Stainless Steel Brake Lines on a Daily Driver?

[Esoteric]

Stainless lines are not a bad upgrade on a daily. But for the first few years your OEM lines will be just fine for street use.
If you drive on the street AS IF you were on the race track, then you will enjoy the consistency they give over the years.
Pads with more grip will expose the need for better feedback that lines can give.

One thing I like about them for, for street cars, is that when your braking hard you will have better control of that limit when the car goes into ABS, for example.

As folks have said above... Lines do vary in quality A LOT, for example, all are braided hose, but some have a clear sheath over the braid and some manufacturers have ditched that or made it 'optional' to save some cost. Some brands are not even technically street legal...
So what we are telling you is do your homework before trying to save money on a part that WILL kill you if it fails.

I know we have used Technafit, Speigler, and Goodridge in the past with good results on all sorts of cars, not all of them have the nice application specific fittings for our cars though. Stay away from no-name brands, etc.

[Skippman]

Oh I was originally looking at the StopTech lines and wouldn't buy ANYTHING not DOT rated for street use. I have no problem paying for quality parts, especially when my life's on the line. This was more a "while I'm at it" thought process.

What I think I'll do is wait until I need brake pads, then bleed the system, swap the lines, and put on some Hawk pads or something since everyone seems to agree its not necessary on a brand new car.

[Hanakuso]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

SS lines aren't required. Rather, they're there to prevent long term degredation that the stock lines will eventually suffer.

We only stock Speigler lines for the FR-S/BRZ; they come with a lifetime manufacturer's warranty.

Isn't it the other way around? I've never heard of stock lines failing but i've heard of SS lines bursting.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by Hanakuso

Isn't it the other way around? I've never heard of stock lines failing but i've heard of SS lines bursting.

Sure is. The Speigler lines are 2x the cost of the "no-name" $100 set mentioned above. Do you trust the cheap stuff with the single most important safety system on your car?

[Hanakuso]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

Sure is. The Speigler lines are 2x the cost of the "no-name" $100 set mentioned above. Do you trust the cheap stuff with the single most important safety system on your car?

I know the Speigler come with a coating over the braided lines, which i'm guessing helps with durability. Iirc the SS lines deteriorate because stuff gets into the braiding and breaks it down over time.

But yeah, anything steering or braking related is a top priority for myself.

[ayau]

Originally Posted by Hanakuso

I know the Speigler come with a coating over the braided lines, which i'm guessing helps with durability. Iirc the SS lines deteriorate because stuff gets into the braiding and breaks it down over time.

But yeah, anything steering or braking related is a top priority for myself.

Just based on the little research that I've done, I believe the weakest link on all brake lines is the crimp and not that actual hose itself.

Nevertheless, always inspect your brake lines whenever you can.

[Lupayn3]

Originally Posted by Skippman

This was more a "while I'm at it" thought process.

I'm in the same page. I will flush my brake fluid and replace it with a Motul RBF600. "While I'm at it," I'm thinking of getting new brake lines.


Did you end up replacing yours?

[stevesnj]

SS lines are a waste of $$$ IMHO, they trap heat and dirt can get in the braids and eventually wear even silicon lines. Get a higher quality rubber line. Seen so many SS lines fail before rubber lines.

[FNCrazy]

Personally, I don't care about looks, especially since no one sees them. Better braking performance would definitely be a bonus. The main reason I'm switching, some may not agree with, but it makes me more comfortable and I'm in the car, so I'm going to try it. The reason is I got in a crash last week, and it sheared off front & rear pax side brake lines. Personally, I'd prefer that didn't happen again, so we'll (hopefully not) see/test whether they help with that.

All we know is.... He's called The Stig

[wparsons]

Originally Posted by Skippman

Oh I was originally looking at the StopTech lines and wouldn't buy ANYTHING not DOT rated for street use. I have no problem paying for quality parts, especially when my life's on the line. This was more a "while I'm at it" thought process.

What I think I'll do is wait until I need brake pads, then bleed the system, swap the lines, and put on some Hawk pads or something since everyone seems to agree its not necessary on a brand new car.

Might want to re-order so you're bleeding the system after replacing the lines, not before You should really flush all the fluid out if you're pulling the lines anyway. Swap lines, flush the whole system.

Originally Posted by FNCrazy

Personally, I don't care about looks, especially since no one sees them. Better braking performance would definitely be a bonus. The main reason I'm switching, some may not agree with, but it makes me more comfortable and I'm in the car, so I'm going to try it. The reason is I got in a crash last week, and it sheared off front & rear pax side brake lines. Personally, I'd prefer that didn't happen again, so we'll (hopefully not) see/test whether they help with that.

All we know is.... He's called The Stig

Stainess lines aren't going to do a single thing for braking performance. Won't help you stop faster or shorter at all. All they do is make the pedal feel a little bit more consistent under HEAVY braking.

The difference in feel is less than the difference in feel between stock pads (more compressible) and good aftermarket pads, so if you just want a stiffer pedal you'll get more change from pads. I swap back to stock pads every winter, there's a very noticeable difference in pedal feel (and bite).

[FNCrazy]

Originally Posted by wparsons

Might want to re-order so you're bleeding the system after replacing the lines, not before You should really flush all the fluid out if you're pulling the lines anyway. Swap lines, flush the whole system.



Stainess lines aren't going to do a single thing for braking performance. Won't help you stop faster or shorter at all. All they do is make the pedal feel a little bit more consistent under HEAVY braking.

The difference in feel is less than the difference in feel between stock pads (more compressible) and good aftermarket pads, so if you just want a stiffer pedal you'll get more change from pads. I swap back to stock pads every winter, there's a very noticeable difference in pedal feel (and bite).

Good to know, thank you!

That was just a possible side benefit anyway though

All we know is.... He's called The Stig

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by FNCrazy

I got in a crash last week, and it sheared off front & rear pax side brake lines. Personally, I'd prefer that didn't happen again, so we'll (hopefully not) see/test whether they help with that.

All we know is.... He's called The Stig

They are not going to do a single thing to prevent them from snapping when you crash either.

[FNCrazy]

Originally Posted by Tcoat

They are not going to do a single thing to prevent them from snapping when you crash either.

Well, unfortunately I wasted money in the classifieds again. Probably won't be the last time either.

All we know is.... He's called The Stig

[Tcoat]

Originally Posted by FNCrazy

Well, unfortunately I wasted money in the classifieds again. Probably won't be the last time either.

All we know is.... He's called The Stig

On the bright side they will take forever to rust!