flexible brake lines??

[plumbcut]

anyone ever put braided steel brake lines from the master cylinder to the prop valve? Im stick of the ugly twisted up rusty steel lines on there now.. I know you can get the replacements but if Im gonna pay, why not go w/ earls? I never liked the hard lines, especially w/ those curly Q's

pc

[r0lf-]

Sure you could, but it would prolly cost more than the truck is worth

[1FaastC10]

not to mention that the chance of expansion can adversely effect your braking performance.

[plumbcut]

that stuff really doesnt cost that much. I bet its comparable to new steel lines.....

as for expansion I dont think its an issue. All the stock rubber lines are replaced w/ braided steel so if anything, whats made up by ditching the rubber lines is offset by using the long flexible line from the M.C. so its a draw. My main reason for asking is just that Ive never seen it done before and maybe there was something I didnt know

pc

[1FaastC10]

why not go stainless? it wont rust.

[MylilBowTie]

Those rings are there for vibration and damping. Not sure if that would be better to have steel braided lines or not. I guess its more personal preference, there again I don't know all the pros and cons dealing with hard line vs steel braided.

[1FaastC10]

plain and simple, braided or rubber, they WILL expand to some extent. that expansion means the pressure in the line is doing something other than moving the pistons in the calipers/wheel cylinders. the result is reduced braking pressure. stainless gives you the best of both worlds, no rust, and no expansion.

[Mike76251]

Braided stainless (rubber or teflon) will not handle the pressure.
That's why you see the little warning "not for brake applications" in Earl's catalog.

If you cannot stand the rust or whatever, you could go with stainless hard line in it's place............but
You gotta have a top-notch flaring tool (and a good one will cost ya)
You must use seamless stainless..........not welded
Make sure the tubing is made in the USA or Germany......not that Chinese crap

We are talking about a very high pressure system here.

[plumbcut]

there are several companys selling DOT approved braided steel brakelines.. they are very common.. Ive run braided steel on my truck for a couple years now w/ no problems.. the entire rear brake system (from the frame mount) all the way across both axle tubes, to the rear discs is all braided stainless steel.. Im surprised to hear all this negative response.. the sh!t is good stuff.

to say that "it will not handle the pressure" is a bonehead statement IMO.

stainless steel line is an option that Ill look into..

[1FaastC10]

there's a reason that they're listed in the Earl's catalog that way...

www.inlinetube.com there's your source for stainless, no need for a flaring tool, a bender, and you'll save yourself ALOT of work.

[Mike76251]

Originally Posted by plumbcut

there are several companys selling DOT approved braided steel brakelines.. they are very common.. Ive run braided steel on my truck for a couple years now w/ no problems.. the entire rear brake system (from the frame mount) all the way across both axle tubes, to the rear discs is all braided stainless steel.. Im surprised to hear all this negative response.. the sh!t is good stuff.

to say that "it will not handle the pressure" is a bonehead statement IMO.

stainless steel line is an option that Ill look into..

Bonehead statement?
Did you spend several years designing.........spec'ing........installing high pressure fluid lines for nuclear reactors?

I don't care if you want to run paper hose for your brake lines.
I said stainless because of the busload of kids you might kill when your brakes fail.

[DennyB]

Here are a few more things to read..

http://www.shotimes.com/SHO4steelbrakelines.html