JasonL

Purchased a stainless clutch line off ebay from this seller:

http://myworld.ebay.ca/eliteparts20006

After 300km of usage on a 6 puck RPS clutch, it started to leak into the rubber coating, by 600km the whole line was full.

I've emailed Eliteparts and no reply, and after seeing their feedback, it sounds like I'm not the first one to get ignored. I was stupid and left good feedback without using the product too, d'oh. Lesson learned, not to cheap out on something like this...

I took some a couple pics, beside my new oem DOT approved line, you can see the differences in the quality of crimps...

InsomniacFC

iTrader: (4)

How much of a discount did you get? I got mine shipped from mazdatrix.com for less than $25.

Nitrometano

I got mine from mazdatrix too. Also for the braided brake lines I got mine Russell brand. No no brand breaking stuff for my car. The one fron mazdatrix looks better that the old one that you see on the photo. I dont know if the same cheap stuff, but looks better.

Icemark

Pretty common for most SS lines to do that, and one of the main reasons I never recommend SS brake line for street use.

Shainiac

iTrader: (7)

My Corksport SS line was like $18 and its still holding up nicely after 5000+ miles.

helghast7

iTrader: (6)

thats why you should check the feedback before you buy, i dont usually buy from a person if their rating is under 98 percent good

-TAL-

thanks for the heads up, they are fairly local to me. I was going to buy the clutch line and the brake lines.

ZeroDrift

iTrader: (1)

I have gone thru 3 SS lines, with the same issues... I went for an OEM unit w/ no issues (7K+ miles so far!)...

RotaMan99

Why did they cover the SS line with a clear rubber hose? Thats a bit chessy to me. Maybe they are worried they would fail

I bought mine from mazdatrix about 4 years ago. Over 40K miles on it so far. I only bought it for the looks. I like shinny parts more then dull black rubber parts.

HotRodMex

iTrader: (3)

The PVC is there to keep dirt from getting into the SS braid and causing line failure. It's "cheap insurance," not just "cheap."

Agent_D

iTrader: (2)

yea, i've purchased 4 SS lines from corksport, no problems whatsoever, even after some pretty good wear and tear (forgot to unbolt when removing tranny) and they all still hold up.

had one on the vert i had for over 15k miles, no problems.

Node

iTrader: (1)

I believe the plastic covering is what makes it DOT approved for SS brake lines

RotaMan99

I also have SS brake lines on my car from mazdatrix that are DOT approved and they don't have a plastic covering. Besides, the SS braid is woven so tight, how can this dangerous dirt get in them? Im guessing it must have happend already. When I bend my SS lines I can't see rubber, all I can see is the SS braid with no gaps.

NZConvertible

It's a wire braid. If there were no gaps, it wouldn't be wire...

JasonL

My assumption is if it were on a stock clutch setup, it wouldn't have failed.

$12 for a stock oem rubber line, much better now. I bought DOT stainless brake lines off ebay at the same time, luckly different seller...

RotaMan99

alright smarty pants. I meant I couldn't see any gaps large enough to say, dirt could get in there. Its woven very tight.

YaNi

iTrader: (2)

DOT approved means that the fittings are permanently attached, so idiots can't screw with them, and the lines passed a whip resistance test.

djmtsu

iTrader: (3)

Funny, my Mazdatrix SS line has the clear coating on it.

RXJIM

iTrader: (3)

I bought a mazdatrix ss clutch line many years ago, before they put the coating on it. It's worked great never leaked. As far as the clutch goes, best bang for the buck IMO.

classicauto

iTrader: (3)

Nah, have you ever ran an exposed braided stainless line up and down your bare arm? If you did you'd find its quite abrasive. The coating is there to protect whatever is near the line from the abrasion of the stainless braiding.

Icemark

Not only that, but uncovered SS lines, dust and small dirt particles work their way in, through the tine gaps of the braid.

Then that dust and small dirt particles start acting like sand paper between the harder braid and teflon or rubber interior. Guess which one wears out without you seeing it?

The plastic or rubberized outer coatings prevent the fine dirt from getting in through the braid.

slo

iTrader: (1)

Ive run SS brake/clutch lines on 2 bikes and 3 cars over 100K miles and several years and never seen one fail.

Every bike in the club I used to be in had SS lines.

To say its common in most lines is just wrong. Quality lines and fittings such as earls properly installed will never do that.

Risky Devil

iTrader: (1)

Well when you buy ebay **** parts what do you expect?

Buy one of these, and call it a day. $94.00 shipped from RHD Japan

clokker

iTrader: (2)

$94 for a clutch line?

I assume the box includes a pair of geisha to install it and then serve you tea.

KhanArtisT

iTrader: (2)

um...its JDM dude, duh.