Unfortunately for me, I somehow corrupted some of my photos and need to retake the brake bleeding process so that'll be done in part #3 of the 'how to improve braking performance' series.
But for now I'd like to discuss this particular modification that I had done - Steel Braided Hoses.
The original OEM brake hose is made of a special rubber compound that's able to withstand the 1000psi (probably less, but giving the benefit of doubt) of pressure transferred to the calipers from the brake pump/servo to pump the brake oil to your calipers to make them stop your car. It's probably one of the toughest things in your car since it has to withstand temperature changes, weather changes, dirt, dust, water, high pressure and still be flexible enough to allow some movement since your front tyres turn left and right.
Most original brake hoses will outlast the lifespan of the car! But with every other type of rubber product, it will eventually dry up and harden and/or lose its rigidity. The explaination of steel braided hose retailers is that stock hoses tend to expand causing some pressure loss at the caliper, resulting in a spongy feel on the brake pedal. A steel braided hose doesn't expand and therefore ensures constant pressure to the caliper.
I did some research on this claim and came across this particular test done by autospeed.com. Interestingly they concluded that only 2.4% of gain was observed comparing an old brake hose vs a steel braided hose.
Now, 2.4% didn't seem like much but I've been living with slushy brakes on my Myvi for a long time and I've done a lot of experiments (I even have a prototype brake stopper) to find ways to improve my brakes. So I took a chance and gave Drexchan from EA Autoworks a call, ordered one set of "Improve" brand steel braided hoses and made an appointment to have them installed. I know there are other brands out there but since I've known Drex forever, I thought I'd ride on his services and pick his brain on everything related to the product he was selling.
"Each hose is made from teflon and braided for extra strength"
What caught my attention is the quality of the finishing. It was cut to the exact length of the standard hose, fitted in snugly and curved nicely without any nicks or strains to the hose. I liked how the ends were terminated and covered with some sort of yellow plastic / rubbery cover.
So far so good.
"No expansion means more pedal feel"
I've been looking for that!
"I know. That's why I asked you to install this"
Each fitting is curved the same way the original hose is curved and everything is tightened back. The reason why I didn't do this as a DIY is because I don't have the open ended hexagonal tool that Drex used. Didn't think it'd be a wise investment since I'll never use the tool again as these hoses are supposed to outlast the car if properly maintained.
Maintenance? Brake hoses? Since when?
Apparently dirt can sometimes get caught between the braiding and get lodged there. If unlucky, it might damage the inner hose and cause a leak. But having said that, I've done my Googling and wasn't able to find any cases of this nature. Issues happen with steel braided hoses only if not properly installed. So always seek professional help when doing something as important as your brake lines!
How do we maintain the hoses? Just give it a cleaning whenever you wash your car and try to keep the wheel well mud / dirt free (minimally free anyway).
"Ok.. go test your car."
I usually ignore the immediate impression whenever something new is installed because of possible placebos and I generally need to readapt to the car anyway. So first pass around the "test track" was ignored. After a quick white coffee break, I went for a 2nd run. Brake pedal firm! Nice. The amount of effort needed to stop the car was lessoned. Double nice. No more sponginess! Triple nice.
Although real world tests by autospeed.com showed only a 2.4% increase in performance, that 3% in my world was exactly what I was looking for.
A week later and the pedal pressure was still consistent. Very nice.
Time spent interrogating a friend on something you want done : One day
Effort spent doing research on a product : 2 weeks
Finding out 'buttfeel' works better than a 2.4% real life test : Priceless!
To be continued.. part #3 of how to improve braking performance - Brake bleeding and brake pad running in.
Side note : this particular install was done by khguan of EA Autoworks, not Drex. My other car was done by Drex.
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