SS brake line recommendations?

Pete_89T2 · 10-30-2012, 10:37 AM

I'm looking to replace the stock flex lines between the calipers & hardlines with DOT approved stainless steel braided lines. Anyone have a brand to recommend?

Looking for high quality and perfect fitment, not too concerned about cost. Doing some shopping around online, it looks like DOT approved SS line sets for the S5 T2 are available from Goodrich, Russell and a few other brands within $10~$20 cost difference of one another.

tweiss3 · 10-30-2012, 10:43 AM

I just installed Goodrich on mine, and they fit perfectly. I would go with them again given the chance.

infernosg · 10-30-2012, 12:33 PM

I have the DOT-approved lines from Mazdatrix on my GXL. I'm not sure if the lines are Mazdatrix in-house brand or sourced from somewhere else. Either way there've been no issues here.

RETed · 10-30-2012, 04:19 PM

Did Goodridge (assumed "Goodrich") change their design?
I run a set on my car, and they were not drop-in perfect.
The hex fitting on the brake line side was different size than stock, and this made it a pain to secure properly on the mount tab on the shock.

Also, on the rear brake calipers, the stock lines have some kinda tab on them to keep the brake line from rotating?
(Don't quote me on this since this was YEARS since I've done this.)
My Goodridge lines did not have such a tab...

-Ted

tweiss3 · 10-30-2012, 08:43 PM

You are correct on the rears. The stockers had a round stock tab that goes in a spot on the caliper, the goodrich did not.

As for the fronts, they were dead drop in for me (swapped from single piston fronts to the T2 4 piston fronts) and they went into the tabs on the frame rail snugly, but fit well, and they attached to the hard lines easily.

mattallac · 10-31-2012, 01:15 AM

i have my brake lines made at a local shop , may be you can find a local place where you live and have some made . Usually shops that do hose repair for fork lifts and tractors do steel bradded D.O.T. brake lines . The guy I use in the bay area even captures my original fittings (oem is always my preference for good fitment ). My re speed brake lines were not D.O.T. and not the highest quality imo , but he probably farms them out . At my local shop I get 2 lines made for around 80.00 . Thats a better price than most of the mail order lines I see and the quality is second to none . Hope that helps

Pete_89T2 · 10-31-2012, 05:35 AM

Thanks - lots of good info here. Those fitment issues Ted described are exactly what I want to avoid. The stock rear lines do have a tab/pin cast into the banjo fitting that helps orient it during assembly and prevents the banjo from rotating when torqued down.

My5ABaby · 11-01-2012, 02:57 PM

I bought the Mazdatrix ones about 7 years ago and haven't had a problem yet.

Pete_89T2 · 11-23-2012, 06:16 PM

FWIW, I ended up picking up a set from Mazdatrix, which they apparently source from Goodridge, as the tags on the lines indicate. Anyway, unless they sent me the wrong set, these are NOT a drop-in fit. Mazdatrix isn't answering their phone today, probably off for the T-day weekend, so this job will wait till next week.

If I end up keeping these lines, they can be made to fit by grinding out the holes in the brackets a little bit for them to fit inside and clip properly just like the stockers. Took some measurements, and the round part of the new lines that is supposed to fit in the brackets is about 1/32" larger in diameter than the stock lines.

infernosg · 11-23-2012, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pete_89T2

FWIW, I ended up picking up a set from Mazdatrix, which they apparently source from Goodridge, as the tags on the lines indicate. Anyway, unless they sent me the wrong set, these are NOT a drop-in fit. Mazdatrix isn't answering their phone today, probably off for the T-day weekend, so this job will wait till next week.

If I end up keeping these lines, they can be made to fit by grinding out the holes in the brackets a little bit for them to fit inside and clip properly just like the stockers. Took some measurements, and the round part of the new lines that is supposed to fit in the brackets is about 1/32" larger in diameter than the stock lines.

Interesting. I don't recall having to do anything to get mine to fit. Did you get the DOT or non-DOT approved lines?

Actually, now that I think about this I did the brake lines the same time I installed my coilovers. I have the old style Stance GR+ coilovers and everything went together nicely. What suspension setup are you running?

