Brake fluid and braided hose purchasing

T

tedster

Member
 Stoke-on-Trent
im due a brake fluid change very soon and was thinking while i was getting it done i should upgrade to some braided hoses. Has anyone got any experience of braided brake hose ie which are the best to get and where to get them from here in the UK?
 
Braided hoses should give a slightly firmer pedal at high pedal pressures but for everyday driving, it's not so noticable. The braiding can suffer from stress corrosion from salt on the road which may reduce their life (in theory at least).
 
Zeckhausen does the braided, even with the current higher dollar rates it is still not a bad deal.
 
Goodridge and Earls are probably the most common supplier here in the UK but the last time I checked they didn't seem to have a kit suitable for the Z4 rear. I managed to track down a Stoptech set from CA Automotive recently which I sent to a forum member. They were very high quality and sealed in clear plastic so there's no corrosion to the braided lines. I've made a few sets myself from a universal kit but its a PITA to do and you have to be very certain of the quality considering the huge pressures running through the lines.
 
Curtis (or anyone else). Given how similar the Z4 and the E46 3-Series are in many aspects, would a set of SS Brake Lines from a 3-Series work/fit on a Z4?
 
I'm trying to remember the difference and I can't! I'm sure the front was fine but the rear was different. It was either the length or one was a single line and the other was a dual. Something like that. I had the added complication of having M3 running gear in the Z4 shell which is why I made my own. I'll look into it tomorrow and get back to you.
 
Thanks Curtis. I ask because I still have the SS brake lines from a E46 3-Series and am contemplating putting them on the Z4.

:thumbsup:
 
The problem is that the Z4 uses two flexy pipes on the rear with a solid mid section while the E46 uses one long flexy. You can overcome the difference if your braided flexy is long enough to take the place of the two standard flexy's plus the solid mid section so you'll have to take some measurements. Front pipes are identical on both cars so your braided E46 pipes should fit straight on. Hope this helps.
 
I've just found these from Turner Motorsport.

http://www.turnermotorsport.com/html/detail.asp?PRODUCT_ID=ST851334500%20/%20ST851405502
 
To bring this old thread alive again... has anyone found any better UK-based sources? And what brake fluid do people recommend?
 
I used Aeroquip on all my motorbikes but on cars I sometimes felt the 'feel' of rubber was worth keeping.

It is not my goal to lock up wheels, but to drive with feedback from the car. Braided often reduced the feedback as pads would often bite too soon and too hard.

Some may not understand that. But be aware that 'feel' is important.

Regards

Sceptre
 
my braided lines were custom made as back when i got mine done in 2004, there were no suppliers for braided lines. after the switch, i did feel a difference during spirited driving
 
I just got the steel braided lines from Zeckhausen and I'll agree with what others have said. On the road it's not a huge difference in feel. It's noticeable yes just not that much. On the track however there was a huge difference in feel once the brakes were nice and heated up.

I also used the Motul RBF 600 fluid and I can't complain about it at all.....worked great both track days with Axxis ULT deluxe!
 
You can get some stoptech braided hoses from CA ( www.ca-automotive.co.uk/ ) - they take about 10 days or so to arrive, and cost £150 for a full set front/back.

I'm getting some fitted at Perfect Touch (a CA partner) and they're only charging me £100 for the hoses - although I'm bringing my own pads/fluid etc for them to fit.

Mohul RBF600 & Ferodo DS pads all round.

Will let you know how they feel after getting them fitted....

... in anticipation of a 'ring trip & swis/austrian alpine passes!
 
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