After market brake lines

[Neilp]

Some interesting info I have just found on Brake Lines:

Some people sell aluminium brake line fittings for brake hoses. Not only is this a dangerous practice but you will also notice that they are normally sold with a 'for race use only' label as a possible legal get out clause for the company involved.

HEL Performance have never and will never use aluminium fittings on brake lines - Why ? When two metals with different electromotive force are placed together and are subjected to an electrically conductive fluid, 'electrolytic' corrosion takes place. If you are looking for a light weight, corrosion resistant high strength alternative to stainless steel then we suggest you check out the HEL Performance Titanium fitting mini site.

Electrolytic corrosion works on the same principles as a battery. Two metals, an anode and a cathode, are placed in fluid and an electrical reaction takes place which results in the softer metal being eroded due to electrolytic corrosion. Once these conditions are met, a "corrosion cell" is created, an electrical current will flow and metal will be consumed at the anode. The only way to remove this corrosion is by using metals of the same electromotive force (EMF). HEL Performance only ever use stainless steel or titanium fittings on stainless steel hose for our motorcycle brake lines which keeps the EMF constant across the system eliminating electrolytic corrosion.

This info was taken from the Hel website

http://www.h-e-l.co.uk/HEL_Performance_ ... minium.htm

[Nanna10r]

Good tip Neil so the braided lines that they make up the sunny coast that have chrome fittings would they be ok or not, cant remember who made em for me ?.
Cheers Brett

[Neilp]

If you bought your b/lines from John Stamnas, to my knowledge he uses Goodridge lines and they all have anodised or chrome plated Aluminum, I dont know what affect the chrome plating has. I am going to send an email to Hel and ask, and will post the responce once I get it.

[Yankee]

mine are goodridge, and i've never heard of this before, although it makes sence! thanks for scaring me Neil! (is that spelt right? i meant scaring as in fright, not as in healing from a wound... "scarring"??)
anywho,
yeah, more info would be great...... maybe a sacrificial anode would do the trick? Zinc would take the brunt for the Al, but where would you put it? master cylinder? lol

[Neilp]

Isent this email to Hel:

I have just read your alarming information regarding aluminium fittings on brake lines, to say I am concerned is an understatement. I have a couple of questions to ask.

If the fittings are chrome plated does this make a difference?

If there is a problem with aluminium fittings why doesn’t this affect the fluid reservoir?

And this is their reply:

Neil

In relation to your questions I offer the following :

If the fittings are chrome plated does this make a difference - It would make a difference as this gives the aluminium another protective cover and keeps the ally away from the stainless which is good as well.

If there is a problem with aluminium fittings why doesn’t this affect the fluid reservoir?

The reservoir has a different coating applied and is hard anodised AND is a great deal thicker meaning the conductivity is lowered and the effects take a lot longer to corrode - also oem only use mild steel fittings on there brake lines as standard.

I would never use ally brae line fittings on any bike - It just isn't worth the risk.

Regards


Simon Lane
HEL Performance Products


Hope this info helps.

[Neilp]

Something else I have just learnt, apparently this problem is much greater in th UK as they use salt on the roads during winter, this speeds up the electrolitic action.
So it may not be such an issue here in Oz.

[kempy]

Aluminium and Stainless Steel don't go well together at all. Just keep em full stainless and you should be sweet.

[Barrabob]

I bought a second hand stainless brake line from a wrecker with a ally fitting and the fitting cracked in half when I aplied some force to it with a spanner so i threw it in the bin.

I bought some custom made swaged ones with adr tags on them just after that because i figured i didnt want the fittings cracking on my front brake line cracking or leaking while I was riding the bike, I wouldnt recomend the screw in type aluminium fittings although plenty of people have used them before without hassels.