Stainless brake lines and MoT

[Chassis 33]

Folks, I've read on one of the lesser forums on the internet that flexible brakelines must be plastic finished to pass an MoT. Is this true, and if so can I just cover the stainless lines I've just bought in heatshrink?

Regards
Iain

[GreenV8S]

I don't know what the official legal position is, but I've had uncovered steel braided brake lines all round for years and never had the slightest quibble about them at MOT time.

[falcemob]

Chassis 33 said:

Folks, I've read on one of the lesser forums on the internet that flexible brakelines must be plastic finished to pass an MoT. Is this true, and if so can I just cover the stainless lines I've just bought in heatshrink?

Regards
Iain

Well I've never failed a rubber brake hose and I don't think I've ever seen a plastic finished flexible hose.
BTW my race car passes OK with stainless covered hoses when I get someone else to test it.

[Chassis 33]

Thanks, sod it I'll leave things be. Can't think on any reason a rubber finish hose would offer any benefits in performance or fault detection over a stainless braid, the local MoT station are quite sensible folks too.

Regards
Iain

[falcemob]

With steel braided hoses you can't see if the pipe inside is damaged whereas you can see if a rubber hose bulges under pressure. However there's nothing to say they can't be used. Just make sure they don't rub or foul anywhere.

[Chassis 33]

I'll be replacing like for like, just different outers, so it will be the same routing etc. as OEM. If there's no definitive legislation, I'll be fine.
Regards
Iain

[leorest]

Don't think there is anything to worry about. I've had my car/s pass the last twenty years of MOTs without comment on the ss lines fitted. I first fitted them to my first car (850 Mini) because the MOT tester said the rubber hoses were twisted. He obviously had a better eye than I (or a more distorted one!) I decided to fit ss lines because they don't have a trace line to indicate twist and I have never looked back.

[neiljohnson]

Its not a fail but you need to make sure they are secured properly

[Uncle Fester]

Run them through your fingers. If you prick yourself on a sharp needle of brading then replace the hose.

If just one thread of the brading has snapped and is sticking out for you to prick yourself on, then the other half of the broken strand is inside and pearcing into the liner. If it goes right through and punctures the hose...

Not worth the risk.

[falcemob]

And don't do what I did with a steel braided clutch line, I shorted it out on the starter terminal and ended up with the teflon pipe melting through the braiding and onto the floor.