Hello everyone, fairly new to the board (as far as postings, been scanning the site for a while, lots of good info).

Anyway, I was wondering about the brake lines in my '04 coupe. I am putting new rotors, painted calipers, and pads. I thought that I had read something on putting chrome brake lines on due to the fact that it does something to the tire sensors. Should I just do these mods and change the fluid to Dot4 and leave the rubber hoses on or take my chances by switching to the steel brake lines?

Anyone who has done this let me know how hard it was and if you think it's worth it or not.

Thanks in advance!

 

 

I've never heard of braided lines having any effect on the wheel speed sensors in 5 years as a brake engineer.

Sure the Vette uses magnetic sensors, not the more common optical, but the brake lines aren't magnetized or carry current.


I wouldn't worry about it.


Switching lines is easy, just a bit tedious since it obviously requires bleeding the brake system.

If it's worth it depends on how you use the car. Steel lines help pedal feel and modulation at the high end of line pressure. So, if your just driving around on the street then you will notice little or no difference.

 

IMHO, I would change out the lines since you are going through the effort of the brake change out.. There are members here that believe that some braided lines throw codes (I can't verify that this is a valid reason for the codes). I changed mine out 3 years ago without any issues whatsoever...

 

Not Chrome barke lines. You would install Stainless Steel braided lines. No they do not cause any problems.

a few good brands are, Goodrige and Earl's Performance Plumbing

 

I installed Goodridge SS brake hoses several months ago. No problems what so ever. I would recommend changing to SS brake hoses.

 

The SS lines will cause a problem if they do not leave an open circuit from the brake line connection located in the wheel well to the caliper. If you have a bad SS line, you will find out that the AH TC and ABS will go inoperative and a wheel speed variation "C" code will pop up with it.

years ago, I was one of the first to install a bad set of SS lines. Codes went off right away took 3 months and two trips to the dealership, a few OE componenets replaced only to find out that the SS lines were bad. I have installed 2 new sets of SS lines since and not had that problem... but trust me when I say that a bad SS line will cause you these problems.

So back to your question... IMO, I would leave your brake lines stock and would not change them out.

VR

 

VR, if you have more specifics on the issue I'd love to hear it, thanks.

I just can't imagine how, I do believe you , just curious on the details.


Also, make sure the hoses are DOT Compliant to FMVSS (Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard) 106.

Which basically means they should:
-tested to a pressure of 4500 psi for burst
-consist of a Teflon inner line
-covered with a layer of stainless steel woven braid
-tensile strength which I can't remember the value for

And should have:
-an abrasion resistant cover

Also, SS lines tend wear sooner than stock lines. Inspect them regularly to make sure there aren't any leaks.

 

I think this is what he was referring to:
http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/....php?qstId=526

 

SS lines causing ABS fault codes is a very common topic on the Z06 boards, probably because the Z06 owners tend to track prep their cars more often and SS lines is a very common early mod.

I have read many times about SS lines causing ABS faults and personally know two SCCA T1 drivers that had this problem. For whatever reason, the Goodridge lines do not seem to cause this problem. In both the above cases, the fault went away when they switched to Goodridge lines.

As a personal example, I used the Goodridge SS lines with banjo connections from 01-03 without problem, then last year used the newer Goodridge lines with AN connections all season without problem.

I also believe, but searched for and couldn't find, that dealers are aware of this issue and that if you take your car in for an ABS fault and you have SS lines on, they won't work on it. So, if you switch, keep your stock lines.

I believe forum vendor pfyc.com carries Goodridge SS lines.

 

If you are not going to track the car on a roadcourse, then I would just leave them stock.

 

Subdriver and BW1 thanks

This is why I love these forums, learn something all the time.

 

You're welcome and I agree. I took off my rear facia yesterday to do some repairs to my rear tow hook (new grade 8 bolts). I found the intructions on how to remove it here. They helped greatly. Today, I'll tackle the front...

 

Is this true? What is the science behind it? On the surface, that sounds counter-intuitive. But that's what I love about this forum... you learn a bunch of great, useful things.

 

About 8 or 9 years ago there was quite a stir about people using SS Brake lines on the street. At the time they were not DOT approved and problems could arise. The non-DOT SS lines do not keep dirt from getting between the SS outer braid and the Teflon hose inside. Once the dirt builds up a certain amount it abrades the teflon and after a while you get a blow out on the line. The stock rubber hoses do not have this problem since the rubber protects the teflon line inside. The DOT approved SS lines have a barrier inside that protects the line.

SS hoses provide no benefit on the street and the stock rubber hoses will last much longer than you will probably own the car.

You can also run into problems when changing the hoses. Since I track my cars I installed SS hoses on my 97 and then on my 03Z. Both times I ran into fitting problems. On the 97 the right front brake line had a manufacturing defect on the metal line going to the wheel well which was not obvious when I started to remove the hose. As it turned out the thread on the line was damaged and it would not allow me to thread the new hose onto it. It also wouldn't let me put the old hose back on. It looked like something sharp had impacted the threads and there was only one chance to to screw the hose and the line together and the factory had already used it. The car was under warranty but how do you prove you didn't do something like that? Finally after several hours of playing around with some tools I got the hose to go on the line. The Z was easier but just as worrisome since I could not get the fitting at the left front to stop leaking. Not sure what caused the problem but it took quite a bit of time getting it set. Every time I take the wheel off now I check that fitting just to be sure.
Bill

 

I've never heard that before myself. I had on my first set of Goodridge lines for over two years with not a drop of leakage, and the new set for over a year now without a drop of leakage. Halfway through my front tow hook repair (took front facia off this morning and fixed the tow hook mount - think I am going to put in new DRM ducts while the whole front is apart) and looked at my lines again this morning - still good.

 

It's due to abrasion and stress forces between the braided steel and inner hose. The inner hose still expands a bit and then is forced against the steel braids, this imparts a force back on the inner hose, which with time can begin to wear the hose.

The other thing I've seen is the ends fail. Steel lines can not flex as much as rubber this can increase the forces at the end of the hose at the connections causing leaking there to occur. A good set of steel hoses will have some sort of reenforcement, like hard plastic.

Now when I say sooner I don't mean in a month, just sooner than standard rubber lines.

Standard lines will probably last as long as the car, steel lines may not.

Obviously the initial quality of the lines will dictate how long they last.

Bill makes a good point about the cover, but honestly most aftermarket lines I've seen are of the cheap kind and many buy them for that reason. You get what you pay for.

Just a precaution to keep in mind. Maybe I'm being to nanny, but I've seen to many people buy the cheap stuff only to regret it latter and too many people not inspect their brakes regularly.

Again, we're not talking months here. But for me 4 years is the max before I switch the lines. I've seen too many begin to leak after a few years to feel safe not changing them out after awhile.

Not to plug any company, but this is what a good line is looks like:
http://www.stoptech.com/products/ss_brakelines.htm



What many people forget is that steel lines where invented not for pedal feel, but to protect the lines from track debris. The steel sheath was put on to keep the lines from being cut. And on track cars installing new lines every year is not an issue.