Date:         Tue, 7 Aug 2007 11:23:22 -0400
Reply-To:     Mike S <mikes@FLATSURFACE.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Mike S <mikes@FLATSURFACE.COM>
Subject:      Re: Next project:  Thoughts on SS vs. Rubber Hose?
Comments: To: mad madeline <mac10wv@YAHOO.COM>
In-Reply-To:  <657145.65896.qm@web33313.mail.mud.yahoo.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed

At 10:36 AM 8/7/2007, mad madeline wrote...
>We've made choices on everything but the rubber brake lines at each
>wheel.  Is it SS or rubber?  A lot of the conversation in past posts
>seemed to be advocates for SS from folks that live in icy climates
>where roads are salted and corrosion is high.  Keep in mind we live in
>Arizona... we don't travel on salted roads anymore and likely won't.

I'll go out on a limb and be that the SS recommendations revolved
around the metal lines running throughout the vehicle, and not the
flexible hoses which connect across the suspension. Salt wouldn't
affect "rubber" flex hoses.

I would not recommend the stainless braid covered flex hoses. The good
ones (which aren't what you'll find for a Vanagon, unless you have some
custom made) are intended for racing applications, and give a bit
firmer of a pedal by reducing the expansion of the hose. Most of the SS
flex hoses you'll find are just junk (they're sold for "looks," not
function). One big problem with this type of hose is that they can
disguise problems until they're serious.

Good quality (from a VW OEM like Meyle) "rubber" (probably EPDM) hoses
are what I use. Your's have lasted 20 years. If you had SS covered
ones, would you now be thinking "I'll change all that stuff except
those SS flex hoses, because ???"