Just installed - SS Braided Brake Lines

[Jeff Williams]

I bought a set of Stainless Steel Brake Lines, speedbleeders, and some ATE Super Blue DOT4 brake fluid.

I first bled the system, with a clear DOT4 fluid from Car Quest, then bled it with the Super Blue. It is real easy to tell when the new fluid is in the lines, the old brown stuff turns clear, then the clear stuff turns bright blue.

There is a LOT more pedal feel, and I am happy with the results.

This ends the brake upgrades.

Cross Drilled & Slotted Rotors, New Padss, and now the SS Braided Lines.:ylsuper

[AZhitman]

Hmmmmm.... Sounds like that might be MY next project!

[maxnix]

I use the ATE Blue too. Always good for a comment from the techs.

[Chaz98Q45t]

Sounds good jeff - what brand rotors and pads did you install...Chaz

[Jeff Williams]

The lines were $104, and the speed bleeders were free. I paid $13 for the brake fluid. It was a good deal.

Some el-cheapo's made in China. I paid $150.00 for all 4, from a dude on eBay.

I was not sure whether I wanted to go cross-drilled, or not (they do make a little more noise - kinda like a scraping sound), and didn't want to invest a bunch of money.

I am easy on my brakes. I get 40,000 miles per set of pads, and I had 60,000 miles on my rotors, between turning.

There is always some time, when I need to hit them ahrd, and I didn't like the soft pedal.

These rotors are a lot heavier than my Brembo rotos (but they had been turned twice).

The guy said they wre zinc plated, but they started to rust, immediately. so I think he was wrong.

The ATE Blue seemed a lot thinner, than the DOT4 I got from Car Quest, but it sure made it easy to tell, when the old fluid was purged. There is an amber color, that I will use, next time.

[elwesso]

So you get the speed bleeder for free with the lines???

I may hold that off till next summer when brakes get replaced.....

[Jeff Williams]

The speed bleeders are about $6 each, or $25. They are worth it, even if you only use them once.

I bought the brake lines from Raceshopper.com.

I tried the NICO supporters, but couldn't get the best price. I saved about $15 on the lines, and $25 on the speed bleeders.

They also had the best price on the ATE Super blue brake fluid. I only used about half the 1 litre can, since I flushed the system with the DOT4 fluid from Car Quest.

Every penny counts!

[elwesso]

I was going to use a speed bleeder from harbor frieght...

Is there really any benefit from upgrading brake lines???

[Jeff Williams]

I was going to use a speed bleeder from harbor frieght...

Is there really any benefit from upgrading brake lines???

Have you ever had to get on your brakes hard? Did your pedal feel soft? Were you scared you wouldn't stop? I have had all of these happen, and I started looking for ways to give me a firmer pedal feel. Most of my driving has been in cheap cars, but they usually weighed in the 3,000# range. The Q is a little heftier, and likes to go fast.

The minivan moms don't care whether you are in a G35 coupe, with the Brembo brakes, or a 10 year old Q, with soft brakes. They still pull in front of you at 100+.

The SS brake lines do not flex, or expand like the stock ones. There is a little less pedal travel.

The DOT4 fluid does not boil at as low a temperature(around 500 degrees, rather than around 300 degrees), thus reducing the chance of brake fade (usually only noticed in hard street racing, or on a road course). Boiling creates air bubbles, and a very soft pedal.

The next time am M3, or Corvette passes me on my trip home, I win't be so nervous about the brakes, as I have been, when I get over a buck25 (as AZhitman puts it).

[elwesso]

Oh ok so there really is a benefit to doing it...

Probably next summer, and Ill do an overhaul of pads, rotors, fluid, and lines...