RETed · 11-23-2012, 07:28 PM

For the record, my Goodridge lines do not fit on Tokico Illuminas.

-Ted

Pete_89T2 · 11-23-2012, 10:56 PM

I'm running the KYB AGX adjustable struts, and I ordered the DOT approved lines. The thing is, the lines don't fit the brackets on the body side either, so it's not due to the aftermarket struts.

tweiss3 · 11-24-2012, 05:59 PM

They were very tight for me, but did fit with a bit of pressure

Pete_89T2 · 12-01-2012, 10:46 AM

Update - I called Mazdatrix last Monday to see if they might have sent me the wrong lines or if maybe the ones I had were defective/out of spec. Turns out they sent me the correct part #, but they also said that the fittings Goodridge uses from one batch to the next batch are often different. Apparently Goodridge only specs these fittings to match the type of hydraulic connection (e.g., banjo size and/or flare type & thread size/pitch). They don't spec the fitting's body diameter that is supposed to fit thru the stock brackets on the body or shock tubes. So bottom line is some batches will fit and some won't.

While we were on the phone, I asked the MT guy to take diameter measurements of a set of line fittings he had in stock (same part #), while I did the same with the lines I had for comparison. My lines were about 0.8 mm larger in diameter, which was enough to make it impossible to fit thru the stock brackets without a grinding job. They agreed to send me that "smaller" fitting set to swap out with, and did so with a UPS pre-paid label for the return shipment. I like good customer support - MT is a class act!

Replacement lines arrived yesterday, and I took comparison measurements against the stock rubber lines. Turns out this set is only 0.01 mm larger in diameter than the stock rubber line fittings, and should either drop right in or be tight fit. So the mystery of why some Goodridge lines fit and others (with same part #) don't has been solved.

10-30-2012, 10:37 AM	#1
Pete_89T2 Lifetime Rotorhead Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Elkton, MD iTrader: (1) Posts: 874 Rep Power: 15	SS brake line recommendations? I'm looking to replace the stock flex lines between the calipers & hardlines with DOT approved stainless steel braided lines. Anyone have a brand to recommend? Looking for high quality and perfect fitment, not too concerned about cost. Doing some shopping around online, it looks like DOT approved SS line sets for the S5 T2 are available from Goodrich, Russell and a few other brands within $10~$20 cost difference of one another.

10-30-2012, 10:43 AM	#2
tweiss3 Mazda Lover Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Akron, Ohio iTrader: (0) Posts: 319 Rep Power: 15	I just installed Goodrich on mine, and they fit perfectly. I would go with them again given the chance. __________________ 2004 Mazda6 V6 5-spd - still waiting on money for a motor 1991 Mazda RX7 NA 5-spd - my new DD with 145,000 miles

10-30-2012, 12:33 PM	#3
infernosg IT'S ALIVE! Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Richmond, VA iTrader: (5) Posts: 811 Rep Power: 15	I have the DOT-approved lines from Mazdatrix on my GXL. I'm not sure if the lines are Mazdatrix in-house brand or sourced from somewhere else. Either way there've been no issues here. __________________ '86 Mazda RX-7 Base '79 Mazda RX-7 GS

10-30-2012, 08:43 PM	#5
tweiss3 Mazda Lover Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Akron, Ohio iTrader: (0) Posts: 319 Rep Power: 15	You are correct on the rears. The stockers had a round stock tab that goes in a spot on the caliper, the goodrich did not. As for the fronts, they were dead drop in for me (swapped from single piston fronts to the T2 4 piston fronts) and they went into the tabs on the frame rail snugly, but fit well, and they attached to the hard lines easily. __________________ 2004 Mazda6 V6 5-spd - still waiting on money for a motor 1991 Mazda RX7 NA 5-spd - my new DD with 145,000 miles

11-01-2012, 02:57 PM	#8
My5ABaby Sigh..... Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Murfreesboro, TN iTrader: (6) Posts: 2,377 Rep Power: 19	I bought the Mazdatrix ones about 7 years ago and haven't had a problem yet. __________________ 1986 Sport: 132k miles, 5A (Sapphire Blue Metallic), Tokico Blues, Racing Beat Springs, Custom LED tailights (only S4 LED tails in the world), SSR Mark II, Racing Beat exhaust, S5 black interior, Rotary Resurrection rebuild at 120k miles Community Service Manual RotorWiki "Imagination costs nothing; we could build square locomotives or fly to Mars" - Felix Wankel Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the "present."

