RE: burst brake line, oh my

[Eaton Dave <dave.eaton@minedu.govt.nz>]

down under, the law will not warrant (mot) your vehicle if it has ss brake
lines fitted.  

this is precisely due to the concern over abrasion between the ss and the
inner causing catastrophic failure.  there is no doubt in my mind that this
can and does happen.  most often becasue of grit/dirt becoming embedded in
the ss braid.

as you have found out.  you are lucky that the failure occured without more
serious consequences.

i've discussed this at length with the rally guys and various people and
decided to stay well away from ss lines.  until i get a dedicated
track/rally car that is.  with the influx of boy-racers and their hot
imprezza's it is one of their most common mods, and one of the most common
causes of mot-failures.  the local speed shops now refuse to do this work
unless the car is a rally or track vehicle...

dave
'95 rs2
'90 ur-q

> ------------------------------
> 
> Date: Thu, 01 Oct 1998 09:22:15 -0400
> From: Dylan Jenkins <dylan@vt.edu>
> 
[snip]

> When we got home I looked under the car and saw that the front passenger
> side brake line had burst. This is a new (3 months old) braided stainless
> brake line from Blau. I haven't had a chance to inspect the line for cause
> of failure in daylight (ie, rubbing or rock temporarily caught between
line
> and half shaft?). I'm wondering: has anyone else experienced this type of
> brake line failure? The split/burst was in the middle of the line, maybe
> some minor rubbing near the half-shaft. Installing a brake line is a
> no-brainer and really not much to go/do wrong.
> 
> Dylan.
> Virginia Tech - Department of Forestry  
> 216B Cheatham Hall (0324)    
> Blacksburg, Virginia 24061   
> (o)540/231.6391	     
> (f)540/231.3330
>