Has anyone replaced their ordinary rubber brake caliper hoses with stainless-steel braided units, and noticed any improvement in their brake pedal?

I have converted my S-10 race truck to manual brakes, and at once installed oversize brake calipers hoping to get better clamping with less line pressure.

The new front metric calipers should have 2.75" pistons. The 2.5" metric rebuilt stock-type front calipers were moved to the rear axle to replace a pair of troublesome Eldorado calipers.

The pedal now is not as good as I'd hoped for, although if I pump it a couple times and push pretty hard I can get about 900 PSI in the front brake circuit.
I have a brake pressure gauge permanently mounted under the hood in the front brake line.

I "think" I have all of the air bled from the system and wonder if those fairly-new stock rubber hoses are allowing too much 'compliance'. The pedal firms up some when I clamp off the chassis-to-axle hose.

A slightly larger brake master cylinder may be in my future; perhaps a Mopar unit like suggested by Ed and Black&Blue.

I just can't afford a complete, new system from Wilwood or others.

Thanks!
Troy

Bad,

In my experience, the factory type hoses are completely acceptable and I install them when ever possible. Consider all the factory type hoses in street service and the good brakes they provide.

You are on the track of the problem by clamping off the rear calipers. Something is amiss other than the hoses.

Thought, are the rear calipers mounted so that the bleeder is straight up?

with the bigger pistons you will probably need to change to a master cylinder with a bigger piston to get the feel you want.You are correct that bigger caliper pistons equal more clamping force with less pressure.

No issue using the stock rubber hoses. Made thousands of passes in my Chevelle with those lines.

Back to original question, yes the SS hoses will flex less and firm up the pedal. Larger MC bore, ;ess pressure more volume. Larger caliper piston surface are requires more volume but increases clamping pressure.

Thanks, fellas. As a lark, I'm installing SS hoses on my rear calipers to see if I can tell any difference. I get mixed reviews, but.....

Question though; can the SS hoses be safely pinched off for diagnostic purposes?

Cheers,
Troy

Larry, the calipers are mounted so the bleeders are pretty well on top. I do remove them from the brackets though and point them more 'up' though to try to get every last bubble out.
Thx
T.

If you mean can you pinch the hose shut absolutely not. If they are teflon lined stainless hose you are taking a chance on damaging the hose.

You shouldn't clamp or pinch any brake hose to close it off

Just keep in mind that when they fail/malfunction, it's usually from collapsing, not bursting. If the hose inside the braid isn't any different than the old stocker type, all you're likely getting is bling.

Just replaced the front rubber lines on my car when I rebuilt my Aerospace Component calipers over the winter. The outter rubber was cracking and were on the car when we bought it. Replaced with Wilwood stainless lines and definitely noticed a difference in pedal feel right away.