Brake Hoses

[igosling]

Has anyone used Goodridge (make 'em yourself) brake hoses and fittings?
I am looking at using the 600 series (all the other models would bankrupt me)

Instead of using the existing Alfa brackets and securing plates, because they are pretty much U/S, I want to use a simple arrangement using a 'bulkhead type fitting that I can lock against a bracket.

Alternatively has anyone found a suitable car model that uses a bulkhead type fitting that would do the job. Or of course anyone know of someone who does custom builds. I have obvious concerns about manufacturing my own brake hoses

Thanks

Iain

[chris.richard]

I made my own clutch hose, but wouldn't even consider doing brake ones.

[BAS]

I'm just about to finish all my brake lines & I've made them up. You do need a good flairing tool for the job & I've had no problems in the past doing this (well I'm still around) ;) . If you like I'll take some photos so you can see where I've run them. All the parts came from Think Automotive.

[chris.richard]

I'm just about to finish all my brake lines & I've made them up. You do need a good flairing tool for the job & I've had no problems in the past doing this (well I'm still around) ;) . If you like I'll take some photos so you can see where I've run them. All the parts came from Think Automotive.

Do you mean rigid pipes Brent? I thought we were talking braided hoses.

[igosling]

Yep I am talking braided hoses.

Iain

[BAS]

Flexi & Rigid, but you don't use the flairing tool on the flexi.

[John]

I think there may be an SVA problem with braided hoses made "at home". I don't know so much about them, yet, but was warned that the testers can tell the difference between DIY hoses and the ones, say, produced by Think in their workshop.
Napiersport order hoses for the kits direct from Think already made up to length and we have not had a problem with SVA tests.

[BAS]

This is a paragraph taken from the SVA manual March 2004 16.4 page 1 so maybe out of date.

Compression joints of the type using separate ferrules are not considered suitable for joints on hydraulic brake lines other than in the case of a hose designed for a high pressure application that incorporates an inner support sleeve in the compression fitting.

The fittings from Think do have the inner support sleeve so should be OK.

[Sando]

Hiya
Rally Design do all the parts you need to make them up yourself too. They call theirs 'Euroquip' Not crimped like a ready made hose, but use exactly the same method as the Goodridge ferrule type. Cost much much less and are used by a lot of people on competition cars.
Very easy to make up so long as you tape up the brade at the point you are going to cut with a fine junior hack saw. It stops it fraying too much and makes a clean cut.

I called the SVA station before I made up all my lines, to make sure they were ok about it. Absolutely fine about them. They told me the original text was put in because some animal had used B&Q plumbing compression fittings and microbore in the past :eek:

Rob

[guy mayers]

Hiya
I called the SVA station before I made up all my lines, to make sure they were ok about it. Absolutely fine about them. They told me the original text was put in because some animal had used B&Q plumbing compression fittings and microbore in the past :eek:

Rob

Surprised the muppet got his car to the SVA station without stuffing it into something solid! :D :D :D

[John]

It's good to know that common sense has prevailed then.
The cautionary note came from Hugh Carson and I think his experience of the SVA was a very early one.

[igosling]

Thanks for all the feedback and cautionary notes on SVA.

Iain

[Arthur]

John,

Hugh Carson's early experience was my car .......... he came to offer support at the SVA at Manchester, 2000-ish. I had his standard kit "Think Automotive" mark 1 flexies fitted with ferrules. They failed cos the wording at that time said "no ferrules" to rule out copper domestic plumbing. The guy who failed it conceded that aircraft fly on these things, and told us he was in the process of re-writing the SVA rules for the DTp.
I had to change mine out for crimped hoses.
If the wording has subsequently been changed to allow Aeroquip and the like, excellent.

I use a firm in Warrington (Manflex) who make hoses up to length (hydraulic hose is their business). Since they supply hose to Aeroquip in Burnley, and pressure test all hoses before delivery, I'm happy.
The only "must" with flexy brake hose is that the Teflon inner liner MUST be bonded to the stainless overbraid. If this is kosher, then you can make them yourself (with tooling and practice) or have a local shop either do re-useable fittings, or one-time crimps. Or you can pay Tweeks a small shed full of money for the same thing.

[John]

Arthur, all becomes clear!

[Chris J]

I thought making them yourself was the norm?
'Else D.Tweeks, Merlin Motorsport (and others) wouldn't bother selling the hose, hose ends, banjos, olives etc.?

[Arthur]

Chris,

The required read here is Carroll Smith's "Nuts, bolts, plumbing and fasteners handbook", now I believe renamed "Screw to Win".

The problem with Teflon brake hose is that the correct grade has to have the liner bonded to the braid, as previous mail, and that the inner liner is thicker than "other" grades. About 1mm thick, I believe, but that's open to correction.
The idea when making them up is to get a really clean cut on the liner, so that the fitting knife edge when correctly installed cuts into the edge of the liner to provide the primary seal. The ferrule then is the retainer and secondary seal.
The important thing is to pressure test when you've made it up, and to flow test in both directions. It is possible (just) to cut a strip off the inside of the liner which acts as a non-return flap. Not likely, but possible.

Because of the importance of the job and the "fiddle factor" when lacking experience, I would tend to get them made up, or buy off the shelf. But there's nothing wrong with home-made - you takes your choice. Re-usable fittings are expensive initially, but pay for themselves if you regularly renew the hoses. Crimps are the cheapest off-the-shelf option. Crimps can be bought as bulkhead-penetration type - just specify what you want when you order.