Steel braided?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2001
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From: San Francisco CA
St. Jude Donor '07
Steel braided?
Anybody have steel braided brake lines? I saw them in the mid amer catalog and wondered how much performance increase these make. Mine's a '75 coupe, all stock.
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 133
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From: Kenmore Washington
Re: Steel braided? (Buffalo Dude)
Have them on the LT. I like 'em. Don't know if you will actually feel a difference in your brakes necessarily. If your replacing old rubber lines I think you will. Idea is, that rubber (even stiff) expands. Thus potentially causing a spungy feel to the pedal. Braided lines pretty much eliminate this problem giving your pedal a firm(er) feel and actuating the brakes more effeciently. :flag
C6 the C5 of tomorrow
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: Twin Cities Minnesota
Re: Steel braided? (72LT1Steve)
Ive heard that the steel braided ones are for looks. If you feel any difference it's either from bleeding the brakes during instaliation or your old lines were bad...
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.02
Race Director
Joined: Apr 1999
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From: CORVETTE 77 385 C.I. TEXAS
Re: Steel braided? (427V8)
If you don't have air in the lines the brakes will be very solid w/ std. hoses. When they get old can be hard enough to hold brake on some instead of releasing. Some have complained about the steel braided coming apart.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 1999
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From: Clifton Park NY
Re: Steel braided? (Ganey)
I bought a set of Russell steel braided hoses from a Vette catalog, and the damn things didn't fit--the fittings were wrong. I wasn't the only one who had this problem... I had to return them and ordered rubber hoses... :cuss
-Pedro
[Modified by Pedro'74, 8:43 AM 11/8/2001]
-Pedro
[Modified by Pedro'74, 8:43 AM 11/8/2001]
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 1999
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From: Deep East Texas
Re: Steel braided? (Pedro'74)
Yeah... I had the same experience that Pedro did, except that I was able to make mine fit using two u-clips, instead of one. That was when I rebuilt the rear suspension. Later, on the front, I used the rubber ones. I bought them at the local parts house for less than the Vette catalogs' price... That's a real parts house; not "Parts are Us". They fit and work. I'll change the backs out when I get time.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
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From: Forked River NJ
Re: Steel braided? (Mack76)
I have steel braided on mine. I felt no difference in the two. My rubber ones were only a couple of years old. If I had to do it over again I would probably stick with the rubber. The clips did not fit the braided ones very well but I made it work.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 924
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From: Houston Texas
Re: Steel braided? (Gordonm)
Got mine from VB&P. No difference in pedal effort. They should last longer than rubber. No problems attaching them to existing fittings. Look better than rubber when crawling around under the car. :lol:
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Le Mans Master
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From: B'Ville NY
Cruise-In III Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05
Re: Steel braided? (Buffalo Dude)
I'vw heard of people having problems with mthe non DOT approved ones. It seems the DOT hoses are "wiggle" tested to hold up without rupturing over a period of time. Something to consider if you go with the steel braided hoses.
I have them on mine & been pleased. :)
I have them on mine & been pleased. :)
Race Director
Joined: Nov 2000
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From: NC,USA
Re: Steel braided? (mikeo)
the only difference between dot aproved brake line and non dot is the dot have a plastic cover on the end, so you cant collapse the hose right beside the caliper
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ZD
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2000
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From: Frankfurt, Taunus Hills
Re: Steel braided? (mikeo)
They definitely look better than rubber and they are more expensive!
I didn´t notice any changes in pedal firmness or whatever.
I remember I had problems to get a proper seal on the front.
But this has been fixed now.
I think I don´t change back.
I didn´t notice any changes in pedal firmness or whatever.
I remember I had problems to get a proper seal on the front.
But this has been fixed now.
I think I don´t change back.
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From: Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean people aren't out to get me...
St. Jude Donor '09
Re: Steel braided? (jerryp58)
The steel braid IS just a sheath covering the inner rubber hose, right?
I think the hose is bonded to the ss braids. It's not a sheathe like some of those radiator hose covers.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 1999
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From: Fountain Hills AZ
Re: Steel braided? (Buffalo Dude)
The benefit of the steel braided lines is much more noticeable in a road race environment than on the street and it's much more noticeable with big brakes and big tires. With stock C3 brakes, even with street performance tires, the wheels would probably lock up before the greater "give" of good rubber-only lines was noticed. But, add more powerful brakes and stickier race tires, the difference can be very noticeable under hard braking.