Braided Brake Lines - Worth It or Not?

fran-s3

fran-s3

Active Member
VCDS Map User
Joined
Jan 29, 2008
Messages
1,094
Reaction score
3
Points
36
Location
NULL
Hi Guys,

I've searched this in the forum and read a few threads but no one seems to have been able to make a direct comparison from standard rubber ones to stainless steel ones.

Basically do they make any difference to pedal feel as suggested they do? (if your standard ones aren't in bad condition)

Curious really - honest answers on a postcard please from anyone with experience replacing theirs. (Front ones) Thanks!
 
Yes you really do!

I have FULL braided lines (not just the final piece which goes to the caliper) and the brakes feel great, compared to my girlfriends A3 which has the same S3 brakes mine feel much more planted and confidence inspiring. You will only really notice it under an emergency stop or a STRONG hill hold with just the final hoses, but it all helps.
 
I dont see the point replacing the copper/steel hardlines with stainless braided teflon.

Copper/Steel will expand less than stainless braid, so i've no idea how you think making the entire line slightly more squishy can improve things.

The point is that the rubber hoses are ****e, and expand like baloons under pressure. Stainless braided teflon hoses expand much less, so replacing the rubber bits with stainless braided teflon hoses will improve feel.

Copper/Steel doesnt expand at all, so replacing all the hardlines with stainless braided teflon is a backwards step imo.
 
its helps when you you need it most. the brake fluid boils to unusual levels when braking constantly & heavily. braided hoses reduces that sponginess you get from the brake pedal.
the feedback you get from your pedal will be more positive.
if you are just granny shifting and not double clutching with a 100 shot of nitrous then dont bother.
in other words if you dont drive hard then dont waste you money on it.
i would recommend them for any remapped car.
 
Thanks for the feedback guys!

16Klappe said:
Yes you really do!

I have FULL braided lines (not just the final piece which goes to the caliper) and the brakes feel great, compared to my girlfriends A3 which has the same S3 brakes mine feel much more planted and confidence inspiring. You will only really notice it under an emergency stop or a STRONG hill hold with just the final hoses, but it all helps.
Click to expand...

Nice to hear your experience of actually replacing them and feeling the difference - will consider this when I come to replace my brake fluid.
 
Hi

I went for goodridge lines. Have made a difference but not huge. The new steel lines required different clips to attach them to the wheel arches. Not a standard s3 part though. Went to audi and found them on the a4 spec sheet. Proved to be a pain on install as had to cable tie the lines which wasn't ideal. Just my experience. In hindsight, would have waited but did them as part of brembo upgrade.
 
I have goodridge lines. Much better then OEM, and when you have a line rubbing on the back of the wheel as I did, you'll be grateful that your brake lines aren't rubber!
 
Cheers guys - I'm getting the vibe that these aren't straight forward to fit and additional parts are needed apart from just the lines themselves? Or is everything needed part of the pack.
 
fran-s3 said:
Cheers guys - I'm getting the vibe that these aren't straight forward to fit and additional parts are needed apart from just the lines themselves? Or is everything needed part of the pack.
Click to expand...
Mate they are a piece of **** to fit if you are doing the brakes anyway. You just undo the old line and put the new one in, the bleed the system as you would anyway. If you're still not sure, ask Westy for more info, he has fitted a few.
 
Cheers guys - it wouldn't be me but a mechanic fitting these once I get round to needing the brake fluid change next year. I'm useless with spanners!

Come on Westy spot this thread and give me your feedback. :) :)
 
fran-s3 said:
Cheers guys - it wouldn't be me but a mechanic fitting these once I get round to needing the brake fluid change next year. I'm useless with spanners!

Come on Westy spot this thread and give me your feedback. :) :)
Click to expand...

You can't be that bad, all you need is someone to bleed the system for you really, oh, and make sure you have the right size spanner of course...
 
  • Like
Reactions: fran-s3
Getting my braided lines fitted tomorrow. I know it's straightforward but car's having a service anyway so it's good opportunity to make a small improvement. And I get to build the garden decking in the sun whilst they're being fitted. Job Done!

Fran - still got your door blade mate!
 
