Brake Lines

HEL Performance vs Goodridge — The Honest Comparison

Both UK-manufactured, both ADR-compliant, both PTFE inner with stainless braid outer, both lifetime warranty on most kits. The differences come down to manufacturing approach and catalogue depth.

HEL Performance (Cornwall, UK)

HEL is the newer specialist, focused entirely on brake and clutch hoses with all fittings machined in-house on their own Star Sliding Head CNC machines — the only performance brake hose company in the UK that does its own CNC work rather than outsourcing fittings. Vehicle-specific kits, lifetime warranty, ADR-compliant for AU road registration. The choice for buyers who want the modern CNC-machined approach with hose colour options across the range.

Shop HEL Performance →

Goodridge (Exeter, UK)

Goodridge is the original. Founded in 1969 in Devon, they were the first company in the world to produce braided stainless brake lines for automotive use — every other brand on the market is following their template. Decades of OEM and motorsport pedigree — they supply lines to F1, IndyCar, NASCAR, WEC, WRC, BTCC, MotoGP and most major racing categories. The largest vehicle application catalogue in the industry. TUV, DOT, ADR and ISO approved, 2000 PSI pressure-tested individually, lifetime guarantee. The choice for buyers who want the longest motorsport heritage and the widest fitment range.

Shop Goodridge →

Which one should you buy?

For 90% of buyers, the answer is "whichever has the fitment for your car in stock". Both brands are genuinely excellent and the daily pedal-feel difference between them is negligible. Pick HEL if you want the modern CNC-machined approach and colour options; pick Goodridge if you want the original brand with the deepest motorsport heritage. If we have only one brand in stock for your chassis, that's the one to buy — neither will let you down.

Why Braided Brake Lines Matter

The mechanical case for braided lines is genuine, but it's not what most aftermarket marketing claims it is. Here's the honest version.

What braided lines actually do

OEM brake lines are rubber hose with internal reinforcement. Under brake pressure, the rubber expands slightly — measurable expansion that you feel as "soft" or "spongy" pedal travel. PTFE-lined stainless-braided lines don't expand the same way. The PTFE inner tube is essentially incompressible at normal brake pressures, and the stainless braid prevents the hose from ballooning outward. The result is more of your pedal pressure going to the caliper pistons instead of into hose expansion — a firmer pedal feel and slightly improved braking response.

When the difference is noticeable

The honest gap between OEM rubber and aftermarket braided is biggest on:

• Older cars (10+ years) — the rubber in OEM lines softens with age and starts expanding more than when new. Replacing 12-year-old rubber with fresh PTFE/stainless is a real pedal-feel upgrade.
• BBK installs — every big brake kit needs new lines because the caliper position changes. The factory line length and routing won't work, so braided lines are part of the kit installation.
• Track and competition cars — under sustained hard braking the cumulative expansion in OEM lines adds to overall pedal travel, costing you confidence. Braided lines stay consistent.
• Cars built for trail-braking and threshold braking — drivers who care about feeling exactly where the pedal is in its travel notice braided lines immediately.

When the difference is marginal

On a 2-year-old daily commuter where the OEM rubber is still healthy and the car never sees a track, braided lines are a marginal upgrade. Not a wasted purchase — the lifetime warranty and corrosion resistance still apply — but don't expect the dramatic pedal transformation that marketing suggests. Save the upgrade for when you're doing a BBK, fluid change, or general brake refresh.

ADR Compliance — Why It Matters

The most important spec for any AU road-registered car. Both HEL Performance and Goodridge kits sold at Chicane are ADR-compliant — they meet Australian Design Rules for road use and will pass an engineering inspection without issue. Many cheap eBay and AliExpress braided lines are not ADR-compliant, which becomes a problem at engineering certification time, roadworthy inspection, or at the worst possible moment — a brake line failure with an inspector asking why your modified car doesn't have compliant lines.

ADR compliance is about quality control, manufacturing standards, and pressure testing. Both HEL and Goodridge individually pressure-test every line before despatch. Both carry full ADR certification. Both come with lifetime warranties that wouldn't be commercially viable on a sub-standard product. If the car ever sees the road, buy ADR-compliant — the saving from a non-compliant alternative is not worth the legal and safety risk.

Pairing Lines With The Rest Of The Brake System

Braided lines are one component in the hydraulic side of your brake system. The other big one is fluid — and the smart buy is to do both at the same time.

Fluid + lines = the cheapest meaningful pedal-feel upgrade

When you fit new lines, you have to bleed the entire brake system anyway because you've opened it up. That's the perfect moment to flush the old fluid and replace it with fresh race-spec DOT 4. The total bill is fluid + lines + an hour of labour, and you walk away with a noticeably firmer pedal and full thermal capacity restored. We see customers do lines and fluid together far more often than either one alone, because it's the same workshop visit and same brake bleed regardless.

