Braided brake hose!
Discussion
Hi people just booked my elise in for a b service at lotus body shop.co.uk seem helpful (so far!)
Ok question is im thinking about upgradeing to stainless hoses would they charge me to fit them? (i know i have to pay for them!) just thinking if its prt they may check remove in the b service??? or should i get bob at local garage to do them??
Ok question is im thinking about upgradeing to stainless hoses would they charge me to fit them? (i know i have to pay for them!) just thinking if its prt they may check remove in the b service??? or should i get bob at local garage to do them??
Do they _really_ make that much difference? My brakes don't feel at all spongey but everything I've heard suggests otherwise!
Given a blind test of two cars - one with and one without, do you think you could tell which is which? Or is this just a case of "I've just spent over £200 on some bits of hose pipe so I'm damned well going to notice a difference!"
Stoker.
interesting theory doctor...They should help spongey pedal particularly if you track your car, they will stop the hose expanding with the build up of pressure which can cause your brake fluid to boil thus releasing air and making the pedal spongy as air is compressible and brake fluid is not (relatively).
If you get your brakles bled at each service this will help remove any sponginess as it gets rid of the contaminated fluid (the stuff with the air in).
People like Stoptech also recommend changing the fluid every year - good article in General Gassing about this yesterday - title was about warped discs I think.
If you get your brakles bled at each service this will help remove any sponginess as it gets rid of the contaminated fluid (the stuff with the air in).
People like Stoptech also recommend changing the fluid every year - good article in General Gassing about this yesterday - title was about warped discs I think.
Hmm I know why my quote was so high, I was going to change the pads as well at the same time.
Whilst part of the problem on track days is the hoses expanding, at least equal is from using the stock road pads. Once they start getting too hot they start gassing, and whilst they can still retard the car, they lose all feel and its very hard to brake effectively as you can't tell when you are about to lock up nearly as well. Had this demonstrated to me by Walshy on a north weald day. Problem with performance pads is that they can squeel like a pig in normal daily driving =/
cuzza said:
they will stop the hose expanding with the build up of pressure which can cause your brake fluid to boil thus releasing air and making the pedal spongy as air is compressible and brake fluid is not (relatively).
Eh? Expanding hoses don't have anything to do with air, and it isn't air that usually causes brakes to go spongey when hot.
If you don't change your fluid regularly (every 1-2 yrs) you risk getting moisture as in water absorbed into the fluid, it is the water which boils when hot into steam which makes your brakes go spongey.
If you've had this happen you would know about it as typically the pedal goes to the floor and you get no brake effect at all - pumping rapidly will build up enough pressure to probably get you out of trouble, but coast gently to a halt ASAP.
Expanding hoses may make your pedal a bit soft between initial bite and final lock-up, but unless you're threshold braking* you will not notice any difference. IMHO, if you tend to stomp on the brakes rather than squeeze them you should stick with std hoses as they will reduce the chance of a wheel lock up.
Off soap box,
AdrianR
* wheels on point of locking up.
adrianr said:
they will stop the hose expanding with the build up of pressure which can cause your brake fluid to boil thus releasing air and making the pedal spongy as air is compressible and brake fluid is not (relatively).
Eh? Expanding hoses don't have anything to do with air, and it isn't air that usually causes brakes to go spongey when hot.
That's not really what I said, I do admit the punctuation there wasn't the best though! What I meant was that the pressure build up would be more even in 'non expanding' brake lines and so you wouldn't get pressure points building up where the fluid can boil.
This effect is magnified in older brake fluid as it is hydroscopic and absorbs water over time.
some_bloke_at_stoptech said:
The all too familiar mushy brake pedal is caused by overheated brake fluid, not overheated pads. Repeated heavy use of the brakes may lead to "brake fade". There are two distinct varieties of brake fade
A) When the temperature at the interface between the pad and the rotor exceeds the thermal capacity of the pad, the pad loses friction capability due largely to out gassing of the binding agents in the pad compound. The brake pedal remains firm and solid but the car will not stop. The first indication is a distinctive and unpleasant smell which should serve as a warning to back off,
B) When the fluid boils in the calipers air bubbles are formed. Since air is compressible, the brake pedal becomes soft and "mushy" and pedal travel increases. You can probably still stop the car by pumping the pedal but efficient modulation is gone. This is a gradual process with lots of warning.
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