Anybody ever replace a steel tube brake line with a stainless steel braided hose? Will it burst under high pressure?

I need to replace my steel tube front drivers side. It will be a pain to bend thru the frame to connect. A braided hose will be easy.
For 1988 F250 4X4.

Thanks
JD

 

They both have advantages and disadvantages. The braided is easier to bend but with the wire around it, it will hold in moisture and salt, dirt, etc. making it rust faster. The regular line is harder to bend but may last longer. If I had to put a line in a hard area to get into and had to bend by hand I would probably use the braided stuff. But for everything else I would just use the regular stuff. Good luck!

-Matt

 

The on;ly place you should use braided line is as a replacement for the flexible rubber hose already on the truck in places where the line has some movement. Using braided line in other areas results in a spongy brake pedal as the flexible line does expand some when you apply the brakes.

The above is common practice on race cars. I would also caution you that most braided line (at least the stainless braided type) is not DOT approved. This doesn't mean it isn't as good or better than the OEM stuff, it just means it is not legal for on road use. This is no big deal unless you get in a wreck and some lawyer finds out the lines are not OEM type. He will then find a jury of idiots and convince them the wreck was your fault because you had non-OEM type parts in the brake system.

 

Using braided line in other areas results in a spongy brake pedal as the flexible line does expand some when you apply the brakes.

If I replace 1 (Short 8") line with braided hose and leave all the other lines (steel tube originals) intact, will I still feel a spongy pedal?

Thanks
JD

 

No. That length is smaller than the flexible lines you already have on the truck. Just don't replace the long runs of hard line with the braided line and you'll be fine.

 

I will replace the 8" line with braided. It connects to the proportion valve and drivers side front. Just wanted to know if it will burst under high pressure, it's a plow truck.

Sounds like I will be Ok

Thanks
JD

 

That length will be fine, presuming you add the proper flare to the metal line you are connecting the braided hose to.

If you're just using clamps, well, then it's a death wish.

 

Won't burst. As mentioned above, it's use is common on race cars, just in a different place. (the whole system has equal pressure). However most of the SS braid lines I see now ARE DOT approved. Some are not, but the majority of them seem to be now. Cheers.