable.

http://www.holley.com/types/Hyperfirm%20Brake%20Line%20Kits.asp

[88911coupe]

I recall an article a long time ago, possibly in Roundel (sorry, used to own BMWs) where it was explained that stainless steel lines weren't DOT b/c it was impossible to view the condtion of the rubber through the stainless steel braided cover. Not sure if that's accurate or not.

[wcc]

I should have been a little more clear. I was mainly comparing DOT and Non-DOT SS Lines and not the rubber ones.

88911coupe - Pelican sells SS lines for both DOT and Non-DOT so I wouldn't think SS braiding would be an issue.