SS brake lines

[KB Viper]

are they worth it? The reason I ask is, the ACR being a track focused car comes with the same lines as the rest of the Gen V's and from what I am told have had no issues. If you were going with the Racing Brakes BBK would you use stock or SS lines?

here are the SS lines I was planning on going with.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sph-950-63008/overview/

[darbgnik]

I don't know if those are the Viper specific Stop tech lines, but I bought both sets of Viper specific ones from Jon B a while ago for my car and didn't install them yet, so no feedback.

[greygt3]

I bought the SS setup from Jon B and installed them on my ACR. I've done several track days with them. Honestly I don't feel any difference from the stock lines. I like having the piece of mind of the upgraded units. I have installed them on all of my cars for years.

[KB Viper]

I don't know if those are the Viper specific Stop tech lines, but I bought both sets of Viper specific ones from Jon B a while ago for my car and didn't install them yet, so no feedback.

I called stop tech direct and that's the part number they gave me.

[ACR]

Won't make much of a difference, rubber lines get a bad rap but are plenty reinforced. With the brake R&D on ACR I'm confident they didn't choose crap

[bluesrt]

Waste of money in my opinion

[Dfunk]

Good thread. I've been wondering the same and was thinking it was not necessary. I'll stick with stock lines for now.

[str5010]

My opinion and time flies but years ago this was considered a mandatory upgrade for your standard production cars that were going to see track duty. It provided a noticeable improvement in pedal feel. It seems as though more recently, production cars developed for the sharper end of the performance segemnt are being produced with higher quality brake lines that are rigid enough such that switching to SS lines yields little if any noticeable change. That has been my experience on my own cars anyway.

[AZTVR]

Is it more of a factor about what is the long term performance of the OE rubber brake lines nowadays?

I wonder how the rubber brake lines hold up in the high heat environment of many track days, as compared to the teflon lines sheathed with the stainless steel braid? That aspect is not advertised by Stoptech; so, maybe heat and age degradation is not a factor for going to the aftermarket lines either?

[Special Ed]

You will not feel any difference between "new" stock brake lines or ss lines. The change come as the stock lines will start flexing ( for lack of a better word) due to continued heavy use while tracking. The change may happen slowly that it may go unnoticed. I would think of these lines as safety equipment, you don't need it until you need it.

[ViperGeorge]

You will not feel any difference between "new" stock brake lines or ss lines. The change come as the stock lines will start flexing ( for lack of a better word) due to continued heavy use while tracking. The change may happen slowly that it may go unnoticed. I would think of these lines as safety equipment, you don't need it until you need it.

Totally agree with this. Plus use a good Dot 4 fluid like Castrol or Motul 600. In the Gen 5, since the clutch and brakes share the fluid, it also helps the clutch from getting mushy from heat. First upgrade I do on every car. Change the lines and the fluid.

[GTSilver]

are they worth it? The reason I ask is, the ACR being a track focused car comes with the same lines as the rest of the Gen V's and from what I am told have had no issues. If you were going with the Racing Brakes BBK would you use stock or SS lines?

here are the SS lines I was planning on going with.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sph-950-63008/overview/

I looked it up a couple of years back when I started tracking my car and saw that from some reason manufacturers cant supply SS brake line in production form due to a law or something thus the reason you don't see any SS brake lines on any car from factory. As stated earlier by other members rubber lines either deteriorate or expand due to extensive heat. First thing I do for any sports car is Castrol SRF and SS brake lines.

[SADVIPER]

If you track the car, definitely an improved setup over OEM with better fluids and pads.
I felt huge difference between two different seasons after the upgrade. Just know that some SS lines need some bracket adjustment as mine didn't fit directley.

[KB Viper]

thanks for all of the useful information gentlemen, that's why i love this forum. does anyone have a recommendation of rear SS lines, Stoptech does not make them is what they told me when i called?

