Front flexi brake hose - wrong sort?

[Chix]

Hi team,

I recently upgraded my old rubber flexi hoses for metal braided ones.

However on test drive, brakes very spongey. On closer inspection, one of the flexi hose is leaking where it joins to the calliper (passenger side).

Has anyone had any similar experiences with the metal braided hoses?

I tried removing the washers to see if that made a difference, i.e. get it futher into the calliper but still weeped.

I've attached a photo to show how different they are at the ends...

IMG_5400.jpg IMG_5401.jpg IMG_5475.jpg

[NeilR]

Did you use copper washers ?, I think you should do - I did & never had a leak.

[jbuckl]

+ 1 for copper washer

[DZP]

Hi Chix,

The end of your original brake hose look flat.
Mine did have a round (convex) edge on them, as per the replacement braided hoses.
I have attached a picture of both old and new, side-by-side.
You can zoom in to see what they look like.
I would remove the brake hose and look inside the caliper, it should have a slightly concave mating face in the caliper.
If it is flat or scored then that will be the problem.
regards,
Den

[Chix]

Ok so having chucked this about on facebook too, the most likely reason (and yes, I used copper washers!) is this (from Adrian Planterose​)

"The ends are totally different. One is designed to seal with a copper washer on a flat face under the hex nut - the other designed to seal on the taper at the bottom of the hole"

So my question is this, why are James Paddock selling two types of hose? what are these hoses designed for, if not a Stag??

https://www.jamespaddock.co.uk/brake-hose-kit-ssteel-braided-stag-2

https://www.jamespaddock.co.uk/brake-hose-set-rubber-2

[Chix]

Hi Chix,

The end of your original brake hose look flat.
Mine did have a round (convex) edge on them, as per the replacement braided hoses.
I have attached a picture of both old and new, side-by-side.
You can zoom in to see what they look like.
I would remove the brake hose and look inside the caliper, it should have a slightly concave mating face in the caliper.
If it is flat or scored then that will be the problem.
regards,
Den

Yes Den!!

That is exactly the conclusion I am coming to. But WHY are there two different types, when they are both just advertised as 'Stag front brake hoses'??

I'm happy to revert to the rubber ones, but I'm disappointed after spending money on the metal braided ones (that now can't be returned) as they seemed more robust.

[ramjam2005]

Yes Den!!

That is exactly the conclusion I am coming to. But WHY are there two different types, when they are both just advertised as 'Stag front brake hoses'??

I'm happy to revert to the rubber ones, but I'm disappointed after spending money on the metal braided ones (that now can't be returned) as they seemed more robust.

From the very start of your post Chix, I've been thinking..uummm I have a set of new braided hoses been sitting in my collection of stored parts for my prolonged restoration and am I going to have this issue ?! Likewise, can't do anything about it as had them for years now and won't know the outcome till I get to that stage of re-fit /rebuild. Damn !

[jbuckl]

No problem with the braided stainless ones I fitted.
Recall they were Goodrich eBay. May have been paddocks though.

[mole42]

Personally I've used Goodrich braided hoses for many years on my Stag - they have the shorter end fittings and copper washers. No problems with brake fade even on really intense competitions......

[Chix]

Well it seems that the James Paddocks ones have the conical ends, I can't see (on the Rimmer's website) what the Goodrich ones have on the end as they are covered by red plastic caps.

But yes RamJam, check the ends! If they are conical, I don't recommend fitting!! Unless that's what you have already.

I'm going to resort back to the rubber hoses with the flat face seal like my old ones on both sides, just to be safe.

Looks like I blew up a 'modified' war on the Triumph Stag Fan Page Facebook group too for some inexplicable reason... oops.

[ramjam2005]

I bought mine advertised as Goodridge but can't recall where I sourced them, possibly eBay.

[APS]

I bought a set of four steel braided hoses last year from paddocks. I fitted the rears last winter when I refurbed the rear suspension, no problems with the hoses.

I have just finished refurbishing the front suspension as part of this winters project. Just started the reassembly but have not got as far as fitting the brakes yet. However I have refurbished the front calipers, lockheeds. I distinctly recall that the hole for fitting the hose in the caliper is coned at the end, just the same as the bleed nipple holes. I used a bleed nipple to 1 cover the hole whilst painting the calipers and 2 to make sure the thread was clean and clear of crap. I have no idea as to the fitting at the end of the hoses I bought last year, ready to fit. I guess they are the same as the ones you recently purchased from paddocks but I can check tomorrow if you need me to. Will probably be end of week before I get round to fitting and bleeding.

I am also guessing that the coned end of the hose would tighten down into the coned end of the hole, no washer....just a guess. Exactly the same as a bleed nipple. Bleed nipple does not have a copper washer. I think it would be bloody excellent engineering to get the length of the thread just right to tighten down on a copper washer and also the coned end to be tight at bottom of the hole.

Hence I think if you have flat ended hoses you need a washer, coned ended hoses do not need a washer.

Make sure the hole is clean and clear of crap that may prevent fully tightening the hose into the hole.

Non Lockheed calipers may be slightly different ?

Happy to be corrected. Though I might find out myself by end of the week if I have a problem to.

[DJT]

I fitted Goodridge hoses to my first Stag over 20 years ago, no issues. Current Stag came to me over 15 years ago with Goodridge already fitted. Still in place, no leaks.

Looking at their website, prices have increased 3-fold since I last bought direct from them:

https://www.goodridge.co.uk/products/car-brake-kit-for-triumph-stag-all-variants-1970-1977?variant=40320548339777

Much cheaper from Robsport:

https://robsport.co.uk/online-shop/shop-stag/product/6150-brake-hose-kit-braided

[APS]

My old and my new braided steel hoses from paddocks are exactly the same as Chix. I had no copper washer on the old one. No copper washer supplied with the new one.


I wonder how things will work out when I get to this point in fitting later in the week.

[NeilR]

Just add some decent thickness copper washers (1.5mm thick).

Mine had been on at least 15 years with copper washers, about 3 years ago I changed both calipers & fitted new copper washers - still no leaks.