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Brake hoses - please read especially if you have an old Polo
Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2004 6:09 pm
by Krupa
Today I had my brake hoses changed to Pitstop Developments steel braided items and I got a shock while they were being fitted.
My mechanic was in the middle of taking off the nearside hose when he shouted "'king hell, I can see why you're moaning about your brakes".
I ran over to have a look, and there was a patch of rubber on the hose which had perished badly, which Mike said was so weak that it would have just come up in a bubble under heavy braking.
Apparently, brake hoses should really be changed every 4 years or so, but it's not essential to do so hence most people don't bother. If you own a Polo that's about 10 years old or more then it's really worth having your hoses checked out especially if you reckon they're a bit spongy. Mine had been on for the full 13 years my car had been on the road my mechanic reckoned. Scary stuff.
Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2004 6:45 pm
by hardhitter
Yes, it's a common thing. I've seen lots of mk 3's with the hoses starting to perish. I replaced both front ones on my blue one recently.
Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2004 4:49 pm
by Phoenix
how much were your braided hoses from pitstops then dude and how much did it cost all together for fitting
Posted: Fri Mar 05, 2004 7:25 pm
by des_pd_ tdi
Remember for 9n and maybe even the 6n, braided rubber coated hoses are standard fare.
Des
Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2004 12:41 pm
by pettsy
im getting some pitstop braided ones soon to go with my new brakes
worth mentioning it tho
Posted: Sat Mar 06, 2004 10:48 pm
by 16v_po-low
the brakes on most old polos are crap anyway due to the lack of brake servo!! scrap the whole system and get a fully hydraulic pedal box, stainless hardlines, stainless braided flexis, discs all round with porsche reds on the front and you should be nearly sorted, also a brake biasing valve for the ultimate in tweaking and a fluid recirculator so ye fluid don't boil!!
Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2004 1:52 pm
by hardhitter
I would happily have that setup on my polo mate. If you pay for it, I will fit it. Your probably talking about a grands worth of kit, easy.
Mk 2's don't have a servo you just have to push the pedal harder. Mk 3's do have a servo, but it's quite small and not brilliant. On LHD models the servo is bigger and more effective.
Posted: Sun Mar 07, 2004 6:51 pm
by Krupa
hardhitter wrote:I would happily have that setup on my polo mate. If you pay for it, I will fit it.
I'll second that!
A twin engined VR6 setup would be nice too!
Phoenix wrote:how much were your braided hoses from pitstops then dude and how much did it cost all together for fitting
£44 for the hoses and £30 for fitting including DOT5.1 fluid.
Ask for them to transfer the rubber clip off the front hoses which holds the pipe away from the suspension. The rubber pipes come with this fitted, but it takes no time to pull it off and put it on your new pipes.
Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2004 12:38 pm
by toXXin
One of my brake hoses went on the MK2 I had...it popped when I was driving through Milton Keynes (which some of you may know is 90% dual carriageways), and that was bloody scary! I just had to hope nothing was coming over the roundabouts when I was due to go on them.
I second what Alex said...check them thouroughly and replace them if there's anything unusual.
It's funny how you all moan about the Polo brakes. My Ibiza has 288mm brakes, ABS, EBD, a decent servo, etc and I still think they suck! I still have the brake fade that my old Polos had, it's a nightmare! Oh well, my Brembos will be coming in the next few months!
Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2004 4:02 am
by Tahrey1043
How bad *were* your brakes, Krupa? Could you still lock the wheels?
Just self interest again
I dunno, mine "feel" a bit weak from time to time but haven't failed me... yet.. (recently!). After all, have had cause from two different sets of suicidal and marauding other road users to lock one or both pairs of circular spinning things in the past week (was it a full moon?), the first being fairly 'progressive' speed scrubbing from 80 in the wet (aagh... must brake a bit harder... a bit harder still... whoops, locked 'em, lift off), but the second being shock reaction - on a bone dry road at a "mere" 45mph (eeek! what the hell is that guy doing?!)... Nice full-on 4 wheel drift developing until mind took over from spinal cord.
If that's still possible with dodgy hoses, then its time to get the torch out, jack it up on the axle stands again and take a butchers.
Posted: Wed Mar 17, 2004 8:47 am
by SteB
the brakes on my mk1 polo are god awful, so much so that my mum refuses to get in the car !!
but sensibly, ive just got a whole new set of friction, and im going to get new hoses (if i can get any) and have it all fitted proffessionally
Steve