Does anyone LOCAL have a 10mm and 11mm Alden wrench I could borrow?

Docdanracy said:
nope sorry, not true...

not a good idea for a street car...

as a matter of fact I don't even use them on my track cars any longer...
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If they are DOT rated, which most are, they are (by DOT definitions) "suitable direct replacements to the OEM components similar expected life span". In nearly 40 years of using them, I have never seen (or heard) of one failing, even with substantial physical damage caused by external factors. Many sanctioning bodies require them, depending upon the class of the entry. We currently have literally dozens of customers using them on the street, some for over a decade in high winter salt usage environments; not one problem to date. Some OEM’s actually use them as standard equipment on their high performance street cars. So I hardly see them as “nope sorry, not true...not a good idea for a street car...”
 
see me sometime on Saturday....come up to the top of the tower and I will tell you between incidents:D

It is easier in person than typing...;)
 
hey if I as a "humble driver" and not an instructor are allowed up ON the tower I take you up on your offer anytime :D

see you then
 
JFP in PA said:
If they are DOT rated, which most are, they are (by DOT definitions) "suitable direct replacements to the OEM components similar expected life span". In nearly 40 years of using them, I have never seen (or heard) of one failing, even with substantial physical damage caused by external factors. Many sanctioning bodies require them, depending upon the class of the entry. We currently have literally dozens of customers using them on the street, some for over a decade in high winter salt usage environments; not one problem to date. Some OEM’s actually use them as standard equipment on their high performance street cars. So I hardly see them as “nope sorry, not true...not a good idea for a street car...”
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whatever...you do what you want and I will do what I want...

I have seen the strength of the two side by side and I will take the oem
For a track car when you are changing/checking all components after every event, then they are fine...but for a car that is just driven and that has normal maintenance, then I do not feel they are proper....and yes, DOT approved is an absolute must, no matter the usage.;)
 
Not quite the same thing, but similar. I had a steel braided water hose burst. It was 5 years old. Problem is, the steel braiding can abrade the rubber lines over time, and since the nice, pretty braiding is on the outside, it's difficult to inspect and know that anything is wrong. I agree with Dan, fine for cars who's lines are replaced regularly, but the flexible brake lines on cars often live for 10 or even 20 years (anything over 10 years is scary in my book). For a street car, I see no reason for the steel braided lines.
 

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Demick said:
Not quite the same thing, but similar. I had a steel braided water hose burst. It was 5 years old. Problem is, the steel braiding can abrade the rubber lines over time, and since the nice, pretty braiding is on the outside, it's difficult to inspect and know that anything is wrong.
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Only problem with your analogy is that you are comparing a residential water line with an automotive brake line; they are entirely different in the materials of construction. The house water line has a rubber liner, the automotive brake lines do not, they are typically multiple layers of Teflon alternating with Kevlar, and with a Kevlar sleeve between the stainless braid and the inner liners, making them nearly bullet proof……
 
regardless of construction the main issue remains the same.
if the SS line is abraided internally in any way, you have no way of checking it until it fails.
A normal rubber line will swell at the weak point, allerting the technician to a imminent failure...
Although DOT approved, I do not feel that the SS lines are suitable for street applications where they are not inspected or replaced after every 500 miles or so.
again, we will disagree. I will continue to use OEM lines when replacing mine for street and track applications.:)
 
Docdanracy said:
I do not feel that the SS lines are suitable for street applications where they are not inspected or replaced after every 500 miles or so.
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I love your quote........one of the techs in my shop has a Nissan product that came from the factory with all braided stainless lines, inclduing the clutch line, that has a mere 138,000 miles on it......................:D
 
As I said before, you can continue to do as you like.
I take my information from a Factory Trained Porsche Technician that owned his own shop for ~30 years, and built dozens of race cars for customers and for himself over the years. He suggested the use of OEM lines to me years ago, and I have followed that advice with no failures. I used to use SS lines but after listening to his information, and seeing first hand the strenth of SS lines vs OEM lines, I decided to use OEM lines.
If you are comfortable using SS lines in street and track applications...please continue to do so. I however will not.
If a factory decides to use them as OEM lines on certain performance cars, great.

now lets move on....
 
Docdanracy said:
As I said before, you can continue to do as you like.
I take my information from a Factory Trained Porsche Technician that owned his own shop for ~30 years, and built dozens of race cars for customers and for himself over the years. He suggested the use of OEM lines to me years ago, and I have followed that advice with no failures. I used to use SS lines but after listening to his information, and seeing first hand the strenth of SS lines vs OEM lines, I decided to use OEM lines.
If you are comfortable using SS lines in street and track applications...please continue to do so. I however will not.
If a factory decides to use them as OEM lines on certain performance cars, great.

now lets move on....
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And I take my advice from someone that has built and raced everything from the old USAC to NHRA Top Fuel over a period of more than 40 years, runs his own successful shop, and has personally witnessed how SS lines allow a car to still stop after a catastrophic engine or drive line failure has shredded everything but the hydraulic lines; and that person is me.

OK, now we can move on…………. :cool:
 
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flintworks said:
If you come by my shop I'll break them loose for you for free.
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And Alden (the owner of Flintworks) lived up to his promise this morning :D
Thank You!
If you are looking for a good independent shop with an experienced (and certified) guy working on your car, you should give Flintworks a try!
 
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