A braided waste of money?

[myk]

Looked around here but didn't see anything relevant.  Well, I figured getting braided brake hoses would improve braking performance, and in a nearly 2 ton car I was sure it would be a great idea.  I took it to the only shop on this planet that I trust, the same shop that helped me with the disc brake install I did a few years back, and they told me that installing braided hoses may change the brake pedal feel for better or worse, but that overall braking performance would not improve at all.  I wanted to hear opinions from you guys on the matter; whether you guys have either heard or experienced any performance benefits from having braided brake hoses on these cars.

I've looked around in other forums and it seems to be 50/50; some think they're God's gift to brakes, others see it as unimportant.  The shop said they would be more than happy to install the braided hoses if I really wanted it, but the car genuinely didn't need it.  Thanks in advance, guys...

[Cooter]

While the "Blister pack" hot rodders round here like 'em, I have heard they make the pedal feel a little weird as well. The ONLY reason I can see anybody even buying them is for the "Bling" factor. MAYBE for the fact that they don't dry rot and crack like the original rubber ones do. Only reason I can see as to the different feel would be that the inside of them "Flexes" a little under high pressures.

[myk]

While the "Blister pack" hot rodders round here like 'em, I have heard they make the pedal feel a little weird as well. The ONLY reason I can see anybody even buying them is for the "Bling" factor. MAYBE for the fact that they don't dry rot and crack like the original rubber ones do. Only reason I can see as to the different feel would be that the inside of them "Flexes" a little under high pressures.

Agreed.  But like you said about the standard rubber hose flexing,  a hose that doesn't flex like braided should deliver more hydraulic pressure to the caliper/drum-whatever right?  At least that's what I'm thinking...

[Musicman]

You'll notice your wallet is a little lighter, but that's about it.... Listen to your Mechanic.

[Plumcrazy]

You'll notice your wallet is a little lighter, but that's about it.... Listen to your Mechanic.

I agree. 

[mwracecraft]

Pay close attention to what braided line you are looking at, some are just plain rubber hose w/braid wrapped over the line. Waste of money. You want the Teflon braided lines, great pedal fine and heat will not affect them. But they will hit the pocket book very hard. I would use only for race applications.

[dangina]

Not in my mopar, but I have installed them in my other cars and it was for me me night and day. More solid pedal feel and i shit you not braking distance was cut down as well. I now put them on all my cars and will have them on my runner here this spring.

[bill440rt]

I have them in my '69, simply because they came with the Wilwood brake kit. They are the teflon ones, not cheapos. Braking is awesome, but then again it's 4-wheel disc with a hydroboost.
My others have just regular rubber hoses.

Braided hoses don't swell like regular rubber ones so you don't lose supposed line pressure under hard braking.
Are they a "necessity"? Probably not but I can see how they would improve performance somewhat. They are more durable than regular rubber hoses as well.

[myk]

The last two posters are echoing what I was thinking too.  I estimate that they aren't NEEDED but then again I could've gone with a 318 instead of a 440 also.  However, I suppose they're not a priority and the car does stop very well-I'll reconsider the braided hoses after the more critical work is done; rust removal, rewiring, etc.  Thanks again guys...

[Steve P.]

In most road cars they are not worth the money in my opinion. For the guys that are doing extreme rally racing yes, but not the cheapo covers... In most cases i believe they are great for off road vehicles that are in the weeds and rocks. The braided lines can take much more abuse from crap on the trail or no trail...

Don't think for a minute that they don't break down internally though.. Anything that flexes as much as they do will give up the ghost at some point....

[Chryco Psycho]

How often do you get near max braking pressure ... or even 1/2 !!
Most stop are gentle pressure .
Yes the rubber hoses swell slightly & do reduce the pressure at the caliper but with typical braking it is easily overcome with slightly more brake pressure , teflon hoses will swell less & translit more pressure to the calpiers , in racing it is different , you can be very close to max pressure on most stops , especially on road course or autocross where at night you can see the rotors glowing !!
the wallet is where you will feel the most difference unless you are racing .

[Brads70]

 I put the Russell kit on my car because they were cheaper that the stock replacements. I was replacing all 3 lines at the time. I agree they are not a necessity.Can't say I noticed a difference as I never drove my car with the old stuff?

[myk]

How often do you get near max braking pressure ... or even 1/2 !!
Most stop are gentle pressure .
Yes the rubber hoses swell slightly & do reduce the pressure at the caliper but with typical braking it is easily overcome with slightly more brake pressure , teflon hoses will swell less & translit more pressure to the calpiers , in racing it is different , you can be very close to max pressure on most stops , especially on road course or autocross where at night you can see the rotors glowing !!
the wallet is where you will feel the most difference unless you are racing .

I want the Charger to be able to try and keep up with the times, if at least the 3 other cars it shares parking spaces with.  For everyone's amusement I would love to take the Charger to an auto-X or similar event one day.  Crazy? Stupid? Unnecessary?  Probably, but I'm sure people said the same thing about the first hot rods back in the day, with people making everyday cars do something they weren't intended to do in the first place.  For now, thanks to everyone's input, I'm going to put that money into more urgent areas of the car...

[Steve P.]

There are very many B and E and yes even A body mopars that have been turned into cornering monsters. What you do with yours is completely up to you, but the guys that have gone seriously into control monsters have gone one hell of allot further than simply adding better brakes.. So if you get the bug prepare to SPENDDDDDDDD!!! 

[suntech]

Pay close attention to what braided line you are looking at, some are just plain rubber hose w/braid wrapped over the line. Waste of money. You want the Teflon braided lines, great pedal fine and heat will not affect them. But they will hit the pocket book very hard. I would use only for race applications.

This is the important thing....the "cheap" or normal hoses are flexing more, hence you need more pedal movement to apply same brake pressure. You will not LOOSE any brake presure by using them, but you have to "refill" the increased volume in the swollen hoses, and that takes a little pedal movement. They are also more fragile against heat!
Braided teflon hoses are the best ones IMO, and i would have them regardless of what i should use the car for.