I have heard that a cheap alternative to SS brake lines is to cover your entire stock brake line with zip-ties...the entire thing completely. Stock brake lines are like made of rubber so they expand when u hit the brakes giving you the mushy feeling. SS brake lines don't expand so they give you a stiffer brake feel. Covering your stock brake lines with zip-ties supposedly will prevent them from expanding. I dont think I would go with the zip-ties but I was wondering if anyone has done this or would like to try it and tell the rest of us it really works.

 

Im not sure on the ziptie thing, but SS brakelines dont do much on Hondas unless the stock lines are cracked or something. Stock lines are pretty good

 

okay imagine this... a long tube with a zip tie in the middle of it... blow up the tube (to simulate expansion) and what happens... the ziptie will keep that portion from expanding while the area to the left and right of it will still expand, probably causing pressure issues.

 

Thats why I said the zipties(plural) would have to cover the entire brake line, not just one "zip tie in the middle".....


[Modified by SuperDuperEG, 9:34 AM 11/7/2001]

 

ahh, mybad.. well i think it could possibly create pressure issues if the lines do need to expand but are restricted

 

Uh, you're going to have to use about 1,000+ zipties to cover the entire brake line. Go with SS. Looks nicer. :D

 

Hahaha good idea, I actually think it would work to a lesser degree. But MAN that is ghett0!

 

One issue....are you going to inspect these lines every now and then? So that if one doesn't create a little bit of a gap and then all the pressure gets focused right there at the one spot where it isn't supported by the zip ties?

Just save yourself the trouble and eat one less meal a day and you will get there.

 

Honestly I don't think it would work. First off, I don't think the rubber hose expands THAT much. You would have to tighten those zip ties down quite a bit. But tighten them down too much, you could end up harming the hose.

It just doesn't seem like it would be worth it. Plus the hoses bend and stuff, so you couldn't get zip ties on every part of the hose, which may produce a ballooning effect.

 

It should work in theory, but I wouldnt try it. Too many things that could go wrong.

 

It works. 3.5mm to 4mm wide zip tires along the length of the OEM rubber hoses spaced out 1" apart. I have done this in place of SS braided hoses on some cars.

I do not know if this will void your warranty or not.

Andie Lin

 

Why so far apart?

 

Hmmmm...this sounds very dangerous. These are your brakes we're talkin about here! I personally wouldn't even attempt this since the brakes are mighty important when it comes to stopping yourself from ramming a tree, pedestrian, cement truck or any other stationary object. Just save and get some SS lines!
Just my .02

 

Thankx for all the prelies guys. But dont think that I was planning on doing this setup, cuz I never said I was going to. I just simply wanted to know if anyone has ever tried it or was willing to try it.

 

Thankx for all the replies guys. But dont think that I was planning on doing this setup, cuz I never said I was going to. I just simply wanted to know if anyone has ever tried it or was willing to try it.

 

I dont think zip ties are strong enough anyway.

 

Zip ties would hold.....But by the time you spent money on Zip ties and all the time spent....could have bought some braided ones for the same amount....

 

Listen guys...we all have opinions. I've done this on cars before, and it does work...all speculation aside: "I don't think...", "Imagine this...", "I'm not sure...", etc.

I use stainless steel braided hoses on my track car, but have used the zip-tie method before, and really can't feel the difference. The zip-tie method is an old racer's secret that has been around for over 15 years.

I'm not telling people NOT to get stainless steel braided lines...just make sure they are DOT/TUV approved, and that you are willing to inspect them often...otherwise, stick with OEM rubber hoses.

Andie


[Modified by CarbotechAndie, 11:20 AM 11/9/2001]

 

I agree with Andie.

I think zipties would be way cheaper. Arent they like 10 bux for like 1000 of them, while SS lines are at least 100 something??

 

"Its an old racers secret" Are you kidding me, that wouldt pass tech even if you paid the guy off!! I mean, really, do you think anyone on a RACE TRACK in a RACE CAR would ever actually do this?

 

Time is money! If you have the time to spend on putting hundreds of zipties on your brake lines.....you need to find another hobby to pickup. I dont have the time....so yes...for me, it would cost more to ziptie them than to buy some SS.

 

I think that I actually mentioned this before. I cant remember if it was on this board or not. I have it on my car, it does work, period. I did notice a difference in pedal feel immediatly, and have had this "tech" on my car for about 1 year with no problems. The rubber lines wont really stretch too much. But if you drive real hard, occasionally auto-x or track race, then I wouldnt recommend just because the brake fluid gets so hot that it will make the factory rubber line more plyable.
Now, what you need to do is get wide ties, maybe 1/4" and place them about 3/4" apart all along the front brake lines. No need for the rears, there isnt enough braking in the back.
This has been around for some time now.
Also, no stainless steel lines on the market are DOT Approved! They only exceed DOT pressure regulations. Prove me wrong, but I never saw a DOT "Approved" ss line.

 

Goodridge are DOT approved.. So are many others

 

I've got the goodrich... picked them up on eBay for $86 shipped. Took me less than an hour to install them and bleed the lines with a friends help. I can definatly tell a difference when I get on them hard.