steel braided brakelines? what do you think?

[91Yota]

I'm constantly on and off about getting steel braided brakelines for my celica.  Are they really worth it or not? I've read both good and bad reviews here and there but on sites selling them.  Any of you guys have them that can give me a better point of view?

[Dr Tweak]

It will give you a small improvement in braking feel, since there won't be any expansion from the rubber lines.

Is it worth it? Sure, I guess.

-Doc

[GrandLordKhorne]

It varies from model to model as to how much they do for you.  On my Supra where the rubber lines are relatively long, they make a pretty notable difference but on my 911 that had short lines, you could barely tell they where there.  They are note worthy from a wear standpoint as having a longer service life than rubber if you buy a good brand.  As far as really being worth it, the $100 I paid for the Goodridge set on my Supra was.

[Jack ffr1846]

For a street car, I am against stainless lines.  I have them on my racecar mainly because they were there when I bought it.  Many racing clubs recommend replacing them once a year for a couple of reasons.  First, the stainless brading is simply a protection on the outside of a teflon inner tube.  There is rubbing that occurs between the stainless braid and the tube which over time, can eventually cause a failure.  This is especially an issue with a street car because dirt/grime can get into the braid to add an abrasive.  The other issue is that if the line rubs on something, you can't tell.  I had a line failure at NHIS coming into turn 3 two years ago.  Fortunately, I don't care how the racecar looks so a bit of pounding with a sledge hammer and a line replacement and I was back on the track.  The failed line had been slightly rubbing on the inside of one of the wheels and then failed.  When I took it off, it still looked perfect.  
 
Some racers will coat the lines with something.  Shrink tubing is common.  This helps to show if there is anything rubbing against it.  
 
With a rubber line, you can at least see if there's something rubbing plus a stock line will have adequate mounting brackets to keep it out of harms way.  I now have all the lines firmly held to struts with several zip ties.  
 
My street cars all have stock rubber lines.
 
jack

[91Yota]

Thanks for all the info guys.  I guess to be on more of the safe side I'll stay away from the stainless lines, unless my celica gets as far as being just a racecar, and that wont be for a long while.

[GrandLordKhorne]

Jack, your stainless lines did not have stock mounting clips??  The lines on my supra have all the stock mounting points and clips on them.

[Jack ffr1846]

There were mounting clips, but they allow the line to simply slide.  Since the 1st gen CRX is a low volume car, I believe that the lines were not made specifically for the car.  It's worse now since the entire brake system is Integra (drums replaced by disks rear) and so the lines are simply the right length.

I wish I knew this when I started driving the car.  I missed it and didn't tie down the lines before the crash.  They're very tied down now.  Zero problems last year.

jack