Braided Brake Lines

[tanga_banga]

Hi all

was wondering if anyone has had any experience with braided brake lines on a mk1

any help would be appreciated

[steorr]

tb, not specifically as I too am new to the Golf Club.
Not sure if there has been any changes in recent years but for road cars in SA, braided brake lines are or were not legal in SA even though we know the high pressure braided lines are better than the standard rubber hoses. Otherwise why would race cars and aircraft use them?
Hows your project coming along?

[tanga_banga]

It is crazy ay, i just did some research though and you must use the ones with ADR, braidedbrakehoses.com do them.

but im not sure whether to run them for all 4 wheels as some people say not to run the full length of the car???

anyway i might have to find a reputable person in sa as im not so sure i want to fiddle tooo much with the brakes but we will see

Hows your project coming along?

not too bad the engine is out atm, im ordering some new parts, hoses timing belt, cams etc so hopefully i can put the engine back in after i have had the engine bay blasted and resprayed in the meantime im just repairing some of the rust.

have you got a project car yet?

[kaanage]

we know the high pressure braided lines are better than the standard rubber hoses. Otherwise why would race cars and aircraft use them?

The problem is that race cars (and bikes) and aircraft are subject regular inspection (and in the case of aircraft, strict regulations on parts and maintenance schedules).

While race vehicles are unregulated in this area, only an idiot would use substandard braided hose and connections on a race vehicle but it is quite possible that a road car could be fitted with substandard versions (by a dodgy or unknowing mechanic). These would be impossible to detect/maintain without disassembly hence the restrictions. You can easily buy braided hose where the braid is purely decorative and not attached to the hose in any way and all this does is look pretty but can hide cracking in the hose as it ages.

but im not sure whether to run them for all 4 wheels as some people say not to run the full length of the car???

Normally, you would only run them from the copper lines that feed to the wheel area - there is no point replacing the hard lines.

[steorr]

No car yet, looking around and reading as much as I can on this site and others for info!
This will be my 1st round of golf when I source the right Mk1 with minimal rust.
I have a shed waiting, and I have started getting some parts on the bench and currently working through the plan of attack!
Whatever I buy, it will be rolled into the shed and stripped down to the shell for a good look and repairs as needed.
As to the braided lines, I think anything is going to be better than the 30+year original brake lines.

[kaanage]

Looks like they've relaxed things a bit
ADR approved braided brake lines - some information regarding legalities. - Perth-WRX.com

[Bluerex]

I failed my first rego is inspection with "non-ADR" lines (from Bildon Motorsport in the states) fitted to the Zebra Rally Golf. My mistake/ignorance, no criticism of the inspectors intended. They gave me the option of replacing with ADR lines or proving that they met the standard. Getting ACT Brakes to make a set that complied was the easiest fix - cost a few $$ but job done. Having the US lines made it easy ("Just make me a set of these please"). I re-did the whole system, Pedal-Box, Hydra-Handbrake etc. in solid "bundy" tube, then used flex lines from chassis to swing-arm (x2), arm to rear calliper (x2) and chassis to front calliper (x2).
Not having a brake booster takes a bit of getting used to, but once setup it feels really nice with great feedback from the pedal and just the right bias to make "skando" turns a real blast.

Charles.