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TECHNICAL MOTOBRICK WRENCHING In Remembrance of Inge K. => The Motobrick Workshop => Topic started by: pdg on September 05, 2014, 03:44:32 PM
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So, as the subject says, brake lines.
Specifically, the flexible rubber ones.
When was the last time you changed yours? Never? When the brakes got spongy because the hoses thought it would be more fun to be a balloon? When you noticed them cracking? Or, do you follow the manuals and replace them every 5 years regardless of mileage along with brake fluid every 2 years maximum?
Just wondering as there seems to be a "OMG OLD TYRES WILL KILL YOU" thing going on, along with fuel lines, while an item made of a comparable material that is arguably as much if not more safety critical I never see mentioned...
If a fuel line ruptures, it might cause a fire, or it might just make the engine die. If a tyre lets go then it's a problem, but it depends on how quickly it deflates, whether it's front or rear and how experienced you are. If a brake line goes, I think pretty much worst case would be - first shock and panic at no brakes, followed by a tyre soaked in nice slippery brake fluid, leading very quickly to a visit into a truck/hedge/tree/church/nun carrying a box of kittens....
I would put a poll but honestly I'd prefer a "real" response :2thumbup:
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I'm with you 100% on this one. Old brake lines = very bad mojo. Replaced the black brick lines with Spieglers after hearing the only horror story I needed to hear. Need to check the ones on the red brick -- they are rubber but clearly not original -- I didn't know the lines are dated, will look for date.
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The OEM ones have a production date, usually on a plastic ring.
Some others are also dated, but location and presence may vary.....
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I did stainless brake line replacement....also fuel lines as one was pissing on my leg when I pulled into the shop.
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I replace the brake lines with SS braided on my black brick when I did all of the other rubber hoses/lines 2-3 years ago.
The red one is due for a full rubber overhaul, some are not original as I had a couple of valves replaced 5yrs ago and some of them were changed then, but others I'm sure are probably still original.
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I agree, replaced mine with SS braided Spieglers. How long are these good for?
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My front end is now stainless steel braid after getting serious brake fade and ballooning in the original hoses. The bike is 18 years old and has 101,000 miles so they seem to have done pretty well! I haven't done the rear yet but it's on my list!
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I replaced all of mine early this year when the rear caliper started to drag. Then I could stand on the rear brake, and no action, or the rear would almost lock down. I have ABS, and wondered if it was at fault. I found the rubber in the line was stopping fluid flow, and even acting as a one way valve! New external fuel lines and quick couplers as well.
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The front line on the K1100RS developed a split at the top connection. Found a local industrial hose shop that was able to fab a replacement line for about 25% cost of the OEM line. New crush washers on the banjo fittings, and bleed including the ABS module. It took longer to drive to the shop and have it made than it did to replace and bleed.
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That is the way to go if you want it done cheap. When rear brake line on my old Ford sprung a leak I took the old line to a brake shop and they made me a new one for $5.
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You can have a set of stainless made that way too.
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I ordered a custom SS line for the front brake when I bypassed the ABS system from this ebay seller:
http://www.ebay.com/usr/rennsportautoparts (http://www.ebay.com/usr/rennsportautoparts)
Was very happy with the speed that he built it, shipped it and the quality.
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You can have a set of stainless made that way too.
Auto brake shops stock braided stainless line? I didn't know that -- that's worth looking into. Spieglers were well over a hundred bucks for ABS outfit with shipping.
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I went to a place in Spokane called The House of Hose....all things hose....don't know if brake places stock stainless.
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has anyone put Koni sport on a 98 V70XC? what Im most interested in is what has to be done for brake line attachment point on the strut? longer brake lines, attach the mount points from the old struts.
By the way, the best program for marketing, SEO and SMM for me - it a XRumer 12.0.9 Elite :)
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when i removed ABS from bike i had brake lines made at local hydraulics shop in richmond, va.
brought in the old ones so tech could examine form and fit (offset angles, etc) and they were ready in no time.
pictured are the three front and single rear hoses.
my cost was 80 dollars for all, most of which went towards cost of banjo fittings!
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"So, as the subject says, brake lines.
Specifically, the flexible rubber ones.
When was the last time you changed yours? Never? When the brakes got spongy because the hoses thought it would be more fun to be a balloon? When you noticed them cracking? Or, do you follow the manuals and replace them every 5 years regardless of mileage along with brake fluid every 2 years maximum?"
So many variables e.g:exposure to uv/sunlight,temperature,humidity there can never be a definitive answer that fits all! but increased lever travel or any symptoms that cause unease need you to consider this without delay.Most folks realize changing feel to brakes or steering is important but maybe not that they need to figure it out ASAP as a priority
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As most of us will choose stainless lines as replacements, how long do these last compared to the rubber lines?
