stainless steel or titanium brake bleeding valves?

[Adam32]

I was wondering what people thought were better - stainless steel or titanium brake bleeding valves?

Both are anti rust, but I heard that the lower grades of Titanium are quite brittle. So unless I can guarantee the quality / grade of the titanium is it better to go for stainless steel? Also which is the best match with iron calipers, as I read that different metals in contact with each other can cause adverse corrosion.

So what would you go for - stainless steel or titanium?

[phillpot]

Stainless are about half the price, I know which I'd choose


And as I have stainless hoses screwed into my calipers and stainless pistons I don't think any Galvanic corrosion caused by different metals will be a major issue in the cars (or my) lifetime.

[GreenV8S]

phillpot said:

I know which I'd choose

Any issues with galling?

[phillpot]

Not had an issue yet, threads are effectively lubricated by brake fluid when loosened to bleed and I don't wrench them up "stupid tight".


Throughout my cars I have stainless fasteners screwed into various other metals and again, as of yet, have not had any issues undoing anything.

Famous last words

Edited by phillpot on Thursday 16th March 23:46

[SlimJim16v]

I think the problem with using different metals only happens if you use a copper grease?

[normalbloke]

Titanium obvs, think of the unsprung weight saving......

[227bhp]

phillpot said:

Stainless are about half the price, I know which I'd choose


And as I have stainless hoses screwed into my calipers and stainless pistons I don't think any Galvanic corrosion caused by different metals will be a major issue in the cars (or my) lifetime.

Scientifically speaking it depends on your usage and you don't say as it's whether they are subjected to salt water for long enough periods of time as that is often the electrolyte need for GC.

How likely SS is to corrode (galvanically or otherwise) is difficult as it is an alloy available in many differing mixtures, but then again Ti isn't usually used in its purest form....

Agreeably i'd just put SS ones on, grease them and as you say, not rip them up to the levels many neandertal mechanics do.

[phillpot]

227bhp said:

Scientifically speaking it depends on your usage and you don't say as it's whether they are subjected to salt water for long enough periods of time .

Fair point, perhaps should have made clear I was referring to my two old TVR's which are kept on the road all year round (no SORN for me) but don't get the abuse that a high mileage daily driver would .

[sospan]

Stainless of the more common 18/8 type are better. Based on the anodic difference (volts). The stainless is closer to the iron than titanium. The bigger the difference the higher the chance of galvanic corrosion.