Suspension & Brakes Springs | Shocks | Handling | Rotors

Stainless Brake Lines

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Oct 29, 2014 | 06:18 AM
  #1  
T-Rod's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, TX
Default Stainless Brake Lines

Are stainless brake lines worth the $? I've got stock calipers with drilled rotors & traction control. Car is not a dd. I drive it on the weekends and it see's about 3k miles per year.

I'll be adding line lock and flushing the brake fluid soon, and would like to upgrade from stock lines if there are benefits. I'm still running the stockers from '98.

Also, which brand is recommended. Thanks.
Reply
Old Oct 29, 2014 | 10:41 AM
  #2  
smitty2919's Avatar
TECH Addict
 
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,103
Likes: 21
Default

For a non DD 3K mi a year car? I don't know if I would spend the money and time to replace them.

But a good pad like would be a good idea and easy to swap in.
Reply
Old Oct 29, 2014 | 11:16 AM
  #3  
hokeplaya05's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,208
Likes: 77
From: new hampshire
Default

if there is nothing wrong with the stockers (corrosion) then i wouldnt touch them, money could be spent elsewhere like a nice set of brake pads to go with the drilled rotors as smitty said
Reply
Old Oct 29, 2014 | 05:29 PM
  #4  
Sam Strano's Avatar
LS1TECH Sponsor
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (41)
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 9,614
Likes: 152
From: Brookville, PA
Default

I'd change them. They are 16 years old and I'm sure the rubber coating is cracked which lets grime in to work on the fiberglass braid. You are changing fluid anyway, so now it the time.

Don't know who mentioned drilled rotors but NO. You want slotted, ok or blanks, ok. I can sell Drilled but NEVER recommend them as they can and do crack at the holes. I was just looking at my OEM Corvette rotors.... cracks emanating from the drillings, no surprise.

I have different rotors, pads, fluid and even the brake lines too if you want to work up a kit for everything. But I don't use cheap-*** rotors, even the blanks aren't bargain basement. I don't screw around with brakes.
__________________
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
Reply
Old Oct 29, 2014 | 06:47 PM
  #5  
Sam Strano's Avatar
LS1TECH Sponsor
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (41)
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 9,614
Likes: 152
From: Brookville, PA
Default

I should add... then it's done. You don't have to do it later and have the debate down the road. It's just done as part of one job.
__________________
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
Reply
Old Oct 29, 2014 | 08:44 PM
  #6  
ThoR294's Avatar
TECH Addict
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 2,861
Likes: 4
From: Ringoes/Flemington, New Jersey
Default

I put stainless lines on when I did my ls1 calipers. Easy and worth it... My lines were bad! Got mine from the man above me
Reply
Old Oct 30, 2014 | 08:39 AM
  #7  
smitty2919's Avatar
TECH Addict
 
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,103
Likes: 21
Default

I'm actually surprised my drilled and slotted rotors have not cracked after this seasons autocross. I got them used with my LS1 brake swap so I used them.

Winter plans are to get slotted or blank rotors with good pads...ohh and a differential lol.
Reply
Old Oct 30, 2014 | 08:46 AM
  #8  
SparkyJJO's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 7,364
Likes: 85
From: Ohio
Default

The cracking is partially dependent on how they were drilled, how many holes, etc. While I have never tracked my vehicles I've never had a single crack yet on my Brakemotive sets.

I used to be firmly against any drilled rotors at all whatsoever, but Brakemotive has had an excellent track record on that. I wouldn't trust just any drilled rotors without a good history.

I'd do the new lines. I will be on my car at some point as my 99 is rocking almost all original hoses as well.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Oct 30, 2014 | 11:20 AM
  #9  
hokeplaya05's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,208
Likes: 77
From: new hampshire
Default

just to be clear, are we talking about the steel hardlines or the rubber lines at the calipers?
Reply
Old Oct 30, 2014 | 11:49 AM
  #10  
SparkyJJO's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 7,364
Likes: 85
From: Ohio
Default

The rubber flex lines at the calipers and chassis to rear axle.
Reply
Old Oct 30, 2014 | 12:06 PM
  #11  
hokeplaya05's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
10 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 1,208
Likes: 77
From: new hampshire
Default

ohhh ok i thought we were talking about hardlines for some reason. in that case yes you should definately replace the rubber lines with stainless while you are in there
Reply
Old Oct 30, 2014 | 02:02 PM
  #12  
Sam Strano's Avatar
LS1TECH Sponsor
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (41)
 
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 9,614
Likes: 152
From: Brookville, PA
Default

No, cracking depends on how they are used. OEM rotors from GM to Porsche crack under hard use (sometimes even not so hard use). There is a damned good reason you do not see drilled rotors on cars that use the brakes hard like any sort of road race or short track car. In fact you might have noticed the C7 moved away from drilled rotors, specifically to address cracking on the C6Z and Grand Sport rotors (what I have).

Simply put the edges of holes are stress risers, they also get hotter than the rest of the face, between the two cracks propagate with the heating or cooling of the brakes. Unless the brakes aren't used hard and don't build then shed heat quickly.
__________________
www.stranoparts.com --814-849-3450
Results matter. Talk is cheap. We are miles beyond the success anyone else has had with the 4th gens, and C5, C6, C7 Corvettes,
10 SCCA Solo National Championships, 2008 Driver of they Year, 2012 Driver of Eminence
13 SCCA Pro Solo Nationals Championships
2023 UMI King of the Mountain Champion
Reply
Old Oct 30, 2014 | 08:08 PM
  #13  
smitty2919's Avatar
TECH Addict
 
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,103
Likes: 21
Default

But drilled looks cool yo...
Reply
Old Oct 31, 2014 | 05:11 AM
  #14  
T-Rod's Avatar
Thread Starter
Teching In
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
From: San Antonio, TX
Default

I've had the drilled ones for a while now and given them a good once over just now. They show no signs of cracking on any of the rotors. I will definitely keep this in mind when I go to replace them.
Reply
Old Oct 31, 2014 | 08:20 AM
  #15  
JOHNNYMO's Avatar
On The Tree
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 167
Likes: 0
From: Colorado
Default

Originally Posted by T-Rod
I've had the drilled ones for a while now and given them a good once over just now. They show no signs of cracking on any of the rotors. I will definitely keep this in mind when I go to replace them.
Same here... I had them on my 02 Z06 and live in a mountain region. At times, I really drove hard through the twisties putting the brakes to work. I never had any cracking around the holes. I imagine under auto cross stress, there might be some cracking because of extremes. That said, for street cars, I haven't personally seen any issues with my own cars and Ive had the drilled and slotted type rotors on 3 of my vehicles now.
Reply
Old Oct 31, 2014 | 09:12 AM
  #16  
smitty2919's Avatar
TECH Addict
 
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 2,103
Likes: 21
Default

GTO guys see cracks on "sub par" rotors. But then again most of them do not drive the car hard and even on DD use with the added GTO weight it does not help them.

IMO drilled is useless whether you have got cracks before or not. Since autocrossing my Z28 I have stepped so far away from anything "show" and go straight to function.

You won't see cracks on the occasional mountain/twisty road sprints. Unless you do that every day and get the brakes very hot then let them cool...rinse and repeat.
Reply
Old Oct 31, 2014 | 09:37 AM
  #17  
SparkyJJO's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 7,364
Likes: 85
From: Ohio
Default

I would prefer if Brakemotive had just slotted like they used to but it doesn't really bother me anymore.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:14 PM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE