DIY braided brake lines - good or baaaad?

[Mkol]

Im considering making up a braided brake line using parts from Car Builders

https://www.carbuilder.com/uk/stainless-braided-fl...

just wondering if anyone has any experience of doing this they could share?, its a new one on me and dont really want to hit a wall of tyres at 120mph but seems like the perfect solution to the issue i have.

[mmm-five]

Don't forget to give them an outer sheath of some sort to stop muck getting into the braided steel and sanding away the inner hose.

[Polly Grigora]

Wow, looks like good stuff

[Mkol]

mmm-five said:

Don't forget to give them an outer sheath of some sort to stop muck getting into the braided steel and sanding away the inner hose.

Like a heat shrink?

[CrutyRammers]

You can get them made to your spec pretty cheaply. Furore products (used to post on here) does them, for example, I got a few from him.

[Panamax]

There's a reason manufacturers don't fit braided hoses. Rubber hoses do the job absolutely fine and do not carry the risk of poor connection between the braid and the fitting. This is a particular problem with the cheaper, crimped fittings. If you're going to do it, make sure to use the more expensive, three part, stainless steel screw-on fittings.

[GreenV8S]

Panamax said:

There's a reason manufacturers don't fit braided hoses

I saw a vehicle with extremely pretty braided fuel lines with pretty annodized fittings everywhere that had a bit of a whiff of petrol. When the lines were disconnected we found none of the hoses were the right length and most were barely clamped. The one that was weeping had the end cut off at 45 degrees and could never have sealed. They were very pretty, though.

[alabbasi]

The answer is no, rubber is perfectly fine and you'd want to be able to visually inspect it. Lining it with steel won't help you

[PaulKemp]

I personally would make my own brake hoses, other hoses yes but not safety critical ones.
I would use braided hoses as most motorsport teams use them and they give a firmer pedal feel. I would use premade hoses from reputable suppliers but the hoses have to be properly crimped, many also have a clear plastic coating that stops any chaffing, as the braiding is stainless steel it doesn’t corrode

[Baldchap]

Very popular in biking circles. HEL were very well regarded. Came made specifically for your bike so you knew the length and fittings were correct.

[ssray]

I make my own for my bikes, pretty simple, tape the where you are going to cut which stops the stainless spreading

[drmotorsport]

Yes i've made my own braided lines in dash3 for the entire race car, as well as fuel lines. I only use teflon lined stainless with proper AN compression fittings and have never had any leakage etc. It's a simple enough process making the hoses, just take your time and measure well and consider your routing carefully. I've gone from hacksaw with hose in a vice to using a grinder to get a neater cut. However you will stab yourself on the braiding, and you will forget to put the fitting finishing nut on before cutting the braiding..