Ferrari 412 Custom Stainless Brake Line Special !!

Anyone know what the difference is between 412 brake lines and those used on the earlier 400s? In particular 1984 400i since that's what I have!

Al

 

Good question because the ABS of the 412 might mean very different brakelines.



Or not.

 

The brake systems between the 2 are not identical. The 412 uses the same line on each of the 4 corners PN 116373 ( Testarossa and Mondail Qv). There is not difference in the 4 flex lines betweeen the ABS and standard systems. The 400i shares the same setup as the 356 BB / Daytona. It is basically 2 brake line sets side by side. 2 Flex lines at each corner. Four front 101401 or 101393 and 4 rear 101392.

david

 

Yet another example of how the 400i and the Daytona are very close relatives!

 

Does anyone have an opinion or facts as to whether braided lines are better or not for a 400i over the standard lines?

 

The SS braided lines aren't better because of the braided SS - It's the stronger Teflon tube inside it that gives a better pedal feel and stronger, more consistent pressures out to the calipers. Not quite an extension of the hard lines on the chassis, but significantly less expansion in the hose than rubber, especially old rubber.
The SS exterior is for protection of the line inside, primarily from rocks thrown up by sticky slick on race cars (especially open wheel cars, which catch debris thrown up by cars ahead). The downside is that the fine SS wires can fray, and getting one of those little suckers into your fingertip hurts like a beeyotch.

Real reason to get them is what's inside, and what that does for brake feel. Get them coated, and don't worry about them again.
Until they've started being offered with the coatings, I've gone with the coated-fabric covered lines, but will probably start using the SS versions like these for easy availability, now that the coated version is readily available. Over the years, I really learned to hate getting the wires in my fingertips when I have to bleed brakes or other brake work down the line.

Glenn, ya got sets for a 400GT? Specifically, the correct ends, without adapters, and the correct lengths?

 

Any suggestion for a source to buy such a sets of lines for a 400i?

 

These guys have them but I don't know if the specs are the same
http://www.superformance.co.uk/a-v12/brakes.htm

 

I was hoping captglen (the OP) would have them. May have to PM him.

 

I was thinking about that earlier after my post & was about to post that question here (figuring that he might follow this thread)...if no reply, I'll do that!
I thought I saw something like this a while back & it was only for the 412. I wondered with more 400 & 400i's built why they weren't included

 

I bought my SS for the 400i at Eurospares; the lines for a 400i are the same as used on fronts for 308/365/400/400i/512--Lee

 

I ordered the set of 8 for a '78 400 and it turns out that they are short by about 2 3/4". Superformance does not make a longer line and has offered a credit if I return them on my dime. It seems a little odd that I'm the first person to try and install them on a 400 but who knows.

 

I saw those a while back & thought that the $$ was very reasonable, thanks for the heads-up

 

Did they tell you that they would fit your 400? If so, it seems to me that they owe you a cash refund including return shipping costs.

 

This doesn't surprise me in the least.

Don't get me wrong - I live 30 mins from Superformance so tend to collect stuff and they are good people who try to accommodate but their parts often aren't a 100% fit and their listing aren't always correct. Examples of this to date are:-

Fuel Filter
Due to a badly worded listing they gave me a 400i fuel filter when I specified the car was a 400 - maybe the telesales staff aren't quite as good at spotting errors as the tech guys. They sent me a replacement FOC but asked me to return the wrong part which I sent by post - for £4.00 it didn't worry me but sending stuff from the US is way dearer.

Plug Leads
The pre-fitted metal brackets that attach the leads to the carbs are the wrong shape and are a pain to fit as you need to bend them to clear the various linkages and pipes. They do sort of fit and look great but when I looked at a photo of a 365 engine (see image attached) the brackets are mounted on the rocker covers (possible not standard ?), not on the carb studs so now wonder if a) they were incorrectly designed or a 400 b) they gave me the wrong ones.

Air Filters
I've raised this before but the "uprated" filters don't fit properly around the trumpets (too tight) so make it seriously hard to fit the final trumpet. You need to dismantle half the car to get the airfilters out and this didn't help one bit. So much so that when i next visited I gave them one of the original (now unusable) filters I'd taken from the car to use as a pattern to modify the uprated ones to fit. They probably won't do it which is a shame.

Fuel pump switch
I ordered one for a 400 but the one they supplied was the wrong thread. I took my original leaking switch in and they matched it up with one they listed as being for another car (a 308 I believe). Swapped FOC but again a PITA !!

They definitely aren't crooks trying to con us but they make mistakes so care really needs to be taken when ordering from them. In future I'll double/triple/quadruple check the part is correct and agree on a returns policy if supplied wrong.
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...I've had nothing but good luck and good help from Superformance.

The same brake line was used on almost everything in the 70's and early 80's (the same part number is listed on Eurospares for 246, 208, 308 gtx, 365 Gtx, 400x, 512bb front) so unless they sent you the rears for one of the others, their supplier must have goofed and put the wrong lines in the box...Lee

 

I ordered a set from ExoticCarGear.com (the starter of this thread) last year for $215. They were way too short. I phoned him, on a Saturday, and he (captglen on F-chat) called right back. I gave him the correct length -which should be 445mm. He shipped out the replacements quickly. They look OEM but are braided stainless inside. I haven't gotten back around to trying to install them yet but am hoping the connectors are all correct. He's a nice guy to do business with.

 

unfortunately Superformance hasnt responded to my emails. Good service goes a long way and bad service goes a little farther. As an example, Scuderia Rampante sent me the wrong hose kit ($340 for 40" of hose!!) and when notified today they sent the right kit by overnight shipping and a call tag for the incorrect package.

 

Superformance is going to take the hoses back and cover return shipping. Its too bad that they don't offer an alternative. I guess I found winter project #4!

 

Well, just found out that one of the ends should not be different - both should be the same. One end they supplied slid in and then had a retaining clip. This isn't used on a Series I 400iGT. Both ends have the larger tightening nut. So round three begins. When I get these right at least we'll all know what it takes.

 

Keep at it Daren! Somebody will engineer rather than just sell us a set of lines.