Thread: braided brake lines ?? why race use only?

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I'm with Kitz on this one. I use either steel or stainless steel lines on the frame, the stainless braid from the frame to the brake calipers....

I was always told that if you use braided line threw out it will affect your pedal height when braking because of the line pressure expanding the lining in the hose instead of getting all the pressure to the caliper. I personally use stainless hard line everywhere, then just a short jumper to the caliper.

Russell (Edelbrock) make DOT lines from the frame to caliper. When I originally set up my current project car brake system, I used "for race only" lines but since then have changed to DOT - if for no other reason, NY State wants to see that tag on them. The rest of my lines are all stainless hard lines with AN fittings. I would not choose to make up high pressure lines out of flex material as I really have no way to effectively swage the fittings to satisfy myself. AN fittings will hold the hydraulic pressure but I am more concerned with pull out from the fitting as happened to me when the local Aero-Quip dealer made one up for me in an "emergency" when I didn't have time to wait for a mail order replacement. (Syracuse NSRA Nationals, 1995) Juice jar single reservoir master cylinder, no brakes = an exciting drive (major brake mods after that trip)

I was able to sell my unused non DOT lines at a swap meet for about what they cost me.

In research several years ago, I came across information that indicated that there is a DOT "whip test" that is part of the DOT certification process. Certain fitting designs do not allow for strain relief at the junction of the fitting to the hose and therefore do not pass. For a race application, the number of cycles that the assembly sees is extremely few compared to the life of a daily street driven car...how many cars hit 100,000 miles at drag strip only use?

As the last post said, you can buy DOT braided fittings and the price is almost the same.

Ken is right, just like you dont run 100% hose for fuel line, you dont want to run all hose for brake lines...although the braided hose expands less than rubber hose with no braid, it expands more than steel lline.....potential sponge for the pedal.

mike in tucson