Can you replace all the rubber hoses on the S3? I was told your still left with the rubber flexi that goes into the rear caliper as this is intergrated into the hard line running to the caliper, and the hoses you replace are the rubber flexi that go between the hardline running under the car to the hardline on the rear wishbone
 
mk1chopper said:
Can you replace all the rubber hoses on the S3? I was told your still left with the rubber flexi that goes into the rear caliper as this is intergrated into the hard line running to the caliper, and the hoses you replace are the rubber flexi that go between the hardline running under the car to the hardline on the rear wishbone
Click to expand...

You can realistically only change the front hoses and the hoses connection to the rear swing arms... the hoses to the rear calipers are a hybrid solid/flexi but I believe there is a couple of companies that have produced these in the past...

From what I understand the S3 hoses are braided as std... I replaced the fronts on mine as I have 4pots but the rears are std...

<tuffty/>
 
I fitted my braided front lines today with some HEL lines, the banjo bolt was the incorrect size so I had to use my old one, which wasnt really ideal... but oh well. I wish I had read this thread before ordering them (well I ordered them before this thread existed) but I wouldnt have jacked the car up at the rear and attempted them if id had known the rears would still have rubber...

I did try and do it anyway, but the rubber to hardline connection was twisting and not coming out and I could see the hard line was flexing (which i guess it shouldnt be) so to save myself the £90 for a new front to back hard line and the horror of dropping the fuel tank to replace it, I decided to leave the rears. Might chuck them at a mechanic to fit or just sell them on here.

The difference after I dropped some new 5.1 fluid in with the braided fronts was absolutely astonishing. There is 99% less sinking of the pedal and it brakes so much harder all the way to a dead stop, where as before id have to keep compressing the pedal further to maintain consistent braking.
 
The front hoses werent in too bad shape to be honest, Im kind of worrying the master cylinder had gone as its been bled twice since january and the brakes keep getting a little bit softer every day... but for the sake of £110 id rather wait and see if it was just me being a total noob with the bleeding, I think ive cracked it this time so only time will tell... If they go funny again ill fit a new MC and chuck it at a garage to bleed them :p
 
I'm changing mine on Wednesday front s3 brakes with braided lines and replacing brake fluid with 5.1 racing stuff can't wait will keep u posted!
 
As far as I'm aware braided are a better product than the rubber but agree with previous posts about not being better against the hard lines.
I used to use them on motorbikes as they all come with rubber lines and absorb too much moisture then feel useless. Braided are awesome upgrade on bikes, not so sure on cars.
having said that, I now want a set :)
 
Ads_AudiA3 said:
As far as I'm aware braided are a better product than the rubber but agree with previous posts about not being better against the hard lines.
I used to use them on motorbikes as they all come with rubber lines and absorb too much moisture then feel useless. Braided are awesome upgrade on bikes, not so sure on cars.
having said that, I now want a set :)
Click to expand...
agreed on the bikes!! Always 1 of my 1st mods!! Not sure on a car either but as soon as I have some I will let u all know. :)
 
After being out in rush hour and some dosey bloke pulling out on me.. Verdict.. Absolutely astonishing! I have a feeling my pads arnt going to last long now I'm confident with the brakes! Worth the upgrade thoroughly! Just be a bit weary of the hardlines being corroded on the rears!
 
A quick thread hijack but while looking at braided lines for my A3 2008 pre facelift 170 s-line there seems to be no definitive brake line available to buy.....

The HEL items are numerous but none that I can see will match my car. I've narrowed down the disc sizes 312mm fronts and 255mm rears but still no joy on finding lines that will "definitely" fit

Any suggestions or assistance most welcome
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

S
Braided Brake Lines, Yes or No?
Replies
6
Views
1K
Imteyaz
I
Asim1
Braided brake lines
Replies
10
Views
779
Asim1
Asim1
dela
Braided Brake lines
Replies
10
Views
916
rossbrownlee
R
jay1601
MLR braided brake lines
Replies
0
Views
942
jay1601
jay1601
K
Correct braided lines
Replies
2
Views
418
KarlHeinz
K
Top
Back