I was reading on
www.corvetteforum.com that folks were having trouble with the Russel SS brake lines and the wheel speed sensors freaking out.
I was unable to find that thread, please post a direct link. I've made a lot of custom brake, oil and fuel system lines over the years (-3 thru -12). I don't understand how this relates to the wheel speed sensors. But I'd really like to know..
But the guys with the Goodridge lines said they didn't have any trouble. I have some Russel SS lines here waiting to go on, but I'm thinking I ought to buy some Goodridges instead. How about it folks, do you have Russel SS lines and no trouble?
I personally would never choose Russel for my brakes. As I understand it, they are a small company and were recently purchased by Edelbrock. From their website, their focus is auto/marine. They may make great products, but I will never find out.
It would be interesting to see how the products offered for this application differ (adapters, strain relief, jacketing, crimp vs. screw on, etc). I prefer to put application specific adaptors at the caliper and the chassis so that a generic line with -3 ends can be used. Keep the C5 specifics on the C5.
I would go with Aeroquip, Earl's or Goodridge. Of the three, Aeroquip does a *huge* amount of business with the aerospace industry.
I just don't see how a small company like Russel can invest as much in QC, R&D, and what basic stuff they can do in house vs. out-source (heat treat, anodizing, hose assembly, etc).
Earl's is not generally an aerospace supplier, but they do supply industry (not sure how much). They formed when the suprlus plumbing market dried up and racers needed an alternative. At that time, I think Aeroquip was enjoying the defense industry build up, and wasn't really doing small sales. I believe Goodridge has a similar background, except that they are not a US company (ahem). I've received excellent tech support from Earl's on my plumbing projects.
All three of these companies supply F1, CART, IRL, TRANS-AM, etc teams. It isn't clear who has the greatest market penetration there, but I don't think that would mean much (given sponsor deals, etc). In particular, the F1 guys are running ultra-light kevlar/sprecra/etc hoses with titanium ends, not stainless. They aren't the hoses your Daddy ran on his Oldsmobile, nor do they have much in common with the hoses you run on your Z06
Carroll Smith, in his outstanding series of books on race car preparation, has long expressed a preference for Earl's or Aeroquip over anything else.