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Message started by greenmonster on 04/10/12 at 14:03:00

Title: steel braided brake line
Post by greenmonster on 04/10/12 at 14:03:00

Hey folks,

I need to replace my brake line and I'm planning on going steel braided. Anyone have any recommendations for brands or places to buy?

Before I forget, are there any drawbacks to the stuff?

Title: Re: steel braided brake line
Post by EJID on 04/10/12 at 14:16:34

I bought mine on eBay from this seller...he re-lists them every time they end, and builds them to your specs on length/fittings & orientation. Good quality, and I like it. The only drawback I found was the line has a substantially smaller outside diameter than the stock line so you have to figure out something a little different for the clips that hold it along the fork & tripple tree.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/SUZUKI-LS650PY-CUSTOM-STAINLESS-STEEL-BRAKE-LINE-HOSE-/110856612128?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr&hash=item19cf91a920
http://i.ebayimg.com/t/SUZUKI-LS650PY-CUSTOM-STAINLESS-STEEL-BRAKE-LINE-HOSE-/00/s/NTAwWDUwMA==/$(KGrHqV,!i0E6I+8+lNTBOnvko3fKw~~60_12.JPG

Title: Re: steel braided brake line
Post by Savage_Rob on 04/10/12 at 16:04:05

I got mine directly from HEL at http://helusa.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4593.

Title: Re: steel braided brake line
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/10/12 at 16:27:17

By Golly, I do believe Rob told you to go to Hel for your brake line..

Title: Re: steel braided brake line
Post by greenmonster on 04/10/12 at 16:31:38

405F595E43447545754D5F53182A0 wrote:

By Golly, I do believe Rob told you to go to Hel for your brake line..

I'm beginning to see the drawbacks!

Title: Re: steel braided brake line
Post by spacepirates on 04/10/12 at 19:47:37

EJID, what fittings/length/angle did you select for that ebay seller?

Doesn't look like a bad deal, ~$35 shipped.

Title: Re: steel braided brake line
Post by EJID on 04/11/12 at 07:55:51

6A69787A7C69706B786D7C6A190 wrote:

EJID, what fittings/length/angle did you select for that ebay seller?

Doesn't look like a bad deal, ~$35 shipped.

This is exactly what I noted to the seller when I purchased mine while converting my stock drag bars to FXDWG mini-apes...

Hose 1 Fittings #1 & #4 (10mm Straight & 10mm 45 Degree)
Length 42" (end to end including fittings)
Angle: Type C (90 Degree)

THE TOTAL LENGTH OF 42" IS LONGER THAN STOCK!!!! I don't recall what the stock length was, but I think I added 3"-4" to compensate for the taller/wider bars. Problem is, I could've used another 2" of slack :(
(I think I measured what I thought I was going to need with the bike strapped into my stand and the forks were slightly compressed, the line I have is just barely long enough, but I should order another one about 2" longer - in fact, if you are interested in the one I've got, I might sell it to you & order myself another longer one)

Title: Re: steel braided brake line
Post by greenmonster on 04/11/12 at 08:27:42

I have the stock bars from '86. I'm not sure what the length I'm going to need is otherwise I may take you up on that.

So no one has anything negative to say about braided cables?

Title: Re: steel braided brake line
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 04/11/12 at 09:20:51

Braided is better, they cant swell with the brake pressure like a plain rubber hose.
When calculating length, lifting the bike so the forks are fully extended & leaving a bit of slack is , I think, the way to go.

Title: Re: steel braided brake line
Post by EJID on 04/11/12 at 09:30:21

26393F3825221323132B39357E4C0 wrote:

...When calculating length, lifting the bike so the forks are fully extended & leaving a bit of slack is , I think, the way to go.

I agree. I feel kinda stoopid :-[ for not realizing that the forks were slightly compressed in my bike stand when I was measuring. I tried to give myself a few extra inches to work with, but it was only barely enough to get the job done.

Title: Re: steel braided brake line
Post by Serowbot on 04/11/12 at 10:24:07

My two cents,... many will disagree...

-SS braided offers better protection from external damage and sun rot...
-More responsive feel,... although they won't actually shorten stopping distance, just better sensitivity ...
-SS cables are less flexible, and more prone to bending and twisting damage...
-Internal damage is less visible until leaks occur...
-cool looking...

If my stocker went,.. I'd probably go SS, mostly for cosmetic reasons...

Title: Re: steel braided brake line
Post by Savage_Rob on 04/11/12 at 13:01:28

4157405D45505D46320 wrote:

It made a definite difference in feel. Mine were feeling soft and I knew all the rest of the hardware was working fine, so after talking with some of the folks on this site I decided it probably was due to the old rubber hose absorbing some of the pressure by swelling slightly during use. I installed the HEL braided SS and the soft feel went away. I'm sure age, ambient temperature and general exposure factors will cause this effect to vary widely but I am happy with my switch. I noticed today that HEL now offers braided titanium but it's twice the price of their SS.

Title: Re: steel braided brake line
Post by teabowl13 on 04/11/12 at 13:21:43

7B74777A3E0 wrote:

I tried to give myself a few extra inches to work with, but it was only barely enough to get the job done.

Title: Re: steel braided brake line
Post by Savage_Rob on 04/11/12 at 14:16:06

6352565558405B0604370 wrote:

[quote author=7B74777A3E0 link=1334091780/0#9 date=1334161821] I tried to give myself a few extra inches to work with, but it was only barely enough to get the job done.

;D

[/quote]
Seriously, TMI.

Title: Re: steel braided brake line
Post by willongboarder on 06/20/13 at 20:31:19

Any idea if the threads on the '87-'98 are any different than '01? I am planning to replace the line on my '01 but would hate to order a set for those years and have the fittings have a different thread pitch...