Steel braided line

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Close-up of a steel braided brake line
connections

Braided steel lines are PTFE (Teflon) hoses that are coated with a fabric made of rustproof chrome-nickel steel . They are used as part of hydraulic braking systems or in the household between the wall connection and fittings in the kitchen and sanitary area. There they replace the pipe connection , which is only partially flexible , since pre-assembled steel braided lines can also be installed by laypeople .

Braking systems

Common brake lines consist of various rubber compounds, often reinforced with fabric. In comparison, steel braided lines offer the following advantages:

  • Improved pressure point when braking, as the stainless steel mesh prevents the hoses from expanding.
  • Almost unlimited service life, because in contrast to rubber hoses, steel braided brake lines are not porous, do not swell and are not subject to any aging process. Usual rubber hoses should be replaced every four years, depending on the manufacturer's recommendation. This is not necessary with steel braided lines.
  • The brake fluid absorbs less water because the system is more closed overall.
  • Beech martens are usually not able to damage steel braided lines.
  • Improved appearance compared to conventional rubber lines.

However, there are also disadvantages:

  • slightly higher purchase price
  • In the case of retrofitting, an acceptance / entry in the vehicle documents is necessary in Germany without an ABE approved for the vehicle. However, there are now manufacturers who deliver their steel-braided brake lines without exception with ABE.
  • Vehicle parts can be scratched if the stainless steel casing is not enclosed in a plastic casing.

Steel braided lines are usually used in braking systems of high-performance motorcycles and cars as a replacement for old rubber hoses, since the additional costs of the material are less significant when re-assembling. The connections of the steel braided brake lines differ depending on the vehicle type. However, these are also made of stainless metal, such as brass, stainless steel or aluminum. Steel braided lines are often additionally protected against falling rocks by an additional rubber coating.