[Camfab]

On the other hand, have you heard of the factory lines ever failing? I've certainly seen stainless lines fail, which has a lot to do with why so many have not been legal for years. I believe most of the Goodridge brand SS lines are DOT approved, not sure about Gen V products though. If your going to do them, think of them as items to check and replace. My experience with them (non Viper applications), was as noted above, poor fitment. They had a tendency to be not the exact same length and bracketry was not exact and it caused sawtooth type wear on the A-arms until I fabbed up a few different mounts to solve the problem without stressing the hose. Race car gets race car parts, street car gets OEM parts where safety and long term reliability is a factor.

[ACR Steve]

Its not about stock failing. It about heat and expansion of the line........in turn a softer pedal
Steel braded are not used by manufacturers because its much harder to inspect for a puncture. Thus not DOT legal on NEW cars. The braiding does not allow expansion thus the peddle stays firmer when hot.

Every race car worth its soul has steel braided lines. I would change it if you track the car a lot. With our ceramic and brake ducts I am not sure how much heat transfer to fluid there is but I do know the initial heat that ceramic makes is very high then dissipates fast . Bottom line it cant hurt

I have done it on every Viper I have owned up to my new ACR. Just haven't had time to replace

[FrgMstr]

You will not feel any difference between "new" stock brake lines or ss lines. The change come as the stock lines will start flexing ( for lack of a better word) due to continued heavy use while tracking. The change may happen slowly that it may go unnoticed. I would think of these lines as safety equipment, you don't need it until you need it.

Exactly this. I changed mine out on my Gen IV after those were 7 years old, and I could feel a LOT of difference when the brakes got hot.

[Steve M]

So those that have done the SS braided lines, how was the fitment? My experience with them on my old Camaro was similar to Camfab...the fitment wasn't great, and the install was very much cobbled together with adapters and clips. I'm certainly not opposed to the idea of them, but I also don't want to put something on my car that isn't up to par.

[Redx]

I did stoptech SS lines on my gen IV, great fit, nothing to worry about there.

[BlueAdder]

Normally the brake lines are the first thing I change (by necessity on my Focus ST since I pretty much melted the whole system).
But for the ACR, I don't feel the need especially with the CCB. If I was on the steel brakes, I would definitely consider the SS lines.

I wouldn't be too worried about fitment because usually, the lines are made for a specific model of car. My lines for the ST came with replacement clips that fitted perfectly. The SS lines for the Lotus didn't have anything specific because there was no need. Never had any problem with either setups.
It's an inexpensive mod and also a peace of mind if you track the car regularly

[uberpube]

I didn't notice that big of difference with the brake lines on any of my cars besides looking prettier....I did notice the difference in the clutch control on a car with unsprung dual plate with a braided line on the hydraulics, could actually tell when the throw out bearing was just contacting the pressure plate diaphragm, maybe a little less dampening with SS.

[wrh3]

StopTech shows part numbers for both front and rear lines.....guess I'll call them tomorrow since they don't answer emails. Most likely will sell the StopTech lines I already bought and get some of JonB's.

22260

[sadil]

I just bought some Goodridge brake lines for my G5. However, has anyone else used them? Thoughts?

[BlueAdder]

are they worth it? The reason I ask is, the ACR being a track focused car comes with the same lines as the rest of the Gen V's and from what I am told have had no issues. If you were going with the Racing Brakes BBK would you use stock or SS lines?

here are the SS lines I was planning on going with.
https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sph-950-63008/overview/

Had some on my Focus ST and they broke :/

[sadil]

Had some on my Focus ST and they broke :/

What brand? And more importantly how! That is scary

[ViperGeorge]

Call JonB at Partsrack. He will fix you up. I've always used SS lines on any Viper that I've tracked. My street GTS I didn't bother to change them.