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I would think they'd last longer than just rubber as they're less exposed to UV light
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It's the inner wall of the rubber ones you have to worry about -- they get flaky after time and the flakes clog the lines leading to brake lockup. Not an issue with steel ones, I assume.
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Originally, this thread carried over from the 'old tyres debate'...
Stainless steel lines are simply normal rubber brake hoses that have a steel overbraid rather than a fabric one. Usually, you won't see the fabric braid as it's under a layer of black rubber - on stainless lines the outer casing is often clear or translucent (or not there at all) to show the metal braid. They tend to last longer because the steel braid is much less inclined to allow swelling of the hose unlike the fabric braid.
As an example, Goodridge give a lifetime warranty on their hoses....
So, who would make their own hoses then? Given that a 'custom made' hose from any supplier is assembled from stock parts by a guy in a shop somewhere.
I assemble my own when I need replacements, but then I'm also happy to use 'old' tyres :hehehe
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Most of the aftermarket / performance SS brake lines I have seen have an inner Teflon tube, not rubber. They last a lot longer than rubber. I've never kept a vehicle that I've put them on long enough to evaluate the 20-30 year life you get out of factory rubber vs the SS Teflon. I just put a set of SS Teflon lines on my 87 Fiero, I'll let you know how they hold up in 2035. ;-)
All joking aside, I'm in Indy and Earls Indy will make brake lines for cheap. A guy in the club has all of his made there and swears by them. I'll be taking all of mine there before spring and I will report back.
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I replaced the OEM rubber lines on my '86 BMW 325es over the summer. They were a little cracked on the rubber outer coating. So 30 years is probably a good time to replace them. :P
I ended up using spiegler's on my k75 for convenience and because they were on clearance, but if you bring the oem hoses to a hydraulic shop, they can make you a set. You can also custom make a set that uses a 2 line setup, either two lines from master cylinder, one to each caliper, or a single line to a double banjo bolt on one caliper, and a short hose between the two calipers.
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No hydraulic shop in Taos. How much are the Spieglers for a K75, and where do you get 'em?
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I got mine from these guys on ePrey. A million choices for ABS/non-ABS, and color of line and fittings. just match up your model, year and whether or not it has ABS.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Spiegler-Stainless-Braided-Front-Brake-Kit-SMK-Line-RED-Fit-BMW-K-75-S-86-91-/271525689752?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3f38313998&vxp=mtr (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Spiegler-Stainless-Braided-Front-Brake-Kit-SMK-Line-RED-Fit-BMW-K-75-S-86-91-/271525689752?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item3f38313998&vxp=mtr)
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No hydraulic shop in Taos. How much are the Spieglers for a K75, and where do you get 'em?
I bought mine directly from Spiegler. As I recall their website isn't really set up for ecommerce but you can find contact info on their website and they seem happy to sell direct to customers.
They're pricier than the local shops that people talk about, but they do make kits specific for your make and model and I was happy with their service.
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I've wondered: Why can you drive a car for 10 years and 100000 miles and never replace the brake fluid or the brake lines? Really? Fluid every 2 years and lines every five?
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YUP.
you can ignore a lot of regular maint....roll the dice, take your chances. why bother to change the engine oil and filter? anyone who doesn't change brake fluid for 100,000 miles is an idiot...or trying to prove darwin's theory.
brakes are your major safety system. brake fluid absorbs water, lowers boiling point and will, not can, fail you. brake lines can fail internally with no visible signs. they are not lifetime parts.
brake fluid every 2 years? that is long for me. i do it every year on the cars and bikes...every month in season on the race cars.
brake lines every 5 years? that might be a little much. 10 years for a street bike more reasonable.
fluid change is a 15 min evolution and fluid is cheap. no brainer to change it often.
lines take an hour or two and maybe $100. no brainer.
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greetings...
what about not changing butts just topping off the brake fluid...
j o
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I've wondered: Why can you drive a car for 10 years and 100000 miles and never replace the brake fluid or the brake lines? Really? Fluid every 2 years and lines every five?
While it was thought that brake fluid would last the life of the car before ABS; it does not and my pre-ABS 1983 Audi called for brake fluid replacement every two years. Its color is a good indicator (coffee=bad, apple juice= good) but they do make test strips that will change color based on the water and mineral content. I have replaced a few calipers and rotors where the inside of the brake line has collapsed causing the fluid to keep pressure on the pads. Every five? Probably too soon but my K-bike is nearing the 25 year mark and need to get some Spiegler lines.
Todays cars with the complex ABS pumps will cost you BIG $$$ if the hydroscopic properties of the brake fluid cause it to go Tango Uniform. It is good practice and relatively easy to do with a simple vacuum pump or a helper to pump the brakes and new fluid.
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go Tango Uniform.
:giggles
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You can buy Spiegler SS brake lines direct from them here. My 87 is on the original rubber lines and way past due for new ones.
https://spieglerusa.com/brakes.html