Searched, didn't find what I was looking for.

A friend decided to clean his calipers and paint them red with Folia-Tec paint, and I was dumb enough to help him take off and reinstall and bleed his system.

The calipers turned out great, but he bought a set of stainless braided lines from Rotary Performance (www.rx7.com) that turned out to be a nightmare to install. They were excellent quality, but the "D" shaped fitting which inserts into the spring clip retaining tabs just did NOT want to go in. Probably 1-2mm bigger in "diameter" than stock, but we didn't get any really accurate measurements. They were definitely bigger, though. SAE size, not Metric.

The fronts weren't as big a deal because we had the calipers out to work on and were able to use a set of channel locks to squeeze the fittings into place far enough that I could get the spring clips started.

The rear, on the other hand, SUCKED. We spent probably an hour and a half on the first one and only slightly less on the second, bending, hammering, squeezing and generally having a bad time trying to get the fittings seated in the tabs on the rear subframe.

The tabs would bend, we'd get one side in and then it'd pop out when we'd try to start the other side, and there was no room whatsoever to really work on it. In the end, we just hammered in and wedged the spring clips into place as best as we could, and although they're not "right", they're not going anywhere either.

So my question is, who makes the best braided line kit for the FD (DOT legal would be nice) which come already covered (the RP lines were coated in clear material to protect the stainless), and can be ordered without the center fitting on the front lines that would attach to the front shock mounting tabs (don't have any on my JICs)?

 

Autoexe has some real nice brake lines.

 

M2 ( If you can actually get them) where supposed to Have some that fit. I got one of their first run that didn't come with the one rounded side like the stock ones do. We wound up grinding them down to fit. The quality was good but I was supprised to find out that they had not actually test fitted any of the new lines on a car before selling them. This was about two years ago
You may want to call Rick at RX7 Fashion, I've seen lines in there and I think they where coated with clear. I'm sure he's put a few sets on and would be able to answer any questions. He is one of the rare shop owners that actually understands customer service.

 

Hear, hear, Rick is the man. I got my SS brake lines at his shop. I'm actually not sure what brand they are, so unfortunately can't help you there. You could give him a call, he's a great guy to deal with.

Rick's Rotary Performance
925-484-2324

 

Why not fab your own from Earls or Aeroquip parts?

 

I got the Goodrich set for $65 from Mazda Competition. Everything bolted and clipped on perfectly. Did the entire install and bled the brakes in less than 2 hours, and some of that was spent cleaning.

 

Goodrich perfect fit nice finish(Summit Racing) $65

 

I got mine from BrakeParts Wherehouse http://www.brakeco.com/

Fit perfect and great service - I get all my brake parts from them.

 

i don't like the goodridge ones. the d shape thing fits okay, but the lines needs to be twisted. I don't quite like twisting the line.
I heard racing beat ones is made by Earl with the aeroequip fittings. the fittings can rotate to accomodate twisting, so the lines would not get twisted.

Reza

 

Well, I received what I believe are Goodridge lines with my Stillen front brake kit, but they have the "extra" fitting in the center of the line, and aren't coated. They have some plastic spiral wrap on them for protection... yehaa.

Damon, cover8, did yours come coated already?

 

Nope. Mine are raw stainless braid but I had no problems with any of the fittings; no twisting required.

 

mine is just stainless, called goodridge, and they said it really depends on the store who orders it.

reza

 

The Racing Beat made by Earl's installed very easily - all fittings were machined well. Excellent build quality by a respected mfg.

 

I got my set from mazdatrix and they were a breeze to install.

 

I've used Goodridge on my Honda. I haven't changed them on the Mazda yet. They are DOT, braided stainless with teflon sleeving over it. The install was a perfect fit.

My JIC-SF1's have the clip thingy for the brake lines.

 

Goodridge...DOT certified braided SS with teflon sleeving...I have JIC FLT A2s without the mounting bracket for the brakes lines. Works fine, did not use the "extra" fitting in the center.

 

Where did you buy them from? I have the same JICs.

 

Jim,

Here is Goodridge's website:

www.goodridge.net

I went ahead and checked on the US distributors link. For some reason, it doesn't work.

So, here is their phone number to call for a distributor near you.

310-533-1924

 

Thought I would be a little more helpful, since I was already on the phone w/ them.

Per a rep w/ Goodridge, call Stillen. (They are receiving 6 kits shipping today, so they can ship it to you soon). They couldn't find a distributor in the WA area that could expedite the product to you quick enough.

Stillen
714-540-5566

Progress Automotive (Here is a 2nd company to call if you want)
714-575-1193

Part Number is 25053.

 

The funny part is that the brake kit came from Stillen, and the lines in it are the ones I'm complaining about. Is this an entirely separate kit, or the same ones they ship with their big brake packages for the FD?

Guess I'd better give them a call. Maybe I can get a credit for the unused lines that came with my kit.

 

I remember that you purchased your brake kit from them after I logged off yesterday.

Also, considering that you are using the AP racing brake kit and not the stock setup, I realized that the part number that I gave, may be for the stock setup (therefore, it may not fit onto your calipers).

May want to ask them if you can have custom lines made.