so my lovely wife decided to share her head cold and aching joints with me...
no wrenching for a while. i can barely concentrate enough to post this updates.
anywho, i decided to do some research into SS brake and fuel lines since the time has come.
of course it is a good idea to upgrade the lines to Stainless Steel... or is it?
of course we all have seen the cool extended braided SS covered longer brake flex lines on the lifted trucks. I had heard stories favouring and rejecting this procedure. time to do some personal research..
http://www.classictube.com/news.asp
http://www.nsxprime.com/wiki/Brake_Lines
(and many others)
type in SS brake line and it is interesting what comes up:
there are really 3 classifications for SS brake lines, DOT approved, non-DOT approved and non-conforming. the non-DOT approved just means that the brake manufacturer has built the brake line to DOT specifications but never bothered to submit for approval.
the SS flex line has a Teflon lining instead of rubber which does not bulge like rubber brake line does... good thing, right? well, not exactly. with rubber you can see the line bulging. if failure is imminent then the budge will show itself during your twice yearly examination (you do complete a spring and fall inspection of your truck, right?).
next, a rubber flex line can develop a pin hole leak and although still dangerous is not like the SS where the Teflon actually brakes off and dumps all the fluid in one panic stop.
add to this the problem of dirt, I.e. mud, getting between the Teflon and the SS braiding chaffing the Teflon and ending up with a rupture.
also SS flex does not flex/stretch the way the rubber hose can so if it gets snagged by a roaming branch, the branch can actually bust the crimp and good bye braking.
SS flex was made for the racing industry. it is usual for the racing enviroment to replace the line every other race.
for the highway, it was to be replaced every year to two and not designed for muddy environments. HEY! that is most of us!
if you have SS flex lines then you need to be religious about inspecting them for pinching, tears in the SS, wearing of the SS and REPLACE them every 2 years at the outside...
okay, so I am not going to be installing them on this ride.
now, what about SS fixed lines. rumour has it SS are prone to leakage and do not flare well..
well, back to the personal research.
lookie here, SS does not flare well... at 45 degrees anyway. you need to restrict the flaring to 37 degrees... and that means all new fittings are needed to work properly. humm, not good for my application.
but for fun what about the leakage?
well, it turns out that when installing ANY brake line onto a used item (coupler, brake master, flex line) you should tighten, loosen and tighten a few times to make sure the coupling can seat properly.
Okay, so it is back to the rubber extended brake lines and the old style steel brake and fuel lines...
)
