Stainless Brake Lines

[Wicked 3800 V6]

Read. Lather. Repeat. Do it now.
http://www.nsxprime.com/FAQ/Performance/brakelines.htm
-Rob

[FirebirdGT]

http://www.goodridge.net/

http://www.tirerack.com/brakes/goodr...+Brakeline+kit

Where I got mine.

[V6Bob]

There's a lot of good information here. Particularly important is the fact that stainless brake lines vary _a lot_ in quality and bad ones are dangerous. Before you buy them you need to decide if you know enough to buy only the good stuff.

But there are a couple of things that are flat out wrong and a couple of things I dunno about.

Wrong: "The SS braiding not only protects the "rubber" beneath from outside physical damage but also act as a girdle that lessens brake line flex (swelling)"

The stiff teflon liner is what prevents the line from swelling. The braiding is flexible in all directions. It supports the teflon lining and enables it to bend without kinking.

"this race inspired product was invented to protect brake lines from track debris left by accidents "

This product (stainless steel reinforced hose) was invented to provide aircraft with extremely reliable hydraulic systems that could be repaired in the field with a limited supply of spare parts. Racecar guys simply realized the aircraft stuff was more reliable than rubber for oil and water lines, and provided better feel for brake lines. If impacts from debris were a problem for rubber lines, street car brakes would be failing left and right.

I dunno:

"This is no big deal on a race car, since the lines are (or should be) replaced at least once a season"

When I was racing (admittedly 15+ years ago), nobody did that. Since people rarely owned specific racecars for more than a few years, they got replaced when the cars changed hands, if the new owner wanted to.

"New information that I just received: Stainless steel lines have been known to fail when dirt gets between the outer braid and the Teflon lining... As the braid moves back and forth, the dirt abrades the Teflon and can make it rupture. If you look at stainless-steel lines on motorcycles, you'll see that many of them are encased in plastic tubing, apperently in an effort to eliminate this problem."

New one for me. I always thought the plastic was to prevent the braid from scratching the bike. I can see how it could be true, since the aircraft guys wouldn't have to worry about it (much cleaner environment).

[BattyV6]

FirebirdGT, how long have your lines been on your car? Do you like them? Were they worth it? Do you do ant preventable maintainence on them?
Thanks
-Andrew