Flexible Brake Lines - rubber or braided stainless?

[HyperV6]

I still have my original rubber flexible brake lines on my car. I was thinking about replacing due to age only. The original lines still look good. Since the rubber originals have lasted over 25 years I was thinking about just replacing them with new AC Delco rubber lines. Is there any real advantage to go with the braided stainless brake lines over rubber?

Craig

 

[1KWIKSIX]

I still have my original rubber flexible brake lines on my car. I was thinking about replacing due to age only. The original lines still look good. Since the rubber originals have lasted over 25 years I was thinking about just replacing them with new AC Delco rubber lines. Is there any real advantage to go with the braided stainless brake lines over rubber?

Craig

Yes....the rubber lines will always flex while pressurized, stainless braided lines will not! The stainless braided lines will give 100% of the brake pedal pressure to the calipers. Since the factory brakes on these cars are so marginally inadequate to begin with, there's no reason not to do everything possible to help improve breaking. Besides, replace em only once with this upgrade (they will last forever).

 

[turbo nasty]

Stainless hands down!!!

 

[lrayzer]

Ditto, on the SST flex lines, get that part of the upgrade out of the way, prepare for the hydroboost !

 

[TRICKSIXPA]

I replaced them on my car and you can actually feel the differance this is a good bang for your buck upgrade.
Order the Russell G body kit. Everyone sells them even our vendors. Be prepared to replace the rear brakelines if your car
has spent time outside during it's life. Clasic Tubes sells the lines individually if you call and order them.

 

[Turbo6inKY]

Yes....the rubber lines will always flex while pressurized, stainless braided lines will not! The stainless braided lines will give 100% of the brake pedal pressure to the calipers. Since the factory brakes on these cars are so marginally inadequate to begin with, there's no reason not to do everything possible to help improve breaking. Besides, replace em only once with this upgrade (they will last forever).

Natch on the lasting forever part. The rubber line inside the stainless braid will eventually fail. The advantage is that the stainless braid will contain the failure, so you won't suffer a burst line, but it will eventually start weeping fluid through the hose.

I don't know what the proper replacement interval is, but it is not forever.

 

[lrayzer]

For some of us a part that lasts another 25 years, is "our" forever....

 

[salvageV6]

I thought they used teflon liners with braided brake hoses?

 

[Chuck Leeper]

I thought they used teflon liners with braided brake hoses?

Exactly what's in them....

 

[lrayzer]

And brake fluid Chuck....Walmart brand of course...

 

[TR Custom Parts]

Stainless all the way. Used the Russell kit on my GN when I went with the SSBC dual piston calibers. Can hold 12 lbs of boost on the brakes.

 

[fitz3820]

I just replaced my stock lines with stainless - replacing the line over the rear axle is a PITA in the garage, on jackstands

 

[Royal-T-Ltd]

Craig,

If you decide to replace, definitely upgrade to teflon-lined SS lines.....

aaron

 

[HyperV6]

Ok, it's going to be stainless. Thanks!

Anybody try the "Stop Flex" lines from Classic Tube? A Buick GN guy - Tim works or worked in sales at Classic Tube for a long time.

I guess the Russell stainless lines and the ones from Classic Tube should be the same quality?

Craig

 

[Chuck Leeper]

AIRC, none of the ss braided lines are DOT approved. Y/N????

 

[salvageV6]

Russell makes a DOT kit but it could be stainless over rubber, go figure.

Russell Street Legal Braided Brake Lines​

Product images may differ from actual product appearance.

Factory Assembled and Ready to Install!
Russell's stainless steel braided brake lines meet the strict guidelines of the U.S. Dept. of Transportation MVSS-106 requirements. They improve your braking performance for competition or every-day driving. Replacing the OE rubber hoses with Russell brake lines reduces brake pedal travel for more consistent braking. Featuring stainless steel braided brake hose with zinc-plated fittings, these brake lines are factory assembled utilizing a double crimp method requiring no special adapters for installation.

 

[salvageV6]

Oh and the Russell fittings rust too over time, but the hose may outlast a stocker, mine cracked bad at 22 years or so for the rubber, and the metal ones didn't last that long especially out back and up to the prop. valve, only had one front metal one go bad.

4 season car stored outdoors.

 

[RmvBfrFlght]

AIRC, none of the ss braided lines are DOT approved. Y/N????

The Earls lines I put on the f-body meet DOT specifications. Many lines don't or haven't been tested as to whether they met the spec's or not.

RemoveBeforeFlight

 

[Chuck Leeper]

The Earls lines I put on the f-body meet DOT specifications. Many lines don't or haven't been tested as to whether they met the spec's or not.

RemoveBeforeFlight

I looked at a couple other sites. They too, are tested to the DOT test specs. However, unless submitted for testing thru the DOT, they can't be labelled as such.

 

[turbobully]

Not trying to hijack but i just was on the russell website and didn't see s kit for gn. Closest was a monte