Review: Challenge Stainless Brake Lines and Project µ NS400 pads

[Fenrir]

Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated or sponsored by Challenge or GT Motoring.

So, one of the first mods I did to my car was brakes. Few weeks after purchasing the car I had it out on the track (Autobahn South in Joliet, IL) and noticed that after a few laps the brakes turned to complete mush. A common complaint on the car for anyone who tracks it, and one of the best first mods you can do.

Here's the car as it sat before (not that there will be any noticeable outside difference after :P)


And what's going in:


With a little (read: a lot of) assistance from Austin@GTM the pads are swapped first, and then the fluid is drained:



Bracket on the new lines. Nice and solid with a rubber bushing to avoid damaging the line over prolonged use, and the lines are coated as well for further protection from any wear:


Re-uses all factory retention clips, very little issue getting it all back in:


This is the part that had me sold. A lot of line kits I see don't have this bend like the factory lines do on the rear lines. The Challenge lines have it. (top: stock lines, bottom: Challenge lines)



After all four corners, refilled with Superblue and back on the ground:


I've had them on a few months now, and they work great. Brake feel is strong and has very little fade, even after a 20 minute session on track.

The NS400's are a tad soft for my liking, but the fluid and lines keep everything very consistent. Excellent for use on a DD as they have almost no noise, but still bite pretty wicked when you get on them. Very neat products, and would highly recommend!

Willing to answer any questions to my limited abilities.

Thanks for reading!

Link to the parts used where I got them from:
Challenge Stainless Steel Lines
NS400 Front
NS400 Rear
ATE Superblue

[oofie]

Looking good!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[CSG David]

Spongy brake pedal means your fluid may have boiled. Flush it!

[Fenrir]

Originally Posted by CSG David

Spongy brake pedal means your fluid may have boiled. Flush it!

Spongy probably isn't the right word. The pads aren't what I'm used to, as I've usually went with full track pads on my other cars. They bite pretty softly until you really stand on the pedal, and then they stop the car pretty dang quick. I'm familiar with the feeling of boiled fluid, and don't think this is quite the same. It's possible there's still a bit of air in the lines from the flush (it was almost too easy when we did it), so I'll flush them before my next event either way.

[OrbitalEllipses]

Ah, that L-fitting connection is very nice. Thus far I think only Spiegler/Essex have had that.

[Fenrir]

Originally Posted by OrbitalEllipses

Ah, that L-fitting connection is very nice. Thus far I think only Spiegler/Essex have had that.

Indeed. Fitment was identical to the factory lines. Exact same lengths right out of the box, just beefier brackets and fittings.

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by Fenrir

Indeed. Fitment was identical to the factory lines. Exact same lengths right out of the box, just beefier brackets and fittings.

Pictures make it look like the line is coated; is it?

[Fenrir]

Originally Posted by OrbitalEllipses

Pictures make it look like the line is coated; is it?

Yes it is, forgot to mention that. I'll update the OP.

EDIT: Also worth pointing out that these lines come with a lifetime warranty.

[CSG David]

Originally Posted by Fenrir

Spongy probably isn't the right word. The pads aren't what I'm used to, as I've usually went with full track pads on my other cars. They bite pretty softly until you really stand on the pedal, and then they stop the car pretty dang quick. I'm familiar with the feeling of boiled fluid, and don't think this is quite the same. It's possible there's still a bit of air in the lines from the flush (it was almost too easy when we did it), so I'll flush them before my next event either way.

Oh. That's modulation. Project Mu™

[GTM_Challenge]

Thanks for the review!

[Fenrir]

Originally Posted by CSG David

Oh. That's modulation. Project Mu™

I have no idea what that means but I'll assume it's good :P

[OrbitalEllipses]

Originally Posted by Fenrir

I have no idea what that means but I'll assume it's good :P

Pedal modulation. As in, pressing the pedal. Modulating it. Nahmean? Some pad compounds are better at it, others aren't.

[Fenrir]

Originally Posted by OrbitalEllipses

Pedal modulation. As in, pressing the pedal. Modulating it. Nahmean? Some pad compounds are better at it, others aren't.

I hear pedal modulation and my thought immediately is: "Vox WAH pedal?"

[funbeatsfast]

Thanks for the review. Chase bays also have the L-fitting. They come in Black and look more like stock. Maybe good or bad, depending on what you're going for.