ray green

iTrader: (14)

Are stainless steel brake lines really better than stock rubber flexible lines for street applications? This is for an 85 GSL with a rusted rear pipe and older flexible lines that I'm replacing. I commute in this car, so I try to use my brakes as little as possible.

For a complete replacement kit, the ones on the Mazdatrix web site are CHEAPER (about $100) than the stock rubber replacements (almost twice that), which makes me suspicious. But heh, sometimes cheaper is better. Here's what I'm wondering.

1. The rubber ones are a piece of cake to install - are the stainless steel ones a problem to install and maintain?

2. Do all stainless steel lines have a braided stainless steel construction (to resist expansion, right?) with a regular rubber tube inside?

3. If not, are there different kinds of stainless steel lines and which are better?

4. Any suggestions about the best replacements and where to get them?

Thanks!
Ray

dirty86

1 easy if they are bolt on

2 i think so never heard of anything but ss

3 .....

4 dunno about rx7

sorry for such little help

Aico

Try maxdatrix and racingbeat and rx7.com has them 2 I believe.

cdrad51

Funny but it's true: some, if not all, aftermarket parts seem to be cheaper than original stock. Mazdatrix will sell a high flow aftermarket main cat for less than 1/3rd of their price for the original stock one...

Steve Shulz

OEM is not as readily available anymore. Supply and demand. Supply down demand up = $$$$$ Capitalizm rocks!

SS124A

Russell and goodridge make a nice set of them

Maybe we should work out a group-buy, I can use a set or two..

Bryan at rotorsports threw in a free SS clutch line during the last SS brake line GB

82transam

iTrader: (18)

I have the mazdatrix ss lines. They made a huge difference, nice stiff pedal. Just what I wanted. and as said earlier, the lack of supply on OEM stuff makes it so expensive. If you could find a Mazda dealer with an original cat it costs something like $1100 or some similarly rediculous amount. Its crazy.

wwilliam54

victoria british has em too

81Rex6port13b

rx7.com sells them for around $100, and there dot aproved.

LongDuck

They are composed of silicone plastic lines that are surrounded by the braided stainless steel - the silicone is hard enough that it contains the brake pedal pressure without distorting, which results in a tighter feeling pedal pressure, which makes it easier to modulate them.

The SS braided outside is for abrasion protection, and for appearance to protect the silicone. Nothing more.

Overall - they're a good upgrade for an aging car, as having a stock line develop a leak over time is both annoying and dangerous. If you ever need those brakes in an emergency stop, you'll be glad that you can trust your new SS lines rather than 20 year old rubber hoses that have been exposed to the elements for that long. HTH,

ray green

iTrader: (14)

Thanks LongDuck, we're going stainless. I'll check the various suppliers mentioned in this post by others (thanks for the list!) but it sounds like they are all of similar construction and quality and all cost around $100. Who is most deserving of my business?

Ray

82transam

iTrader: (18)

I would say mazdatrix just because all my dealings (there have been many) with them have been flawless. They are DOT approved as well.

Wankelguy

Just be sure that you route the SS lines in gentle curves so that you don't break them. They do break pretty easily if you try to bend them too sharply.

ray green

iTrader: (14)

Mazdatrix it is, they have been pretty good before on other stuff I got from them although their prices tend to be a little higher than the Mazda dealer on most things, except the brake lines.

82transam

iTrader: (18)

Thats a good point wankelguy, just make it follow the route that the stock lines took and your set.