Brake Hose Question - sell by date?

[mercrocker]

Got some NOS brake hoses in the garage, they have been in a drawer for what must have been a decade....

 

Dated Aug. 2007, ribbed rubber.   

 

Chuck 'em?   

 

They fit my Cowley but typically I forgot I had them and ordered new ones.....I guess they are dated for good reason.

[Stanky]

If you have new ones on the way then might as well chuck them, but if they have been stored in a dark place in a cool garage then they are probably* OK. if they'd be in the sun, or exposed to brake fluid the whole time then probably not, but as I understood thats basically the optimal way to store rubber components?

[steveo3002]

if they feel soft and flexible id use them ....1000s of cars driving on old hoses 

[mercrocker]

They have not seen light of day for about 5 years and don't seem to have deteriorated but of course no way to see inside!    Can't quite bring myself to lob 'em yet.....Cheers for the thoughts.

[Guest Hooli]

I'd use them if they seem ok. It's UV & fluid that damage them after all.

[danthecapriman]

I'd check them first for perishing and rubbery feel first, if they seem ok then I'd use them.

[mercrocker]

Well, they do seem OK.   Then again, single circuit brakes.....Trouble is by the time I am likely to need them again they will probably be another 4/5 years older.    

[Stanky]

Put one old one and one new one on each side, ideally opposite corners. Then drive as fast and you can and only carry out emergency stops. Then, let us know which ones burst first.

 

I believe the phrase is 'product testing' and you can be paid for it. Maybe even enough to get a room with a view for when you are in traction.

[Christine]

If i bought a 57 plate car ,with zero miles ,  i wouldn't be checking brake hoses , they're still new ! 

[Guest Hooli]

If you went out & bought a 10 year old car, would you change the hoses or just drive it? Your hoses will be in a lot better condition than the ones on the ten year old car.

[Christine]

Put your finger on one end and blow as hard as you can in other end under water..

 If its no good ,you'll see bubbles.   If its good , all you'll see is "dots that aren't really there " swimming around for a bit  

[junkyarddog]

I'd use them,once they are new and of good quality.

 

I have used secondhand ones in the past,no bother at all.

[JayW]

Only slightly off topic...

 

I recently bought a cambelt off a major parts supplier via eBay.

 

Production date on the packaging: 2005.

 

The saddest part, the attitude of the seller when I complained!

 

As you were chaps.

[Junkman]

I bet the majority of my cars is fitted with brake pipes suitable for the MSI.

I wouldn't worry.

[omegod]

I sold some tyres circa 2003 a few weeks ago, they were unused spares from under the boot floor of 2 Omegas I broke and had never seen daylight, buyer was over the moon but I was quite honest regarding their age

[Mally]

I've got a box of new brake hoses, M10 thread so new ish.

They have numbers stamped on that come up Mk 7 Escort on Google.

But Google also says Mk 7 Escorts don't exist.

They have a brk attached and Banjo bolt.

Can post photo and measurements if anyones interested.

Have to find them first though.

[steveo3002]

end of the day if youre going to be worried everytime you brake then get new ones for the sake of a tenner each...but then are your caliper seals and master cylinder stale too?

[mercrocker]

If they had been dated 1957 I would have fitted them without a thought.....Just modern materials ring alarm bells with me nowadays!     

 

Every braking component on the car was changed when it first came out of the breaker's yard and I never bothered checking dates on those, I just happened to see this one......  

 

Back in their drawer now, they'll do!

[jon928se]

I sold some tyres circa 2003 a few weeks ago, they were unused spares from under the boot floor of 2 Omegas I broke and had never seen daylight, buyer was over the moon but I was quite honest regarding their age

Quite. Stored out of the sun and uv they'll be fine. Just last month I had the opportunity to compare, the original never used 2002 spare from the2002 Astra, with the 2007 Yoko's on the 928that had seen some miles and some sun. Could scratch rubber off the 2002 Astra spare with a finger nail but the 2007 Yoko's would spin without producing smoke or black lines on the drive. (Or actually propel the car up the drive)

 

 

Sent from my HTC_0P6B using Tapatalk

[paulplom]

I would just use them. What's the worst that could happen?

[castros_bro]

Manufactures and Govmt and EU have recommendations about storage and use of hydraulic hoses, you may think they are all money grabbing wastrels but maybe a better source of advice then the bar room anecdote of "my granny used a brand new brake hose as a dog lead for 27 years before my uncle fitted it to his Mk2  Grindley Peerless, his elephantine haemorrhoids preventing him from driving but he never had a problem with the brakes afterwards, the makers only put a date on them to scare you into buying expensive new ones"

[Squire_Dawson]

Car manufacturers recommend a complete replacement of all rubber braking components every 4 years, and brake fluid 18 months, but I very much doubt anyone bothers to do it. I would use them myself Trevor but as you say, modern rubber components aren't as good as the old ones. When overhauling the Allegro I used old stock Girling hoses, probably 1990s, still going fine. How is the Cowley these days?

[lisbon_road]

The brake hoses on my Astra are 1994, definitely never replaced.  On my Viva, they're almost new as I replaced them....er....in about the same, '94.

 

I would use them if they look ok.  Once on, get someone to press the pedal and see if they look ok.  

[mercrocker]

Car manufacturers recommend a complete replacement of all rubber braking components every 4 years, and brake fluid 18 months, but I very much doubt anyone bothers to do it. I would use them myself Trevor but as you say, modern rubber components aren't as good as the old ones. When overhauling the Allegro I used old stock Girling hoses, probably 1990s, still going fine. How is the Cowley these days?

 

Cowley going well (and stopping, thankfully...)  No real progress with bodily "improvement" yet but still enjoying him "as is"