I guess the big question is.. why pay for the stainless weight and looks
if you are gonna cover it with firesleeve. Obviously in your case it was
an add-on.. but starting from the get-go, I am thinking I will dispense
with the "pretty" and go with function.

Dave

I think you have a good point Dave. A lot of people don't realize that the standard rubber outside hose has braid in it, (at least Earl's and Aeroquip), until they try to cut it! You probably know Dave that one of the first uses of the stainless outer braid was used on the BRAKE lines on the Ford Lemans racers. The stainless was used over teflon brake lines to resist any line expansion thereby giving superb brake "feel". Don't remember if it was a Ford or Hollman & Moody idea. The braid doesn't offer much temperature protection beyond the base material. The use of Firesleeve is highly recomended. The most ironic thing about the stainless braided lines is that many of the Motorcycle racers and Auto Sports-Racing cars started to cover the stainless steel braid with heat shrink tubing to keep the braid from scraping up suspension parts! In the original use the fact that it looked cool was just a bonus. SS/teflon are still some of the best brake lines going.

 

Bill Jepson (useless factoids akimbo)