[SWZL11LE]

Originally Posted by gotswap

Generally speaking, braided lines will do nothing but add a bit of show. The stretch and bursting strength of stock lines far exceeds what is generated with pedal pressure. Now if they are old and squishy, different story.

Obviously even a line off a Chevy Aveo will not burst with pedal pressure, but do you have any data to back up your claim about the "stretch" tolerances of the stock lines?


Because even SS lines will stretch with pedal pressure, just not as much as a conventional rubber line.

[gotswap]

Just a conversation back in the day with a brake line company. Nothing more than that

[DaveC113]

Originally Posted by gotswap

Generally speaking, braided lines will do nothing but add a bit of show. The stretch and bursting strength of stock lines far exceeds what is generated with pedal pressure. Now if they are old and squishy, different story.

This is my understanding too, improvements people feel from new SS lines may be the bleed or the old lines were getting more flexible.

OP, I'd use a high temp brake fluid + bleed and see what you think.

And congrats on the car!

[Revalot]

I cannot wait ! This will be my 1st sports car ! I'm 48 and have raced sportbikes, drag racing, and road racing, drag racing gives you the rush off the line. Road racing gives you a rush at every turn !
And I will be very careful with mine, I thought about a used C6 ZR1, a gen (Z28)5 camaro, but both of those cars would only be about 200 bucks cheaper a month, and for peace of mind I rather have a new car plus I really like knowing I'm the only one doing maintenance and breaking it in.

[SFV1LE]

Originally Posted by gotswap

Generally speaking, braided lines will do nothing but add a bit of show. The stretch and bursting strength of stock lines far exceeds what is generated with pedal pressure. Now if they are old and squishy, different story.

Do you track your car a lot? When the fluid in rubber lines gets really hot on the track, even with new lines, you feel the difference vs. SS lines.

How do SS lines add show? You can't see them, I never considered that

[gotswap]

I have and I do, 415whp Honda S2000. Stock rubber lines, better pads and high temp brake fluid.

The only vehicle I run braided lines on is my 89 Wrangler, better abrasion resistance from rocks and such while wheeling.

[Stealth7]

Originally Posted by SWZL11LE

Yes of course, I actually bed the brakes in on my first drive of the car.


The issue isn't a lack of bite, it is the brake pedal feel, especially after you get some heat into the brakes.


PS: If you have never been, you need to take your 1LE out with the 1MoreLap crew at Calabogie Motorsports Park, you have one of the best race tracks in North America in your backyard.

Castrol SRF!

[gotswap]

ATE Super Blue for me

The problem is not the lines, it is the brake fluid boiling that causes crappy pedal feel

[SWZL11LE]

I guess all the reputable motorsport teams are doing it wrong, I should call some of them up tomorrow morning and let them know that they should dedicate the brake line budget elsewhere and stop showing off

[mlee]

Most folks will never notice the difference between stock and ss lines on the track, but yes it's still a great mod and definitely next up on my list.

DOT 4 brake fluid is way more important though, and your track day will get cut short without it.

[waterman]

OP, very nice stable. Wow! That trailer/rig for lack of a better word, is breathtaking.

My $0.02. IMHO, quality ss brake lines and premium DOT4 are both an amazingly effective and inexpensive performance mod for a few hundred bucks and a couple of hours of time invested.

At 1400 miles, I bled out the DOT3 and swapped out all 4 of the OEM brake lines with Wilwood ss lines and replaced with SRF. There has been a VERY noticeable improvement in both pedal feel and travel, especially when heated up.

As far as the "for show" thing goes... Perhaps my ZLE is like an off duty, smokin' hot, amazingly athletic lingerie model. Unless you are indeed close enough to actually look up her skirt; The truth is that only she and I know what she has going on underneath.

[SWZL11LE]

Originally Posted by mlee

Most folks will never notice the difference between stock and ss lines on the track...

Most people lack the feel when it comes to driving, not trying to offend anyone but it is the truth. Just like some humans have a better sense of smell and others don't.


Maybe I am just used to having a very crisp and direct brake feel given my other cars (most of them) all have SS or comparable lines from factory.


But it looks like the quest for better brake feel has already gotten off to a good start.

Getting some very special lines made, just need to send over a set of sample lines to my good friends in Italy for them to custom make me some lines, made from a special carbon fiber braided brake line. They are used on Formula cars and on the top level of two wheeled competition motorcycles.


Other than having a min. burst pressure rating of 16,900 psi, these lines are much more flexible in terms of routing than SS lines, which keep binding to a minimum when the lines are moving around (with the wheel being turned and suspension travel etc...). You can grab one of these carbon lines and tie a knot in it, install it (not that you should be doing this), and it will still work as intended.








I'll stop geeking out over these lines, and get back to the replying to some of the opinions thrown around as replies.


For those who claim "brake lines are for show", lets put some numbers out, as there hasn't been any facts or hard data that has been discussed here, only thing I've seen is, they know a friend of a friend of a friend and so on kind of response.



A typical brake system will have 800-1000psi of pressure when stopping under normal conditions, and under hard braking this can go well above 2000psi. Just think about these numbers for a second, that is pounds per square inch, and imagine that kind of weight on one square inch.



A rubber line that has braiding such as the stock lines on these cars or any other braided line, stainless steel, kevlar or carbon fiber, just the degree of expansion in the line which causes the indirect brake pedal feel will vary due to the different constructions of the lines.


Brake lines aren't the only solution to a great pedal feel, as mentioned brake fluid does play a big role as well.

[Supercup]

Originally Posted by Stealth7

Castrol SRF!

+1

[Realist]

Sweet setup and toys, congrats on the addition!