Easy Brake Upgrades: Stainless Steel Lines and High-Temp Fluids

Garagistic Easy Brake Upgrades:
Stainless Steel Lines and High-Temp Brake Fluid

  

Stainless Steel Brake Lines

BMW braking systems are generally paired well to the chassis' performance capabilities in the factory configuration.   As you begin to explore the vehicle's limits with a spirited drive through the mountains or a track day, the brakes will eventually produce enough heat to expose a few of the factory component's weak points.  The fluid in the system begins to boil creating brake fade and producing a mushy pedal feel and poor brake performance.  The brake system consists mainly of cast metal parts and headlines, except for the OEM rubber brake lines that are necessary to make the connection from the chassis to the suspension components and allow articulation.  Boiling brake fluid, internal pressure, and heat soak have negative effects on the rubber causing it to expand under pressure and inevitably fail.

 Garagistic's Stainless Steel Brake line kits are available for E24/E28/E30/E36/E46 and Mercedes W201 chassis.   To replace them you don't need much a basic tool set and a friend to help you bleed the brakes is all that is required. They're constructed from an inner Teflon® line and covered with a woven stainless steel braid that will not expand under pressure.  The advantages include increased feedback and feel through the pedal along with superior brake modulation.  The results will be immediate! Not to mention they are fully compliant with DOT Standards (MVSS-1006), have a lifetime warranty, and are burst-tested to 6000psi ( the maximum tested pressure from a BMW braking system is 1200psi).   

High-Temp Brake Fluid

When you replace the OEM lines with our upgraded stainless steel lines you will have to flush the old brake fluid out of the system and any air that has become trapped during reassembly. This is the ideal time to introduce an upgraded brake fluid with a higher boiling point and greater resistance to brake fade. Below we have included a sizeable list of fluids from various reputable manufacturers and their specs to help you decide which is best for you.  

 
Brand          DOT Ratin    Dry Boiling/Wet Boiling

BMW OEM DOT 4 Boiling Point (Dry) 446*F / (Wet) 311*F

AP Racing 551 - DOT 3 - 527°F (275°C) / 302ºF (145ºC)
AP Racing 600 - DOT 3 - 590°F (310°C) / 410°F (210°C)
AP PRF Racing - DOT 4 - 608°F (320ºC) / 311°F (155ºC)
ATE Super 200 - DOT 4 - 536ºF (280ºC) / 382ºF (194ºC)
Bosch - DOT 3 - 491ºF (255ºC) / 288ºF (142ºC)
Bosch - DOT 4 - 509ºF (265ºC) / 329ºF (165ºC)
Bosch - DOT 4+ - 536ºF (280ºC) / 356ºF (180ºC)
Brembo LCF 600+ - DOT 4 - 601ºF (316ºC) / 399ºF (204ºC)
Brembo EVO 500+ - DOT 4 - 520ºF (271ºC) / 336ºF (169ºC)
Castrol GT LMA - DOT 4 - 509ºF (265ºC) / 311ºF (155ºC)
Castrol SRF - DOT 4 - 590ºF (310ºC) / 518ºF (270ºC)
GS610 - DOT 4 - 610°F (321°C) / 421°F (216°C)
Gunk(Berryman)HD - DOT 4 - 510ºF (266ºC) / 311ºF (155ºC)
Motul DOT 5.1 - DOT 5.1 - 509ºF (265ºC) / 365ºF (185ºC)
Motul RBF 600 - DOT 4 - 594ºF (312ºC) / 421ºF (216ºC)
Motul RBF 660 - DOT 4 - 617ºF (325ºC) / 400ºF (204ºC)
Neo Super DOT16 - DOT 4 - 610°F (322°C) / 421°F (216°C)
Pentosin Super - DOT 4 - 500°F (260°C) / 338°F (170°C)
Prospeed RS683 - DOT 4 - 683°F (360°C) / 439°F (224°C)
Pentosin RBF - DOT 5.1 - 572°F (300°C) / 392ºF (200°C)
ValvolineProSyn - DOT 3/4 - 527ºF (275ºC) / 347ºF (175ºC)
Wilwood Hi-Temp 570 - DOT 3 - 570ºF (299ºC) / 284ºF (140ºC)
Wilwood EXP600 Plus - DOT 4 - 633ºF (330ºC) / 417ºF (213ºC)