10-31-2012, 01:15 AM	#6
mattallac Rotary Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: crockett ca. iTrader: (1) Posts: 176 Rep Power: 0	i have my brake lines made at a local shop , may be you can find a local place where you live and have some made . Usually shops that do hose repair for fork lifts and tractors do steel bradded D.O.T. brake lines . The guy I use in the bay area even captures my original fittings (oem is always my preference for good fitment ). My re speed brake lines were not D.O.T. and not the highest quality imo , but he probably farms them out . At my local shop I get 2 lines made for around 80.00 . Thats a better price than most of the mail order lines I see and the quality is second to none . Hope that helps

10-31-2012, 05:35 AM	#7
Pete_89T2 Lifetime Rotorhead Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Elkton, MD iTrader: (1) Posts: 874 Rep Power: 15	Thanks - lots of good info here. Those fitment issues Ted described are exactly what I want to avoid. The stock rear lines do have a tab/pin cast into the banjo fitting that helps orient it during assembly and prevents the banjo from rotating when torqued down.

11-23-2012, 06:16 PM	#9
Pete_89T2 Lifetime Rotorhead Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Elkton, MD iTrader: (1) Posts: 874 Rep Power: 15	FWIW, I ended up picking up a set from Mazdatrix, which they apparently source from Goodridge, as the tags on the lines indicate. Anyway, unless they sent me the wrong set, these are NOT a drop-in fit. Mazdatrix isn't answering their phone today, probably off for the T-day weekend, so this job will wait till next week. If I end up keeping these lines, they can be made to fit by grinding out the holes in the brackets a little bit for them to fit inside and clip properly just like the stockers. Took some measurements, and the round part of the new lines that is supposed to fit in the brackets is about 1/32" larger in diameter than the stock lines.

11-23-2012, 10:56 PM	#12
Pete_89T2 Lifetime Rotorhead Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Elkton, MD iTrader: (1) Posts: 874 Rep Power: 15	I'm running the KYB AGX adjustable struts, and I ordered the DOT approved lines. The thing is, the lines don't fit the brackets on the body side either, so it's not due to the aftermarket struts.

11-24-2012, 05:59 PM	#13
tweiss3 Mazda Lover Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Akron, Ohio iTrader: (0) Posts: 319 Rep Power: 15	They were very tight for me, but did fit with a bit of pressure __________________ 2004 Mazda6 V6 5-spd - still waiting on money for a motor 1991 Mazda RX7 NA 5-spd - my new DD with 145,000 miles

12-01-2012, 10:46 AM	#14
Pete_89T2 Lifetime Rotorhead Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Elkton, MD iTrader: (1) Posts: 874 Rep Power: 15	Update - I called Mazdatrix last Monday to see if they might have sent me the wrong lines or if maybe the ones I had were defective/out of spec. Turns out they sent me the correct part #, but they also said that the fittings Goodridge uses from one batch to the next batch are often different. Apparently Goodridge only specs these fittings to match the type of hydraulic connection (e.g., banjo size and/or flare type & thread size/pitch). They don't spec the fitting's body diameter that is supposed to fit thru the stock brackets on the body or shock tubes. So bottom line is some batches will fit and some won't. While we were on the phone, I asked the MT guy to take diameter measurements of a set of line fittings he had in stock (same part #), while I did the same with the lines I had for comparison. My lines were about 0.8 mm larger in diameter, which was enough to make it impossible to fit thru the stock brackets without a grinding job. They agreed to send me that "smaller" fitting set to swap out with, and did so with a UPS pre-paid label for the return shipment. I like good customer support - MT is a class act! Replacement lines arrived yesterday, and I took comparison measurements against the stock rubber lines. Turns out this set is only 0.01 mm larger in diameter than the stock rubber line fittings, and should either drop right in or be tight fit. So the mystery of why some Goodridge lines fit and others (with same part #) don't has been solved.

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