Figure 30-50 track days per year.

Car: 2016 RS.

Cost with labor - $500

Is it worth it? This was ALWAYS an upgrade on my previous non-P cars.

Your thoughts?

 

Part of me says, it's a '16 RS, not sure you need this... Other part of me says, it's a $500 insurance policy, just do it anyway for a piece of mind.

 

Not needed.
Good fluid pads rotors.

 

The way the calipers are on this car having the braided lines could simplify brake pad changes.

 

No need. I think it's a hype.

 

The bad thing about braided brake lines is that they will not give you any warning prior to failure. On rubber lines there is normally swelling and you will start getting a soft peddle due to the swelling.
Not saying don't get them but be aware of the downsides also.

 

I don't think the cup cars have braided lines... so I'm sure the stock lines should be sufficient. Check periodically when changing tires, pads or rotors.

 

There's two types of braided hoses. The most common replaces the rubber OEM hoses. Pros and cons here as mentioned earlier. I used them on my old car but am not using them now. There are also hoses that replace the rigid steel lines that usually connect the rubber hose to the caliper. I can see where these could be useful for changing pads on the newer "bridged" calipers. Some applications have reported rubbing.

 

Thanks to everyone for your input!

 

I was led to believe that braided lines would protect against foreign objects damaging a brake line.

 

It all depends if you feel confident downshifting quickly enough to slow the car down to make a turn after a 130mph straight. ..... the point is, when your line blows, you have no front brakes and that is not a great feeling. the car doesnt care if its in a race or on the street, a blown line means no brakes and old rubber lines will blow. new ones.........not so much. i had it happen, after seening the stats on the problems of braided vs rubber lines. i stayed with porsche rubber lines........that decision was probably ok for the first 10 years of their lift.. at 20 years... it was a BIG problem!

 

I have seen a teammate limp back into the pits with a burst rubber hose, but that was a street car 'banger' based endurance series so that rubber may have been 10+ years old.

Those were later replaced with steel braided hoses. Which didn't fail nearly as spectacularly but when a teammate came in complaining of softening brakes we went to bleed the fronts but as soon as he put pressure on, a thin jet of hot fluid shot out from a wear point where the braided hose had been rubbing against the suspension after not having been properly positioned after the most recent pad change. Made for a long pitstop while we stripped a replacement hose from a non-runner and fitted it.

So I guess I'd say:

Newish Porsche rubber, or braided should both be fine, but take spares to the track either way, and be very careful about routing braided hose to avoid rubbing.

FWIW, the driver who had the sudden blow out on corner entry slowed the car by downshifting and throwing it into a deliberate fishtail. A response that paid off for me too the following season when I lost brakes once going into a tight left-hander.

 

There are pros and cons as well as horror stories on both sides.

 

I wondered about this but one mechanic who does a lot of work with Porsche says that their factory cars always ran with rubber lines. I figured if it worked for the team cars it was OK for me. They should be inspected and replaced regularly, as they are the most important part of the car!

 

I like braided on my cars . Much better brake feel and firmer pedal