Aghh, my SS brake line ruptured!!

[LordBritish]

I was driving (not moving fast), and suddenly my brake pedal went all the way to the floor and I felt a snap. I knew something broke but didnt know what yet.

I managed to stop (barely) and there was brake fluid leaking from near the front-left wheel.

I took it to a local shop and they said my after market stainless steel braided brake line ruptured.

Here's a picture of it:

Closer:

Real close:

Can somebody give some insight as to what the hell happened?

I think it was a Steeda SS brake line I installed years ago.

Thanks for any help on this.

 

[AnotherS197GT]

Could have been damaged during a brake job. Just took this long to finally give.

 

[LordBritish]

Seems like there's a relatively thin plastic tube inside the braided steel outer casing.

That inner tube does not look strong at all to me.

 

[skwerl]

Seeing this makes me leery of cheap aftermarket stainless steel brake lines. Can't say as I've ever heard of a stock brake line rupturing under normal use. If I were to upgrade, I would most certainly not buy the cheapest I could find. I'd look for a quality name brand and then see what they sell (such as Willwood, maybe). And I would see what road racers use and recommend. They stress their brakes 10X more than street drivers and know what brake components work.

 

[FastColt]

The exterior is where the strength is on braided lines, not the inside. Could have been kinked, the brake pressure when you apply the pedal would straighten the kink, then when you released the pedal it would kink back up. This process over and over could easily have caused that.

 

[Hatchman]

That is odd, I've never heard of a SS brake line rupturing. Me thinks it had a little bending/kinking trauma during install.

 

[LordBritish]

The exterior is where the strength is on braided lines, not the inside. Could have been kinked, the brake pressure when you apply the pedal would straighten the kink, then when you released the pedal it would kink back up. This process over and over could easily have caused that.

I think this is the most likely explanation.

It didn't break anywhere.

It broke near the plastic retaining bracket - or whatever you call it.

I assume that plastic part attaches to the car somewhere. If you notice, the bracket design creates stress points. Do other after market brake lines have a bracket like that?

 

[Joser281]

May I recommend the FRPP brake line? When I had my stang, I had the Doug Thorley headers installed and a short time after the stock brake line melted where it was at the closest part to the header. Took it to the dealership and got a new one installed, since it was under warranty and the dealership was "mod-friendly," and just payed for them to install an aftermarket heat shield one the second one. Of course I still had that feeling about that brake line coming to the same problem so I bought the FRPP one and installed it without a heat shield or anything and it held up really well at the strip, Fwy pulls and encounters in Mexico. Oh and FYI, my hunch was right and when I took off the second stock like the heat had been melting away the so-called heat shield and saw signs of the brake line plastic getting exposed to the heat of the header.

Edit: The FRPP line is just like in the pic that is on the website, the only steel braided part is where is close to the clutch/bellhousing up to, I say, the oil pan and block meet and the rest was aluminum all the way to the firewall.

 

[LordBritish]

Well for now, I replaced the broken SS brake line with a stock one and the other SS brake line is still installed.

I wonder how long the other working SS brake line will last ?

It's actually scary. It could cause an accident.

I wonder if you could even sue the part maker?

 

[07TGGT]

Well for now, I replaced the broken SS brake line with a stock one and the other SS brake line is still installed.

I wonder how long the other working SS brake line will last ?

It's actually scary. It could cause an accident.

I wonder if you could even sue the part maker?

If you're worried just inspect the brake lines. Sue them? Seriously?

 

[Bullitt4097]

I wonder if you could even sue the part maker?

Good luck with that.........in your first post you acknowledge that "I think it was a Steeda SS brake line that I installed years ago" and yet you somehow think this is Steeda's fault.

 

[BlackDragon]

Seeing this makes me leery of cheap aftermarket stainless steel brake lines. Can't say as I've ever heard of a stock brake line rupturing under normal use. If I were to upgrade, I would most certainly not buy the cheapest I could find. I'd look for a quality name brand and then see what they sell (such as Willwood, maybe). And I would see what road racers use and recommend. They stress their brakes 10X more than street drivers and know what brake components work.

I work for a fairly large car dealership, and I've seen stock brake lines rupture a few times over the years. Most times it happens after a brake job where the "mechanic" let the caliper hang or twisted it away causing a kink.

The lines are prone to the same aging and dry rot as any other rubber flexible part on your vehicle.

 

[Whiskey11]

Stainless steel brake lines are regular brake lines in that they are "wear" items. The biggest problem with SS lines is flexing repeatedly and eventually stress breaking. There is also the problem with dirt and crap getting between the steel braids and the inner hose and eventually destroying the inner line.

My guess though is this is more from improper brake job than anything.

 

[LordBritish]

I guess I should inspect them on a regular basis. At least once a year.

I never inspected them because I never though they could break.

I had close to zero braking ability when it happened and it was sudden and shocking. It took me a few seconds before I realized I could use the hand brake.

 

[Makdaddy]

I guess I should inspect them on a regular basis. At least once a year.

I never inspected them because I never though they could break.

I had close to zero braking ability when it happened and it was sudden and shocking. It took me a few seconds before I realized I could use the hand brake.

Thank GOD you didnt panic and forgot the hand break

 

[LordBritish]

Ok, inspection of the other SS brake line reveals something troubling:

That arrow points to where bare metal is showing. I guess constant rubbing has worn away the plastic outside covering on that part. I can't quite tell the state of the exposed metal part but the fact I can see it is reason enough to replace it.

Somebody here mention FRPP brake lines. Can somebody else vouch for that? And does anyone have a link to buy it for a good price.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Wes06]

Erm. Is it supposed to be zip tied like that?
Looks like a retardedly bad idea

 

[LordBritish]

Erm. Is it supposed to be zip tied like that?
Looks like a retardedly bad idea

I didn't do the install. Is it not supposed to be zip tied like that?

 

[Mustangyoe]

I didn't do the install. Is it not supposed to be zip tied like that?

No zip ties should be used, the factory never used them

 

[fdjizm]

There's yer problem.