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Posted by: emerygt350 May 18 2023, 02:56 PM

Had these installed today. Wow. My brakes were not bad before but what a difference. Sponginess is all gone, confidence inspiring short stops. Locks them up with little effort (compared to before). Didn't touch anything else. And they are not 50 years old!

Posted by: 930cabman May 18 2023, 05:51 PM

Stopping is always good, were the previous flex lines original?

Posted by: emerygt350 May 18 2023, 06:17 PM

Yep.. the original owner had replacements in the box that came with the car... Obviously never installed....

Posted by: Root_Werks May 19 2023, 12:19 PM

Old brake lines can expand quite a bit. Even just new stock rubber lines can make a big difference.

You can never have too much braking power!

Posted by: rfinegan May 20 2023, 07:35 AM

I got my lines on a group buy here and a 19mm master from 914 rubber group buy too.... With the Poterfield pads it works GREAT

Posted by: Geezer914 May 20 2023, 07:44 AM

I Replaced mine with Goodridge a few years back

Posted by: jim_hoyland May 20 2023, 07:51 AM

OK; So how long do the rubber lines last until they need replacing. More than 5 years ? I’m

Posted by: brant May 20 2023, 07:53 AM

Probably would have noticed the same improvement if you had installed them

Posted by: emerygt350 May 20 2023, 12:19 PM

Possibly, my Porsche guy said that the difference between rubber and braided is noticable so I just went for the braided.

Posted by: PatMc May 21 2023, 01:43 PM

over 10 years I'd start thinking about replacing them....or if you don't know when they were last replaced....replace them.

Posted by: emerygt350 May 21 2023, 06:31 PM

If anyone wants some rubber lines... I have an extra set (not the ones off the car).

Posted by: Root_Werks May 22 2023, 04:10 PM

Or if you can see visible cracking, browning of the rubber etc.

Posted by: jim_hoyland May 22 2023, 04:42 PM

Hmmm I. Have a new set from PMB, just don’t look forward to the mess taking the old ones off might make.
And should all 4 be removed and replaced at the same time ?

Posted by: Mikey914 May 22 2023, 04:45 PM

I'd say yes. Otherwise, you may be asking for the older ones to pop. The rubber flexes, the stainless, not as much. I'd also argue that you would not get as much benefit in that the old rubber would still flex.

Posted by: FlacaProductions May 22 2023, 05:25 PM

What's the procedure for replacing - any tips to reduce how much of a mess this makes?

Posted by: emerygt350 May 22 2023, 06:29 PM

I looked at everything I could find on here and YouTube. Ian doesn't have anything good on this yet as far as I could tell. When I put the PMB rear calipers on I looked real hard at where the clips and stuff were for the rubber hoses. Sprayed all the joints with penetrating fluid, called my Porsche guy and dropped it off at the shop. I normally do all my own stuff but there are just some jobs that a hoist and experience is worth paying for.

Posted by: VaccaRabite May 23 2023, 06:22 AM

I'm going to be doing this soon. I also have a set of Erics new SS lines to put in. But I'm waiting to do it till I can replace to rotors and do a full brake service.

In general, with the car up in the air, and the wheels off, you take the soft lines off one corner at a time, replacing them as quickly as you can. Brake fluid is going to drip and you want to minimize that. Have things prepped and ready to go ahead of time. Put some penetrating fluid on all the clips and connections so they pull out easier.

When done you are obviously going to need to bleed the brakes. I'd suggest doing a complete flush.

And (DWD be damned!) while you are in there - brace up your brake master cylinder so it does not flex the sheet metal its attached to.

Again, prep is the key here. Get under the car and look and see what needs doing. the clips aren't impossible to remove, but they often get a little corrosion and get stuck. I've used a hammer and drift to get them started moving, and a pair of vice grips to remove them once they budge.

If you have never replaced your hardlines... Oof. You may be in for an ordeal. If you have replaced hardlines then they should be in pretty good condition, just go slow and don't strip them out. Penetrating fluid is your friend!

Its not hard, just tedious and could be messy.

Zach

Posted by: emerygt350 May 23 2023, 01:38 PM

A little thing I saw some guys do to reduce drips is put cling wrap under your mc cap. That will stop the fluid from pouring out. It will still drip but not as fast.

Just don't forget to remove it.

Posted by: FlacaProductions May 25 2023, 11:57 AM

Good tips - and I've seen the cling-wrap trick mentioned elsewhere, too.
I'm going to do a flush and new pads next - and will check the soft lines before diving in and do those if needed as well.

Posted by: krazykonrad May 26 2023, 10:41 AM

Just remember, braided lines fail from the inside. They are an improvement, but the require more vigilance than rubber lines, which you can see bulging before they fail.