MadUsa1

Hi All, my car is 17 years old now and as far as I can tell, still on the original brake lines.

What is the common wisdom on this? Should brake lines be replaced from time to time? Is there a risk of them cracking or exploding at some point?

I occasionally track my car so am considering braided lines, but I'm not sure if it's actually worth it.

Any experience to share?

MrRtm

Metal only if rusted, rubber only if perished or you want a better pedal feel, rubber bulges, braided doesn't.

stockcar

braided lines in general give a far more consistent pedal.......we normally stock / supply Goodridge as being one of the best quality suppliers

MadUsa1

Thanks for the feedbacks.

Has anyone ever had experience of the OE rubber lines cracking or failing?

I know Goodridge are quite popular, but I'm tempted by the HEL braided lines, any experience with these?

fpan

iTrader: (11)

I've had a HEL one break in the Brembos of my previous Abarth, luckily it was caught in time while it was in for a service.
The company replaced it FOC.

MadUsa1

This is good feedback! I will NOT be ordering the HELs then! Will stick with the OE rubbers.

TECHNOPUG

iTrader: (1)

Never had an issue with HEL lines. I find it's more a case of fit and forget with the braided hoses. You could probably replace the rubber hoses every year for 3 years for the same price as the braided hoses.

The only real negative with braided hoses is that you shouldn't clamp them. So when removing calipers to service, you should remove the hoses as well and fit a suitable dome nut over the brake line.

forgedmarco

iTrader: (10)

Very rare a fitting would break, with HEL all fittings are made in house not bought in by somewhere else.

HEL offer a Lifetime warranty on any failure to do with the product.
Rubber hoses have a service life and should be replaced, if rubber hoses were good for track work then race vehicles wouldn’t get braided hoses made which last all season under the harshest of conditions.
BTCC champions and British super bike champions all run HEL lines.

Vxr2010

HEL are good , i had some just on the front of my Fsti , fitted by previous owner , the brakes were noticeably firmer , rubber hoses my last Fsti was about 15 years old , 198 k miles and the rubber pipes were fine , my concern would be will the old rubber pipes un screw without damaging the fittings

forgedmarco

iTrader: (10)

As long as you have a proper brake pipe spanner you should be fine.

Vxr2010

my concern was the dreaded rust , or are they normally ok ? , i was thinking of doing my two other cars , but at the same time, if it’s working don’t break it 😁, but as above braided lines a marked improvement in brake feel much sharper much firmer 👍👍

forgedmarco

iTrader: (10)

if anything is that rusty it needs replacing anyway

MadUsa1

This is a bit my thinking: on the one hand I'm concerned about 17 year old rubber hoses, but on the other hand, they are working well and I'm not keen to change them if there is no need.

stockcar

17year old hoses will be long past their best and even brand new rubber would be an improvement with braided hoses being a step again with the added benefit of a lifetime of use........

JdmSti2006

have hel ,very good for me
oem

RockyRoad

I've never had the rubber lines fail but I have had the metal pipes fail. That can be a bugger to find the leak until it gets so bad there's an obvious puddle on the drive. I have also found the fittings can seize onto the pipe itself so there's no way to get them to release and spin which means cutting the pipe so you can undo everything. I've had lots of different Hel lines either off the shelf or custom made and they're excellent quality. They're always my go to for braided hoses and I wouldn't even consider sticking new OE rubber lines on. Even my parents Forester has Hel lines because the original rubber lines were 15 years old.

wrx300scooby

I got the Hose Technik ones from Godspeed, they are on par if not better than Goodridge having used those on other cars I have owned in the past.