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Braided steel brake lines - worth it?

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tdskip

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So I have to partially disassemble the front brakes to replace the leaking caliper and I'm wondering if while I'm at it if I should installed steel front brake lines?

Worth while on the TR3?

Fronts only OK, or do you really need to do it for all four corners?

What do you think guys?
 
I did mine ... very little difference, if any.

BTW, there are only 3 hoses on a TR3.

Worth noting perhaps, that there is an unrealistic DOT test that flexible brake line assemblies must pass to gain DOT approval, and that is very difficult for the Teflon/SS lines to pass. Generally, even when a vendor advertises that their line meets DOT requirements, they are referring only to the raw line itself, not the subsequent assembly.
 
Brosky, your car resto really is well done and nice shots too.
When looking at an ebay car I quickly cut to the suspension pics for a gauge of the cars state.
Wish I could find a pair of alfins for my early 10" rear brakes.
 
I'd like to offer a little input. I kinda question the incident of the brake line on the Zink. Perhaps he was running 3 instead of 4 for the inside diameter? Too small an id would duplicate his concern.

I have run steel braided line on just about everything that I get a chance to modify for better than the last 25 years.

I had a couple of very good chat sessions with Carroll Smith many years ago when he was managing another MacPherson's racer.
One of the subjects we went over was stainless steel braided line, and his preference on Earl's Supply as a source for components. Carroll was very adamant about building his own brake lines, as he had control over the quality, and he was also very adamant about never using bare rubber manufactured lines on a car used on a course to be driven in a competitive mode. He stated they were great for classic cruisers but not for a competition car.

Later he went on to establish a braking concern with another guy(forget their name right now), so again, I have to accept his intelligence, opinions and capabilities.. I rely on his advice.

If you have any concern with quality of the hose you're buying(fully assembled) Most municipalities or airports have reference to a local plumbing supply store where you can get the stainless made up to your specs, hose, diameter, fittings, etc. for not a lot of money and should give you good peace of mind.
 
I would also question the story about the Zink. I've had SS braided brake and clutch lines on my Formula Ford, my D Sports Racer and my C Sports Racer. I've also seen a bunch of CSR, DSR, FF, FA, etc. cars at the races and they all use SS braided brake and clutch lines. I make up all of my own lines (-3 for brakes and -4 for clutch) and I've never had any trouble. If the 'engineer' in the story had a problem, it was of his own making and not an inherent fault of the brake lines. I don't know about the DOT requirements - legality is a completely different issue.


Bryan
 
I didn't think you could legally make your own.Bryan and all,do you recommend doing it?
 
Bryan, what material hose do you use under the stainless wrap?
Are the majority of covered hoses other than rubber?
 
I made my own for my racing cars only. They are strictly off-road (single seat, slicks, 1.5" ground clearance, the sports racers don't even have reverse gear). I feel comfortable making my own lines for the race cars but given some people's ability to mess up even the simplest of tasks, I'm not sure I would feel too good if everyone and their brother was making their own for their street cars.

My TR6 is currently in pieces but when it goes back together, I plan to put braided SS brake lines on it. I have already purchased DOT-approved, pre-made lines from one of the big three (I don't recall which right now). I am comfortable with the quality of the braided lines and I expect them to be more reliable and to perform better than the rubber ones.



Bryan
 
prb51,

I use Aeroquip TFE Racing Hose which is extruded teflon tube with a stainless braid cover (max. operating pressure 3000 psi, min. burst pressure 12,000 psi). These come as one piece - you don't add the stainless later. I have seen some kits that allow you to put braided stainless over other lines but I would assume that those are purely cosmetic.

Bryan
 
So the big 3 sell basically the same... a teflon hose covered in the stainless braid.
I'd guess the teflon hose has a greater life expectancy than rubber and that's the advantage...
 
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