Brake Line - OEM vs Other?

[vesnyder]

I am redoing my brakes and twisted the front brake line while removing the caliper. Instead or risking it I am going to replace the front two lines to the caliper and was curious if I should go with the OEM Porsche line ($33) or the other line for $16? Anybody have experience with the non-OEM lines? It comes out to $30+ difference but if they are identical I will go with the other.

Thanks

[zippy_gg]

Perhaps this will help you decide: Pelican Technical Article: Brake Line Replacement - 911 (1965-89) - 930 Turbo (1975-89)
The author seems to prefer aftermarket braided lines, which I chose for my project.

[Rodek]

Here's a good thread on brake lines.

Stainless Brake Lines - Which Ones?

[vesnyder]

I am not looking at the ss braided lines, I am looking at the hard lines that connect directly to the caliper.

[bpu699]

Any autozone or orielly's has the exact same spec/material hardlines for $3-5. Avaialble in pretty much any lenght. As long as you can bend it to get the angles right (easy).

Bring yours in, so the can match the ends, and material.

Super easy.

Bo

[Ayles]

I just replaced two sections of hardline for the exact same reason. I went with the Cohline version. The quality appeared excellent. Happy to share a photo or two if you are interested.

I wouldn't try bending/flaring my own lines. Getting them right is going to be harder than it looks. Bending tubing is one of those things that seems to be more art than science. They are just too inexpensive to waste a ton of time trying to make your own.

[zippy_gg]

Originally Posted by vesnyder

I am not looking at the ss braided lines, I am looking at the hard lines that connect directly to the caliper.

I need to ask, but since you are in there, are you planning on also replacing the soft lines? No need if they have been replaced fairly recently, otherwise it would be a good move since the brake circuit will be open and in need of a good bleeding anyway.

[vesnyder]

Thanks, and I agree with buying vs bending. I've tried the bending and it always is harder than it looks. Will consider the flex lines but replaced them about 8-10 years ago.

[bpu699]

Originally Posted by vesnyder

Thanks, and I agree with buying vs bending. I've tried the bending and it always is harder than it looks. Will consider the flex lines but replaced them about 8-10 years ago.

There's 3 bends and you can do it with your hands. No tight complex bends on a 911. If you fail, you are out 4$. If you succeed, you save 60$.

Risk...reward.

Bo

[KTL]

I've bent a number of short hard lines for brake "upgrades" that need a longer line or different shaped line to connect with the caliper. For a fella just looking to get a few lines replaced and be done with it, ordering new OEM lines is probably the way to go from a quick & easy standpoint. Only reason I say that is because the local auto parts store straight, pre-flared lines are OK quality but the material they're made from is REALLY stiff. So it takes a bit of work with your GI Joe kung fu grip fingers to get the lines shaped the way you want them.

I typically use various hand tool sockets for bending the lines. Put a socket in your bench vise and "wrap" the line around the socket to make a smooth bend. With the auto parts store line, this requires some strong hands. Buy some better copper nickel (sometimes referred to as cunifer) hard line and life is a lot easier. https://www.belmetric.com/brake-lines-fittings-c-17.html?zenid=pj4icg4ath2m8nhv3flfgvk3p6 Belmetric sells pre-flared straight lengths.

If you want to get really crazy and re-do all your hard line on the car, you can buy a coil of the cunifer and some tube nuts. So all that's left to do is flare the ends and you need a proper tool for that. I'll get on my soap box for a second.......... The cheap split-bar wing nut style tools are total garbage. Making a clean straight flare with those tools is more luck than skill/talent. The split bar tools just plain suck and should be banned from being sold. They make crooked flares and put tool marks on the tubing, which is pretty unsafe. A great tool that provides consistent quality flares is the turret style tool. It's been around a while but recently has become more readily available via copycats of the original Sykes-Pickavant model. I got one from Eastwood Products (get it when a sale is going on and save a lot of $) and its fantastic.

Professional Brake Tubing Flaring Tool - Brake Flaring Tool - Brake Tube Flaring

[bpu699]

Originally Posted by KTL

I've bent a number of short hard lines for brake "upgrades" that need a longer line or different shaped line to connect with the caliper. For a fella just looking to get a few lines replaced and be done with it, ordering new OEM lines is probably the way to go from a quick & easy standpoint. Only reason I say that is because the local auto parts store straight, pre-flared lines are OK quality but the material they're made from is REALLY stiff. So it takes a bit of work with your GI Joe kung fu grip fingers to get the lines shaped the way you want them.

I typically use various hand tool sockets for bending the lines. Put a socket in your bench vise and "wrap" the line around the socket to make a smooth bend. With the auto parts store line, this requires some strong hands. Buy some better copper nickel (sometimes referred to as cunifer) hard line and life is a lot easier. https://www.belmetric.com/brake-lines-fittings-c-17.html?zenid=pj4icg4ath2m8nhv3flfgvk3p6 Belmetric sells pre-flared straight lengths.

If you want to get really crazy and re-do all your hard line on the car, you can buy a coil of the cunifer and some tube nuts. So all that's left to do is flare the ends and you need a proper tool for that. I'll get on my soap box for a second.......... The cheap split-bar wing nut style tools are total garbage. Making a clean straight flare with those tools is more luck than skill/talent. The split bar tools just plain suck and should be banned from being sold. They make crooked flares and put tool marks on the tubing, which is pretty unsafe. A great tool that provides consistent quality flares is the turret style tool. It's been around a while but recently has become more readily available via copycats of the original Sykes-Pickavant model. I got one from Eastwood Products (get it when a sale is going on and save a lot of $) and its fantastic.

Professional Brake Tubing Flaring Tool - Brake Flaring Tool - Brake Tube Flaring

The auto parts store (Advanced Auto Parts) I went to had the super stiff line... which is lousy. Then they had the exact same material/softer line that porsche uses. Same solor, same mettalurgy, xctly the same... Its called nickel-copper brake line. Same as the OEM. You can form it with your hands, if you want to...

I bought the preformed porsche lines, and never used them. Still sitting somewhere in my garage. Comes in 6 inches, 9, 12, etc... Precut, preformed, same endings as stock.

Bo