Recently I did the Vacuum hose job and Turbo System Simplification and i have hoses that keep melting(cheap hose i guess) and so places where there used to be metal piping, i just have hose. In order to help the hoses from not melting i just wanted to try braided steel. Cost isn't and issue for this aspect of the car, but i was wondering how everyone would think that this would work? Pro and Cons, things of the sort and any good way of clamping the hoses on each end.

Thanks
~Luke

 

if price isnt an issue for this aspect of the car, why dont you just use a more silicone hosing from a more reputable source?

 

^ what he said.

You can use braided steel, but you may run into problems trying to hoseclamp it tightly. get some stainless steel zipties and some pliers Also, the diameters that braided steel comes in may not match the size barb/fitting you have. When we do extreme heat projects in house, we'll use all hardline for vacuum line, wastegate actuators, etc etc. generally a little overkill for the street.

We use Thermal Flex hose for all the vacuum lines on the cars we build and haven't had any problems with the thicker walled tubing.

You could also use a product from Earls called flame-guard, but it is only available in the larger diameters.


Richard Schroeck
Under Pressure

 

DEI/ThermalTec make sleeves but ther aren't steel braided, find it at www.summitracing.com

Auto Zone carries those steel braided sleeves, they're not exactly what you're looking for but might work.

 

I have been running with viton tubing for a year and a half and am pleased that it has maintained its suppleness in the high heat areas. with a 1/8" diameter 1/16 wall it is elastic enough to fit snuggly over the fittings, no need for ties.
used some 1/8" wall where rigidity was needed.

 

i don't know this for fact, but when talking with one of my buddies at work, he said that steel-braided hoses are just regular ol' hoses inside the steel-braid. if that is the case, i would say silicon is still the way to go. as for viton, has anyone researched it? although it is stronger material than silicon, it has a lower melting point. would this not be worse than silicon then, since the main concern of aftermarket hoses is for the heat resistence?