Braided Stainless Steel Vacuum Lines?

[Ryan86]

Some of the vacuum lines on my car are way to flimsy and small... so I was tihnking of replacing them. I want something different...and I'm not really into colored ones. Braided stainless steel would look nice, but the kits at Kragen are like $50 and don't come in the correct size.

Searching Jegs, I found this: http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerce3/ProductDisplay?prrfnbr=4680&prmenbr=361 . I'm guess 1/4" would fit because its only 1/16 bigger than 3/16. All the endclamps on Jegs were like $5 each...way too much for me. THink heatshrink would work? I found this on Radioshack: http://www.radioshack.com/product.asp?catalog_name=CTLG&product_id=278-1610 . For under $20, I should be able to do most the lines. What you guys think?

 

[boostin1g]

i think you are a god if this works i am going to radio shack 2 day and am going to pick this up i hope it not an oder online only item what all could be coverd with this do you know pm me thanks

 

[Slipstream]

you might be able to get some of them. but not all of them unless you find some more sizes of tubing.
The 2g dsm uses 4, 6 and 8 mm tubing for the vac lines.

4mm for throttle body stuff and fuel pressure regulator
6mm for manual boost controller and for the blow off valve
8mm for the breather hose (also the line from the radiator cap to the coolant overflow)
10mm for the coolant overflow dump tube
From what I've heard (no first hand experience) the 1g is similar but uses a great deal more 4mm...

4mm=.15748" closest fractional is 5/32" or 10/64" (to normalize them)
6mm=.23622" closest fractional is 15/64" or 15/64" (to normalize them)
8mm=.31496" closest fractional is 5/16" or 20/64" (to normalize them)
10mm=.39370" closest fractional is 25/64" or 25/64" (to normalize them)

That Jeg's page has
1/4" or 16/64" (to normalize them) (should roughly work for the 6mm tubing)
5/16" or 20/64" (to normalize them) (should roughly work for the 8mm tubing)
3/8" or 24/64" (to normalize them) (should roughly work for the 10mm tubing)

So you should roughly be able to replace just about everything except for that mess up by the TB and the FPR...if you find some 5/32" or equivelent let us know.

 

[bOOstd GSX]

I thought braided line came in AN sizing?

4an
6an
8an
10an
12an
16an

throw a 16 as the denominator and thats your line sizing... for example 4 an would be:

4
16 of an inch.

 

[Ryan86]

Thanks guys...its really helpful

Right now, I'm just gonna order some 1/4" and see how it works out. If it turns out decent enough, I'll post some pics and order the rest. My local Kragen actually has some 5/32" so I'm in luck there.

 

[Ryan86]

Oh...one more question... anyone know what the upper radiator hose size is?

 

[FiReBReTHa]

silly question but,

How do you seal/connect them to replace the stock rubbahs?

 

[Ryan86]

silly question but,

How do you seal/connect them to replace the stock rubbahs?

The lines I linked have a rubber interior with braided ss on the outside. When cutting them to size, you gotta put tape or something similar around the area youre going to cut so it doesn't fray out. Then, usually, you use these little expensive clamps to hold everything together. But instead im going to heatshrink the ends so they don't frail, then use tiny black zip ties to hold them on the nipples.

 

[2.4 turbo Hyped]

The zip ties found in automotive stores are not plenum rated ,i.e. unaffected by heat. You need some plenum rated zip ties due to the underhood heat or plan to replace the brittle zip ties over time. No big deal just thought Id share that with you. Sean

 

[Slipstream]

also figure on about:
5' of 4mm
6' of 6mm
2' of 8mm
1'of 10mm

(or whatever those damn sizes i converted to earlier were.)

 

[Ryan86]

Long overdue update...

Bought some of that 1/4" ss line from Jegs and some 3/4" red heatshrink. I just started, but it looks great so far imo. Once I finish with the material I have, I'm gonna order some more for the coolant lines and my radiator hose.

Pic:

 

[bigemrich]

That looks really nice
Be sure to keep updating.

--Kyle

 

[bOOstd GSX]

Wow that braided line makes the engine bay much more clean. Looks really good Ryan, I can't wait to see the finished product.

 

[FiReBReTHa]

looks great!

please post prices as you go along as well!


looks so, so awesome!

 

[TargeT]

awsome, perfect "small detail" that makes your bay look good..

more pix, prices, a write up too ! i wana do this, looks like an inexpensive / fairly easy project

 

[bOOstd GSX]

Ditto on that... But why didn't you use the anodized metal caps that go on the ends, I think those look really good.

 

[AdoreGSX]

i think he was sayin they wanted like 5 bucks a peice for the caps. I would put the white heat shrink around mine but I think i'm gonna do that when i get some extra cash.

 

[99gst_racer]

I thought braided line came in AN sizing?

4an
6an
8an
10an
12an
16an

Actually they are referring to stainless braided vacuum hose. It looks like AN hose but it is actually totally different and smaller in diameter.

The zip ties found in automotive stores are not plenum rated ,i.e. unaffected by heat. You need some plenum rated zip ties due to the underhood heat or plan to replace the brittle zip ties over time. No big deal just thought Id share that with you. Sean

How about safety wire?? I have this braided vac hose under my hood too and I always use safety wire on it. It's the only thing I can trust and it's cheap....

 

[otofmyway6]

this looks great but i have a question..did you just use heat shrink to kind of clamp it down to the vacuum T's and whatever? is there no worries of it melting from the extremely high temps? thanks!
Andy

 

[Ryan86]

this looks great but i have a question..did you just use heat shrink to kind of clamp it down to the vacuum T's and whatever? is there no worries of it melting from the extremely high temps? thanks!
Andy

The heatshrink is just for looks... underneath it is electrical tape to keep the ss from fraying. It can withstand temps of 250 degrees celcius without cracking. Bought it from cableorganizer.com (3/4")

Only thing that keeps the lines on are the little clamps...all of em wern't on yet when I took the pic. Only problem I have right now is the "T" im using is a little small and one of the lines keeps popping off. My fault

 

[jpmxrider489]

I know this thread is really old, but I went off this to get size info. I got a pic of my vacume lines. Let me know what you think.

 

[99gst_racer]

^^^ Did you just wrap tape around the ends of the hose? That hose is really meant to be used with fitting to ensure a posiitve seal.

 

[TSITurbo95]

^ What he said. To be honest, if you arent going to use the an fittings, its pointless to buy the hose. Its expensive, and not properly done.

 

[jpmxrider489]

The guy above did the same. Should I use heatshrink? I think it looks pretty good in my opinion. I was going to use hoseclamps.

 

[99gst_racer]

But to add to this thread; here's some pics I've taken over the past few years that I've been using SS brainded, teflon lines brake hoses.

These are the ones that I use: http://www.allstarperformance.com/product.htm?prod=369&part=ALL48165&add=no

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.

You must be logged in to view this image or video.