Braided brake lines - recommendations / ones to avoid?

[SonicSW20]

its not just a braided hose

think of the connectors, mounts and fittings that go along with it.

I was being simplistic earlier to make a point - I know it's more than just a hose. Connectors etc are cheap parts - there's nothing special about them.

EDIT: Based on the price, I am assuming these are not the real deal? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Goodridge-CLG ... 1468804003

[bobhatton]

its not just a braided hose

think of the connectors, mounts and fittings that go along with it.

I was being simplistic earlier to make a point - I know it's more than just a hose. Connectors etc are cheap parts - there's nothing special about them.

EDIT: Based on the price, I am assuming these are not the real deal? http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Goodridge-CLG ... 1468804003

These are the correct ones with non stainless hose ends.
I only use ones that have the stainless steel hose ends that fit on the caliper, stops them rusting like the steel ones do

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Goodridge-Toy ... 4003&rt=nc

[Nic]

Just seems like a lot of money for short bits of hydraulic hoses.

They are VERY important short bits of hydraulic hose though, cheap braided brake lines that are not stainless steel can corrode and fail without warning, I've experience complete sudden brake loss, it's not an experience I'd like to repeat

If you are going to fit braided lines fit good quality stainless steel ones that have the MR2 specific 2 bolt bracket on the rear lines, the Goodridge and the Rogue ones are the only brake lines I know that have the correct fittings.

[cosmos]

Earls Performance Products here, they are based at Silverstone in Northamptonshire, best get stainless steel fittings ideally.

[SonicSW20]

I think I'll probably go for the HEL ones from Camskill for £70 and make my own bracket. Not keen on paying another £50+ more for the sake of a bracket I can make from garage bits.

There's a hydraulics place near me too that someone I know has had brake lines made up as well. I'll give them a go as well as it sounds like their prices are competitive.

[matgd]

I've got the HEL ones from camskill and making decent brackets up was a pain, I've ended up with a clamp thing made of tin and lined with rubber gasket to grip it. You'll never make a quality looking item like the goodridge ones though.

The HEL lines are good quality though, just a shame they aren't the easy fit the other ones are.

[SonicSW20]

Honestly, if the bracket is functional I don't care what it looks like. I won't be able to see it 99.9% of the time anyway!

[QUOC2008]

Goodridge briaded brake hose

[craig]

You aren't just paying for a bracket. Goodridge hoses are far superior in quality than HEL. You get what you pay for.

[rev3turbo]

just get goodridge and be done with it

whats the point in going through the hassle of bodging a bracket together via tie wraps, bits of old tin, shoelaces etc etc

[SonicSW20]

You aren't just paying for a bracket. Goodridge hoses are far superior in quality than HEL. You get what you pay for.

Other than the bracket, what tangible benefit am I getting for near on twice as much money? Both are stainless steel, both have a lifetime warranty.

just get goodridge and be done with it

whats the point in going through the hassle of bodging a bracket together via tie wraps, bits of old tin, shoelaces etc etc

I don't remember saying I'd be using tin or shoelaces! Making a bracket to hold a hose is trivial.

[rev3turbo]

You're getting the benefit that a company put the effort and tooling into making a product to the exact same design that toyota did, where as the other brands clearly didnt.

If thats not worth the extra of your hard earnt money, only you can decide?

You keep asking the same question and are being told the same answers, theres no hidden benefits, they are visually clear to see just from the photos comparing all brands.

[JohnnyC]

How is this thread still going?

2nd reply mentioned Goodridge, thread should have ended there

[SonicSW20]

You're getting the benefit that a company put the effort and tooling into making a product to the exact same design that toyota did, where as the other brands clearly didnt.

If thats not worth the extra of your hard earnt money, only you can decide?

In my opinion not nearly twice as much money, no. I appreciate all the responses, but I'm just not seeing £50+ of benefit to be honest. The HEL ones are made from good quality stainless steel, right here in the UK. They are the correct length, and obviously have the correct fittings. This is a hydraulic hose we're talking about here, not some specialist one of a kind part.

After doing some research, it seems HEL lines are held in pretty high regard in sports bike circles.

[Odin_S]

The issue here is money not quality. If that's the case why not just save up like I would do the get the best.

I rather pay more than at worst have a failure or at least do double job by fixing it again.

[SonicSW20]

It's not a case of saving, it's a case of simply not wanting to spend £120+ on a set of brake lines when the HEL items for £70 will give the same braking performance improvement and all parts are made from stainless steel. The only difference I can see is I'll need to make a simple bracket, which is easy.
We're not looking at a cheap chinese import set here - they are 100% manufactured in the UK and come with a lifetime warranty - that's not the mark of a low quality item.

This still seems expensive compared to a family members Range Rover Classic - full set of SS braided hoses for under £20 - and kit car - full set of one off SS braided custom made hoses for ~£50.

[craig]

The issue here is money not quality. If that's the case why not just save up like I would do the get the best.

I rather pay more than at worst have a failure or at least do double job by fixing it again.

Precisely this. Way too much of this these days on here, cost over quality.

[SonicSW20]

The issue here is money not quality. If that's the case why not just save up like I would do the get the best.

I rather pay more than at worst have a failure or at least do double job by fixing it again.

Precisely this. Way too much of this these days on here, cost over quality.

I've been doing a bit more research on the HEL items - I don't see how you can call them low quality really.
They supply WSBK, BSB and MotoGP teams, and are the official supplier for the BTCC, to name a few. They are (or were) also an MOD supplier apparently.

[bobhatton]

We're not looking at a cheap chinese import set here - they are 100% manufactured in the UK

They may be put together in the UK but I would not say the hose and fittings are made here.

[SonicSW20]

We're not looking at a cheap chinese import set here - they are 100% manufactured in the UK

They may be put together in the UK but I would not say the hose and fittings are made here.

Their website states that all components are made in house, in the UK:

http://www.helperformance.com/manufacturing.html

"HEL Performance are very proud of the fact that all of our brake line components are made in Britain, including all of our stainless steel braided brake hose and all of our stainless steel brake line fittings. Indeed we are the only company in the UK to manufacture all of our mainline fittings in-house on our own Star Micronics CNC Machines. Whilst others may prefer to buy their fittings and hose from a third party and simply assemble and brand in house, HEL Performance have always striven towards self-sufficiency, guaranteeing supply times, quality and overall finish to our parts. The image opposite shows one of our stainless steel banjos machined and rumbled in-house."