I am going to be replacing the rubber brake lines on my 83 300d in the next few weeks, and I was wondering if anyone knows where I might be able to find some stainless steel replacements? I have read posts in the past concerning stainless steel brake lines, but I havent been able to locate them using the search function. Any input would be greatly appreciated! Thanks.

Glidehm

Try tirerack.com

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2006 BMW M5 "Heidi" @ 109,000 miles
2005 MBZ C55 AMG "Lorelai" @ 165,000 miles
1991 MBZ 300E "Benzachino II" @ 165,000 miles
1990 MBZ 500SL "Shoshanna" @ 118,000 miles

(On the hunt for a good used M103 engine as of 6/10/23, PM me if you have one to sell!)

Check these guys out...I replaced my rears with these and will do my fronts soon as well. TOP notch quality and priced well!

http://www.wrxtra.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=55

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1987 300TDT - 195,000 (Original #14 head)
1993 190E 2.3 - 105,000
1981 300D - 250,000

Brake:
Brake:

Generally, any hydraulic shop can make them, and that way they will cost less than the stock rubber ones. Make sure they have the outer plastic cover and are DOT approved, though. Otherwise the fairly delicate stainless threads can get damaged and cause it to rupture.

I wasn't aware of any DOT-approved braided SS flexible brake hoses.

DOT approved exist. Troutman (in Calif) offers them. Last I heard you can buy from them direct although many others distribute them (do a search).

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Hanno
'79 6.9 Sold (after 27 years)
'83 280SL, 5 spd.
'94 E320 Sdn. 5 spd conversion
'02 E320 Sdn.(on loan to mom!)
'87 300E (5 spd. conversion) Sold
'05 E500 Wagon

X2 with whunter!!! The genuine article will do the job. If SS was required then it would be used from new.
The SS isnt the issue, the flexible rubber hose inside it is more important. I would be concerned that in time if the SS wire fails from fatigue cracking (common with SS) it could puncture the inner & so cause brake failure. I think thats why, unlike most hydraulic hose, brake lines are not reinforced with wire as there is too much vibration & flexing.

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Grumpy Old Diesel Owners Club group

I no longer question authority, I annoy authority. More effect, less effort....

1967 230-6 auto parts car. rust bucket.
1980 300D now parts car 800k miles
1984 300D 500k miles
1987 250td 160k miles English import
2001 jeep turbo diesel 130k miles
1998 jeep tdi ~ followed me home. Needs a turbo.
1968 Ford F750 truck. 6-354 diesel conversion.
Other toys ~J.D.,Cat & GM ~ mainly earth moving

i put ss hoses on the front of my chevelle years ago. they eventually broke. ss can only flex so many times before it breaks. went back to stock rubber and those are still on there 20 years later. ss hard lines are good stuff, the braided hoses not so good for an every day driver.

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1984 300TD "MAX" 303K+ still going...
fast '70 Chevelle 200k+
home built Shovelhead chopper

Rubber lines flex and absorb the bumps in the road while braking. SS does not and you either get a pulsating pedal or wheel chirp under hard braking. Race cars use them for a reason. Street cars don't use them for a reason.
On a funnier note. Once upon a time I helped a friend install a motor in his car. He had SS lines as well. Trouble was the motor did not get grounded to the chassis (check your work). The only path to ground left was the SS lines! Toasty they got

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'70 F100 shortbed
'82 Diesel Westy
'83 Euro 300TD
Curtlo Viper
Yeti ARC
Surly long haul trucker

I used stainless lines on my 84 F250 4x4, since it needed all the braking help it could get. Once I put those hoses on, I had no trouble with slowing those 35s, even towing a trailer.

Same here... I put some Russell braided hoses on my "old beater" Chevy pickup years ago. They have been great and have had no issues. They also have much better feel through the pedal. They have been on there for 70,000 of the 182,000 miles. That chafing crap is a bunch of B.S. Especially if the hose is built and "INSTALLED" correctly. I was an aircraft mechanic for many years (A.P.). Every hose on most of the hydraulic systems I ever worked on were braided in one way or another. I think they will do OK on my car.

I got them from JEGS. They probably have a set that will work on the MB. I need to look into that.

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AJ

1985 300D (SOLD)

Snookwhaler, From one A&P to another yup!. Although I still believe the SS is fine for the street a good set of OEM lines would be fine and possibly less expensive. On the track the SS lines do improve pedal feel and safety especially with an upgraded braking system ( IE PSI , )

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92 500E Silver 66k
82 Porsche 911SC 84K
68 Cadillac ( Gone Now )
03 Suburban Z71 200K
85 300SD 217k From Original Owner ( Dad )

from my experience with SS lines (Troutman, DOT approved) I'd do it again:
1986 190D 2.5 lines were on for over 200K miles (sold).
1987 300E have about 150K miles on them so far.
1979 6.9, about 10k miles over 18 years so far.
Note that the fluid is flushed about every 2 years.

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Hanno
'79 6.9 Sold (after 27 years)
'83 280SL, 5 spd.
'94 E320 Sdn. 5 spd conversion
'02 E320 Sdn.(on loan to mom!)
'87 300E (5 spd. conversion) Sold
'05 E500 Wagon

I used SS lines once on an Audi. They initially improved feel, then blew out after about 5 years. These were quality lines by a reputable aftermarket manufacturer.

SS lines sound good in theory, in practice a quality rubber line will do the job just as well for a lower price.