Steel Braided brake lines

[Mhannink]

More urban legends dispelled Steel braided brake lines will not reduce stopping distances. Some claim a firmer pedal feel but that too is difficult to swallow. To be DOT approved the line must be teflon or rubber inside the braided jacket. Those materials compress/expand as much as the stock rubber coated lines on the truck. If your stock rubber lines are soft enough to make the pedal not as firm as it should be, new lines are in order. Fortunately they are made to pretty strict standards and unless the truck is close to ten years old I suspect they are still in good shape. You may be able to find a set of brake pads that will stop shorter but the braided steel lines are no more than decoration.

im gonna disagree with you here i had the braided lines on and when i installed them felt a huge difference in the pedal feel it was much firmer. recently someone cut my brake lines and because i needed the truck i went to a brand new factory line and its very soft. like stepping on a balloon. your right the lines have to have rubber or teflon on the inside but thats a thin liner and therefore doesnt compress much.



i do agree that it doesnt stop you any faster however something to consider is that the with the firmer pedal from the lines that it applies more pressure to the pads and stops you faster that way. i say this because with my new factory lines im taking longer to stop due to the change in the pedal and my muscle memory not adjusting for that.

 

[JCockerill]

I am running Crown Braided lines on dodge, pedel does feel a bit firmer. only reason i changed them was because of suspension lift. otherwise, i would consider it a waste. Better orr investing in performance pads and rotors if you are concerned with stoping distance. my buddy went to braided lines on his duramax and said it was a night and day difference, just didn't feel that much with dodge. I felt the brakes on this truck were one of it's strong points. I am very happy with the porterfeild pads. ART rotors going on for next brakejob.

 

[Hammer]

08-31-2008 11:26 AM

Mhannink... .

You do realize that your arguing with a person who is no longer a member??????.

The above time is when BHolm was last logged into the TDR for anything.

 

[Mhannink]

Mhannink... .

You do realize that your arguing with a person who is no longer a member??????.

The above time is when BHolm was last logged into the TDR for anything.

i didnt read that i never look at the info on the side just the post and i put the info up to help others too. its info that i feel is correct having experienced it first hand.



jcockerill its interesting what you said. my truck had a buge change in pedal feel switching to braided and then back to rubber. however my cousin with the lockout hubs ford rotors and rubber lines feels better then even new trucks. ive never felt brakes like his. you think about stepping on the brakes and it stops. so maybe every truck is a little different in that respect. i do like the braided lines and it feels like to me that they improve the braking in a way. likely they dont and its all in my head but when i got a trailer on coming down an 8% grade it sure is comforting.

 

[Linker]

Are we forgetting one factor of the brake system its called a proportional valve that sends equal fluid and pressure to all calipers, so if your pedal feels soft or spongy then time for a fluid flush/change and inspection of all brake lines metal and rubber replacing any showing signs of softness or rust.

 

[WhiteSheep]

I cut a line once. It was steel, no rubber. Something in the desert cut the line clean in two. It took me awhile to notice it since it was on the back of my '84 F-150. I pinched it off and replaced it later. No big deal.



Buy the braided lines if you like them, but the desert will get you anyway.