Brake Firming Solution?

[Dominic]

Is there any easy way to make my brakes "firmer"?

The car stops on a dime but I would like more brake pedal feel and firmer brakes. I'm running new fluid and its a new system - I'm just wondering if anything can be easily done to change the way the pedal feels. [img]smile.gif[/img] ideas?

[strobhen]

Get new brake lines -- usually teflon tubes w/ steel braiding around them

Normal brake lines, at some point, are rubber. When you hit the brakes, that rubber expands some and gives brakes a loose feel, which gets worse over time. Get tubes w/ braided steel around them (like Earls Hyperfirm brake lines, I believe tbyrne or thunderracing has some, I'm sure others do as well.) and they will not expand.

That would be the easiest solution, but you would have to drain & refill, then bleed your brakes. You could get some special screws to help you bleed them (again, either tbyrne or thunderracing).

Only disadvantage is this. When normal rubber brake lines fail they will crack & slowly leak. When braided steel lines fail, they explode. Not that they are going to fail under normal driving conditions, but it would be a good idea to replace them every few years.

[V6Bob]

If you decide to get them there's a wide variety of quality in these hoses. Don't shop by price, but by specs/reputation of vendor.

[ June 28, 2002: Message edited by: V6Bob ]</p>

[Arctc Wolf]

stainless steel brake lines will firm up pedal feel a lot. the stock rubber hoses expand under repeated heavy braking and feel like mush after a while.