Can Anyone Recommend the best manufacturer Brake Line Setup

 

Skoda Octavia VRS 2.0TDI

Front Are Genuine 340mm VRS Brake Setup

Rears Are 310mm VW Golf R32 Rear Brake Setup.

 

I know I would need a pair not the whole kit for both Front and Rear.

Can't comment on the Goodridge or EBC but I have HEL to my Ducati. The quality of the brake lines and unions are excellent.

Another one for HEL, some places can make them up custom lengths if needed.

 

Not overly convinced of the need or effect of braided lines over good OEM ones but HEL are what I use when I need something custom made.

Does anyone know what size the rear banjos are on a mk3.5 petrol vrs 2017? 10 or 12mm?

Braided hose brake lines are really just for show. They only eliminate slight expansion from the original lines. I have had them before and did not rate them. 

In the past I've had Goodridge on a BMW 325i Coupe and did 50 laps around Croft circuit near Darlington and M3 owners came over to me to ask what I had done to the brakes as they were suffering from brake fade after 4 or 5 laps. They could only reach 108mph on the pit straight because they had to brake earlier in their E36 286bhp cars and I could continue accelerating upto 100mph in my 199bhp modified car. Also had HEL brake lines on my 336bhp Octavia which coped with repeated heavy braking from 120mph at Snetterton and Donington with no drama and no brake fade. You need to fit Motorsport spec brake fluid if you are going to track a car because regular DOT 4 just isn't upto the job on track. All race cars have stainless brakelines for a reason. It's called safety as running out of brakes or the long pedal is very scary.

1 hour ago, shyVRS245 said:

Motorsport spec brake fluid if you are going to track a car because regular DOT 4 just isn't upto the job on track.

 

ATE 'racing' blue was always, and still is (in its current form) DOT4

 

DOT5 will always be compromised on its high temperature performance because of the low temperature performance requirement of DOT5 . Unless you race on ice in the arctic, good DOT4 is what you need

 

That is why most performance brake fluid is DOT4  

If you fit race spec brake fluid you need to change it more often as it is prone to get air bubbles in and go off. A race car will have fresh brake fluid every race where as we dont have that luxury.

Changing the fluid will do more for the car than braided hoses. So far Ive not had a standard brake line go on me yet no matter what car Ive been in. Plus if the car is mainly being used for the road then why bother. You arent going to need them or feel the benefit. Its like fitting fast road pads on a road car. Pointless imo as the cold bite is higher up and you have less instant braking force to begin with. Plus if you get brake fade on the road....you are driving too fast!!

Always had braided lines just cos they are so cheap and are able to cope better if ever to track it. 

Always used ate Typ 200 too as it doesn't seem to fade. 

My fluid is due changing so for the sake of another few quid I've ordered the hel lines as they have 25% off at the mo (all 4 for 65 posted) 

14 hours ago, DC04R said:

ate Typ 200

 

The new name for Racing Blue (because they are not allowed to colour it blue any more)..............it is DOT4

 

17 hours ago, Ecomatt said:

If you fit race spec brake fluid you need to change it more often as it is prone to get air bubbles in and go off

 

Really? How do you figure that? Been using Racing Blue (Type 200) for decades and never had a bubble in the system not caused by a mechanical issue

 

14 hours ago, DC04R said:

Always had braided lines just cos they are so cheap and are able to cope better if ever to track it. 

 

Never going to do any harm, and HEL lines are very well made, however modern brake lines are made to a pretty high standard and the difference to braided is minimal these days.

Yeah I've been using racing blue and now Typ 200 for yonks in my track cars. Still use it now in my track ep3 and works a treat for brakes and clutch. Tried motul rbf660 for a bit but it's no better than ate and more costly. 

A firmer brake pedal always feels nicer, but this car is pretty sharp as it is. The ep3 brakes are terrible as standard! 

2 hours ago, flybynite said:

 

The new name for Racing Blue (because they are not allowed to colour it blue any more)..............it is DOT4

 

 

Really? How do you figure that? Been using Racing Blue (Type 200) for decades and never had a bubble in the system not caused by a mechanical issue

 

 

Never going to do any harm, and HEL lines are very well made, however modern brake lines are made to a pretty high standard and the difference to braided is minimal these days.

Apologies, I meant moisture rather than air. Also forgor to mention that some race brake fluids do cause increaed deterioration of braking components due to what they are made of.

34 minutes ago, Ecomatt said:

Apologies, I meant moisture rather than air. Also forgor to mention that some race brake fluids do cause increaed deterioration of braking components due to what they are made of.

 

No, still do not see that, where is the evidence? 

 

There are variances in how hygroscopic they are, but that should not matter if handled correctly. DOT5 has less corrosion because it is silicone based but cannot be used in DOT4 systems like  DOT5.1 can so cannot be compared.

 

Most issues are with people using incompatible brake fluid for their system

 

10 minutes ago, flybynite said:

 

No, still do not see that, where is the evidence? 

 

There are variances in how hygroscopic they are, but that should not matter if handled correctly. DOT5 has less corrosion because it is silicone based but cannot be used in DOT4 systems like  DOT5.1 can so cannot be compared.

 

Most issues are with people using incompatible brake fluid for their system

 

The link was the best I could find  whilst trying to entertain my 15 month old. 

https://www.merlinmotorsport.co.uk/knowledge_base_articles/view/brake-fluids-glycol-silicone-explained-272

 

 

Also here. Evidences Dot 4 increased moisture absorption.

 

https://www.autoblog.com/2018/08/06/brake-fluid-101/

Edited 12 April, 20206 yr by Ecomatt

Just now, Ecomatt said:

The link was the best I could find  whilst trying to entertain my 15 month old. 

https://www.merlinmotorsport.co.uk/knowledge_base_articles/view/brake-fluids-glycol-silicone-explained-272

 

This is where half the problems come from

 

We are talking about an Octavia here it CANNOT use Silicon fluids. You are comparing two fluids that are not interchangable in the majority of  production cars, including the Octavia. People read this stuff out of context and act on it causing issues with their systems.

 

You can use DOT 4 or DOT 5.1 

 

DOT 4 does not have the low temperature performance requirements of DOT 5/5.1  so generally has better high temperature performance (not just boiling point) which is why most high performance fluid for glycol-based cars is DOT4

She has gone sleep (at last!) now so I can type.

You are right that dot 5 cannot be used in this type of system. I was more referring to different types of dot4 such as what is called super dot4 can absorb more moisture so will  need changing more often. Certainly if you are doing track days it will need changing more oftrn.

I personally just opt for standard dot 4 and am not bothered about a higher boiling point. My car will never be taken on a track and is never driven to a point where I get brake fade. If any road car on the road gets brake fade you are driving too fast, over driving or havent changed your fluid in a while. I drive emergency vehicles and even after a recent 27 mile blue light run, the brakes were fine with no element of brake fade. Shows that the standard stuff is good enough and I dont drive fancy cars either at work. I think that is more down to I dont brake last minute like most as people overdrive cars and dont read the road ahead. Then over brake etc causing excess heat.

I change cars fluid every 18 months, as we live in a wet climate and the fluid loves moisture like an alcoholic loves super strength.

On 11/04/2020 at 08:44, Ecomatt said:

Braided hose brake lines are really just for show. They only eliminate slight expansion from the original lines. I have had them before and did not rate them. 

 

Beg to differ on that. On my track bike, they improved the feel of the handle no end. You used to have to pull that bit further before the brakes started, but with the braided lines, braking happened more or less as soon as you pulled the handle.

 

They're a standard on my road bike and I doubt they'd bother putting them on if they were just for show.