[TKO MOTORSPORTS TEAM]

TKOSROD12416K 415.00
3rd, 4th, 5th GEN VIPER RACING BRAKE LINE KIT WITH HEAT SHIELDING
Some of the biggest weak points in any factory brake system are the rubber lines. Rubber lines expand under pressure causing a spongy negative brake pedal feel, this makes it difficult for any driver to modulate braking correctly. Rubber lines also deteriorate quickly in an elevated temperature racing environment.
TKO Motorsports steel braided brake lines are built specifically for maximum performance in the harshest racing environments. Our brake line kits have been tested under the most demanding conditions possible; IMSA, Trans Am, World Time Attack and Pirelli World Challenge.
Kit comes complete with:
• 2 front and 2 rear high-pressure PTFE (Teflon) stainless steel braided lines
• Direct fit, no modifications necessary
• DOT highway use, legal
• High temperature silicone heat shielding on all lines to prevent overheating in extreme track environments
• High temperature line routes for ABS and brake pad wear electrical wires
• Every line is pressure tested to over 2000 psi (this far exceeds maximum pressure possible by a driver)

[sadil]

TKOSROD12416K 415.00
3rd, 4th, 5th GEN VIPER RACING BRAKE LINE KIT WITH HEAT SHIELDING
Some of the biggest weak points in any factory brake system are the rubber lines. Rubber lines expand under pressure causing a spongy negative brake pedal feel, this makes it difficult for any driver to modulate braking correctly. Rubber lines also deteriorate quickly in an elevated temperature racing environment.
TKO Motorsports steel braided brake lines are built specifically for maximum performance in the harshest racing environments. Our brake line kits have been tested under the most demanding conditions possible; IMSA, Trans Am, World Time Attack and Pirelli World Challenge.

Kit comes complete with:
• 2 front and 2 rear high-pressure PTFE (Teflon) stainless steel braided lines
• Direct fit, no modifications necessary
• DOT highway use, legal
• High temperature silicone heat shielding on all lines to prevent overheating in extreme track environments
• High temperature line routes for ABS and brake pad wear electrical wires
• Every line is pressure tested to over 2000 psi (this far exceeds maximum pressure possible by a driver)


Thanks. Do these lines come with swivel connections on the vehicle side?

[TKO MOTORSPORTS TEAM]

Thanks. Do these lines come with swivel connections on the vehicle side?

Im not sure i understand your question Sadil??? Our ss brake lines install just like factory lines, easy to install. I attached some pics I hope this helps answer you question 4303043031

[HOLLYWOOD]

I also had Goodridge SS lines on my Tahoe and they were good for a few years then one day, boom... pedal right to the floor when driving, then once I pulled over and stopped there was fluid everywhere and a big puddle on the road. Got home, took the front DS wheel off and sure enough the damn line managed to end up being cut by the rotor which sawed through the SS sheathing and all it took was a little leak to make for a really crappy day. The big problem with these lines is they were just a bit too short and somehow the hose moved when turning hard left and this movement eventually cut the line. I called Goodridge and they said to pound sand and basically the part was no longer made. When fastened to the Upper Control Arm with a clip, when a tight turn is made it just dragged the line across the rotor. This had been going on for some time and obviously unnoticed until it was too late. Never again, as I hate cobbling things together especially when the line was just a tad too short which when I installed I thought "these guys must know what they are doing" when in fact once the product is sold they could care less about the failure rates.

[sadil]

Im not sure i understand your question Sadil??? Our ss brake lines install just like factory lines, easy to install. I attached some pics I hope this helps answer you question 4303043031

43637

Hoping someone can help me with this confusion. I bought goodridge SS lines and they have the same 3-way T connector that is shown in the TKO lines photo. I am curious on where I am supposed to install that? The 3-way T has two open ports. What to do with the spare open port? I was dumbfounded by this today and decided not to the lines because I couldn't figure out what purpose the 3-way served and how to close it up.

[LATAMUD]

I think you got the answer on FB a few days ago. For anyone else wondering, that specific hose you're asking about is Gen3/4 rear. Gen5 doesn't have that T fitting.

[TKO MOTORSPORTS TEAM]

Sadil we PM you.

Gen 3,4 and 5 we use the same SS brake lines. The extra port on 5th gen vipers gets an inverted flare plug installed.