2009 C2S 102K miles

OK, I get it, I have a sickness..... I am doing a brake flush, sitting at 102K miles and seeing those brake lines.... oh those brake lines..... those 102K mile brake lines. Think about it..... and opportunity to buy flared wrenches that I will never use again.... and probably don't need anyway. Brake fluid all over my garage floor.... The hours and hours researching the nuances of red vs grey vs clear hose jacketing.

So, already immersing myself in my mental disorder, I am reading that my brake lines are already steel braided. Is this true? How do you know? I checked the technical literature I amassed over the years and none denote this.

Peace
Bruce in Philly

FYI, I drove my 2000 Boxster S for 197K miles on original lines.

 

no stock are not, yes you can put them on; heres what they look like
https://thmotorsports.com/i-496173.a...eLrBoCMXnw_wcB

 

I read somewhere once that break lines were good for about 10 years. SS lines are not much more when the time comes to replace.

 

Some thoughts can be found from Pelican Parts technical discussion on brake line replacement. It's a good how to and introductory read on the subject if interested.

 

I changed the brake fluid and put on goodridge lines and got noticeably better brakes. I dont know if it was the new fluid or the lines, but I think it was the lines

 

I've got some Goodridge stainless steel lines waiting to go on. Hoping they'll help with brake feel.

 

Cool! Let us know how it goes.... and how about a favor to all of us... cut the old lines and see if they are braided.

I did a ton of searches and found quite a bit about replacing these lines and there are those that are adamant that Porsche lines are SS braided under a jacket but offered no proof. Others say they are not. If they are are braided, then any feeling of improvement is fantasy and waste of money.

I am interested in that I have, for the first time in 16 years of Porsche ownership, started feeling a spongy brake on hard street braking. So I am in the process of flushing my fluid. My Ford engineer friend said that is common at 100K and while there is no worry of bursting, a nice project is to put on new ones..... but he is referring to his experience with non-SS braided lines.

Peace
Bruce in Philly

 

997.1 OEM brake lines are not stainless - don't know about 997.2 lines for sure. I installed Speigel SS lines on both my 997s when I swapped the PCCBs and Big Reds between the two cars. Also filled with Motul RBF600 fluid that gets bled every Spring.

 

I think Bruce is asking whether or not the stock brake lines have a braided layer in them. I believe his point is that if the stock ones have a layer of braid somewhere in the carcass of the line, then going to a new line with exterior braid won't add any more strength than replacing them with stock lines.

They're definitely not sheathed in metal braid, but that's obvious just by looking at them.

 

the problem is that oem lines are rubber and expand. the SS lines are teflon tubing that resist expansion and the ss braid is for protection

 

The stock lines are perfectly fine. The stock lines may not be braided steel, but they have a braided nylon or similar layer and don't expand. I've seen a 18 year old 993 line cut apart and they were just fine. Replacement not needed.

My opinion after putting them on my 993? I noticed no difference and they are a waste of money.

 

The difference between a set of stock and SS brake lines is about $60 vs $100. Hardly anything to loose sleep over.

 

every tuner and brake improvement kit includes ss lines. I think there must be a 'tested' reason with expansion that makes them better

 

Some information on pricing and questions
1 - Are Porsche labeled lines really ATE? ATE is a known OEM provider to Porsche.
2 - Goodridge are the most expensive... why? Worth it?

Prices for all 4:

- Porsche labeled (Pelican) = $214
- ATE (Pelican) = $64
- Troutman SS braid (Pelican) = $123
- Techna Fit SS braid (FD Motor) = $99 (has OEM-like springy thing, avail in colors)
- Exact Fit SS braid (ECS) = $124.96 (free ship)
- Goodridge SS Braid (TireRack) =$141
- Goodridge SS Braid (TireRack) =$209 (Phantom series)
- StopTech SS Braid (Amazon) = $80 (prices all over the place, not sure if different models)
- Agency SS Braid (Vivid) = $180

Seems like I need to do some research.... some have differences between front/rear, others say all the same, some have springy thing around them, some come in different colors, some say 997.1 is different from 997.2.... sheesh!

I haven't at all made a decision to do this...... does look like cheap entertainment to learn something (like how to lighten my wallet).

Peace
Bruce in Philly

 

Installing these on Sunday. I'll let you know how it goes.