Help please re brake pipes and hoses

[weimarbus]

Hi, can anyone please tell me the difference between pre and post 85 brake pipe kits and hoses, my vans chassis number is august 85 which appears to make it an 86 model but it was fitted with an early exhaust from new which would seem to make it an 85 model. I would like to fit braided hoses and these seem to change also in 85. any advice would be very welcome as I am very confused.

[weimarbus]

P.S The front suspension is the later type, as is the cooling (DG engine)

[jamesc76]

what callipers do you have fitted

[weimarbus]

Hi James, Girling type twin piston

[jamesc76]

thats early set up so should be able to get the kit ?

[weimarbus]

Thanks for the reply James, is the difference to do with the front hoses being shorter and having a metal pipe into the caliper, does the later set up have the hose direct to the caliper.

[jamesc76]

yeah I think so!

[weimarbus]

Thanks for your help James, time to go shopping

[California Dreamin]

I've had my late braided hoses fitted for about 4-5 months now....the rears are fine but the fronts have been an absolute pain in the ass since fitting.
Basically they have to be fitted with a twist to avoid catching the tyres when used on lock...unfortunately I've tried several degrees of twist and it doesn't matter what I do they still catch on full lock. (standard Carat wheels on standard 185R14 tyres)
I won't go into supplier details but surfice to say there has been plenty of correspondance going both ways...to his credit he has offered to have a look at the fitted parts as he is convinced he can put it right...but to be honest, the plastic coating on the braided hoses has now worn through (MOT fail?) and the fuel costs and time involved would be more than the braided hoses cost.

I have now ordered two genuine VW front flexi's at a few pence over £37.00...I wish I had just done this in the first place and saved myself all the hassel and workshop time.
My advice if you are already using braided hoses is to keep a very close eye on them for chaffing......

I really haven't got an answer as to why this should have happened but needless to say I feel that I have wasted my money on something that was supposed to be better than original equipment...
Hope you have better luck than me (BTW, I am a timed served VW trained motor vehicle technician and not a novice)

Martin

[big red bus]

Fitted goodridge braided hoses on mine alround. HAve no issues with catching on lock or any problems fitting them.

[weimarbus]

Thanks for your replies, next question is do you feel any improvement in braking performance over all, if not i'll stick with stock hoses, thanks in anticipation

[big red bus]

I find the pedal feels alot harder. Not sure how much is down to the hoses or just a fluid change and brakes being adjusted up correctly. HAd them a while ago on a mk2 gti I had and they made a massive difference with the feel of the pedal. Every one's different though.

[California Dreamin]

They do give a harder brake pedal feel but as others have said much of the 'initial' improvement is down to new fluid and proper rear brake adjustment as this is often all done at the same time.
I opted for the braided type thinking it was all positive...but as I said I had loads of problems which were not resolved despite several attempts...in my case I am picking up the GENUINE VW items tomorrow....I have just given up on the others and just want piece of mind.
F.Y.I....Mine were not Goodridge.
Think of it this way.....the ones fitted are likely the originals and have given 20 years plus good service....VW have tested them on tens of thousands of vehicles, the buffers/pipe length and ferrils have been all been carefully designed so the pipes move freely and without catching...where things are close, proper solid buffers are fitted.
More than can be said for some supplied braided hoses where standard chassis grommets are used (that move freely up and down the hose) instead of solid fixed buffers (this is what has happened to mine and the reason the tyres have worn through the plastic coating)

Martin

[California Dreamin]

Here is a picture of my chafing 'braided hoses' NOTE* the two..yes two, grommets (not proper buffers but chassis grommets that came fitted and more freely on the pipes)
The picture makes the pipe look thicker than it is (atually about pencil thickness)



Now look at VW genuine pipes I picked up yesterday....hmmmmmm..look at those buffers..
Is this telling you something?




Martin

[weimarbus]

Thanks for the info Martin, I have been happy with the brakes so far, the hoses were replaced a couple of years ago,I am now replacing the metal pipes with copper ones and want to know that it will be ok for the next 25 years, so I think I shall fit new standard hoses