brake line blowout

[macklow]

Yesterday was re-bedding my brakes when POP! lost all brake pressure.

braided stainless teflon-core brake line blew out.

I'm really happy I was on a flat deserted road, not the steep cliffy mountain road I almost drove earlier in the day.

Will be replacing with rubber, at least those will telegraph the failure with some bulging and brake pedal softness.

The hose blew at a non-stressed point, no rubbing (at the point of failure).

This is a Paragon Performance line that Expedition Exchange was pimping many years ago. The "anti-rust" coating is a custom blend of brake fluid spray with a base of atf drippings, and years and years of road grime for added "protection"

 

[rovercanus]

Brake lines are consumable meaning that they need to replaced periodically.
People assume that just because they are braided stainless they will last for ever.

 

[ptschram]

That line suffered physical trauma that tore the outer stainless sheath.

Inspect your brake lines more often, BTDT, caught it before it blew out.

IMO, there is little to no difference in stainless versus rubber when they have suffered physical damage.

 

[macklow]

I checked the line before removing it, and the blowout was facing the passenger seat and was a few inches below the connection on the frame.

I turned the wheels back and forth and although the line rubbed at times, it never rubbed where the failure was. I suppose a rock or something might have bounced up and ricocheted around and hit it from the back to cause the damage.

I do check my lines, in fact I just bled the brakes (replaced the old fluid) a few hundred miles ago, and checked the lines at that time. I suppose the damage could have been hidden under the grime and undetectable to my gloved fingers.

Poking around on the internets, it seems the boy racers have nothing but bad things to say about teflon core lines; they think they're too fragile for daily driving but great for the track.

These lines lasted 7 or so years and over 100K miles, probably way past their normal service life.

 

[ptschram]

Poking around on the internets, it seems the boy racers have nothing but bad things to say about teflon core lines; they think they're too fragile for daily driving but great for the track.

These lines lasted 7 or so years and over 100K miles, probably way past their normal service life.

My local race car shop uses poly tubing for all the brake lines on the cars/buggies they build.

None of the local circle track racers use anything but poly lines.

I'm not sold on it yet and will continue to use the stainless/teflon lines until I find a cheap alternative.

 

[gmookher]

Mine appear to have suffered some chafing from the inside where the stainless braid has been stripped of its outer clear poly sheathe. Its likely gonna need to be replaced, but didnt last as stock, I think about 5 years on the stainless with lots of wheelin. I can likely keep going, but would just feel better with a new set.

I got these from RTE a while ago
earls? goodridge? i may be confusing them with mtb brakes I also upgraded about then

who makes a good stainless line for lifted disco2s nowadays?

 

[rovercanus]

Mine appear to have suffered some chafing from the inside where the stainless braid has been stripped of its outer clear poly sheathe. Its likely gonna need to be replaced, but didnt last as stock, I think about 5 years on the stainless with lots of wheelin. I can likely keep going, but would just feel better with a new set.

I got these from RTE a while ago
earls? goodridge? i may be confusing them with mtb brakes I also upgraded about then

who makes a good stainless line for lifted disco2s nowadays?

Lucky8 has them for the D2. They are Goodridge. Very nice, I like them better then the RTE lines I had.

 

[mbrummal]

I got the goodridge from Lucky8 as well. Look nicer than the stainless lines I got from AB a few of years ago.

 

[p m]

I've had ss-braided teflon lines from EE for... can't remember, must be 6-7 years, and about 100kmi. Haven't had any problems with them - but need to remind myself to inspect them next time I'm under doing something else.
Used Earl's lines when I put RR axles under the jeep, also a long while ago.

From OP's photo of his line, it looks chafed to me.