BBK install = new lines mandatory

Every Brembo, AP Racing or Alcon big brake kit install requires new lines, because the caliper position relative to the chassis changes. Your factory line length and routing won't work for the new caliper, and the factory banjo bolts often won't be compatible with the new caliper threads. Buy the lines as part of the BBK purchase, not as an afterthought after install.

What new lines won't fix

Braided lines won't fix a soft pedal caused by air in the system (bleed the brakes), failing master cylinder (replace it), boiled fluid (flush and refill), seized caliper pistons (rebuild or replace calipers), or worn pads scraping bare metal (replace pads). If the pedal feel improvement after fitting lines is less than expected, one of these is usually the actual cause. Diagnose the system before assuming lines were the fix.

Which Lines For Your Driving?

Pick by the car's age, the rest of your brake setup, and whether the build justifies the spend.

"My car is 10+ years old and the pedal feels softer than I remember"

HEL or Goodridge braided lines, paired with a fresh fluid flush. This is the textbook case for braided lines and the upgrade you'll feel most strongly.

"I just bought a BBK"

HEL or Goodridge mandatory. Most BBKs ship without lines included. Confirm the kit's banjo bolt type before ordering. Brembo BBKs typically use M10x1.0 banjos; Alcon and AP Racing vary by kit — check the install instructions.

"I do regular track days and want consistent pedal feel"

HEL or Goodridge braided lines, paired with Alcon Pro-660 or DIXCEL 328 Racing fluid. Together they give you the firmest, most consistent pedal possible without going to a full BBK.

"I drive a 2-year-old daily and pedal feels fine"

Skip lines for now. Spend the money on better pads or rotor upgrades — you'll feel those more. Come back to lines when you're doing a BBK or in 5–7 years when the OEM rubber has aged.

"I'm restoring an older JDM classic (R32, R33, R34, S13, S14, S15, JZA80)"

HEL or Goodridge braided lines are one of the highest-value upgrades on any 20+ year old JDM chassis. The OEM rubber on these cars has typically lost a significant amount of pedal feel through age, and fresh PTFE/stainless transforms the pedal. Confirm the fitment for your exact chassis variant before ordering.

Frequently Asked

Are HEL and Goodridge brake lines ADR-compliant in Australia?

Yes — both brands sold at Chicane are ADR-compliant for Australian road registration. Both are individually pressure-tested, both carry lifetime warranties, and both will pass engineering inspection without issue. Many cheap eBay lines are not ADR-compliant — always verify before fitting to a road-registered car.

How long do braided brake lines last?

Both HEL and Goodridge come with lifetime warranties on most kits — the lines themselves are designed to outlast the car. The PTFE inner and stainless braid are both highly corrosion-resistant. The most common failure point is the rubber boot at the banjo end, which can perish after many years of UV exposure. Lifetime warranty covers this in most cases.

Will braided lines void my warranty?

In Australia, fitting braided lines that meet ADR specifications generally does not void manufacturer warranty on the rest of the vehicle. Both HEL and Goodridge meet ADR requirements. Always confirm with your dealer before fitting if the car is under warranty and you're concerned, particularly on European brands where dealer interpretation can vary.

Can I fit braided lines myself?

If you're competent with brake work and have a proper bleed kit, yes — the install is straightforward. The challenges are: getting the old banjos undone without rounding them (use a quality 6-point spanner, not a shifting spanner), making sure not to over-tighten the new banjos and damage the seat, and getting a proper system bleed afterward. If you've never bled brakes before, get a workshop to fit them. Brake systems are not the place to learn.

How long does the install take?

Workshop install typically 1.5–2 hours for a 4-line kit on most cars, plus the full fluid flush and bleed. AWD cars (R35 GT-R, STI, Evo, Golf R, RS3) take longer — budget 2.5–3 hours including fluid. The labour is mostly in the bleed, not the line swap.

Do I need to use specific fluid with braided lines?

No — braided lines work with all standard glycol-based fluids (DOT 3, DOT 4, DOT 5.1). Do not use DOT 5 silicone fluid as it's incompatible with most braided line installations and with the rest of your glycol-based system. When fitting lines, take the opportunity to upgrade to a higher-spec DOT 4 — Alcon Pro-600, Alcon Pro-660 or DIXCEL 328 Racing are all excellent choices.

Will braided lines reduce my stopping distance?

Honestly, marginally at most. The firmer pedal feel can give you more confidence to brake later and harder, which can reduce stopping distance in skilled hands. But the lines themselves don't generate any additional friction — that's what pads and rotors do. If shorter stopping distance is the goal, invest in compound-matched pads and rotors first, then add lines for pedal feel.

What's the difference between PTFE-lined and rubber braided lines?

Be careful here. Some cheap braided lines are rubber inside with a stainless braid wrapped around them for cosmetic effect — they still expand under pressure because the rubber hasn't changed. Real performance braided lines have a PTFE (Teflon) inner that doesn't expand. Both HEL and Goodridge use PTFE inner with stainless braid outer — the proper construction. Always verify "PTFE inner" before buying braided lines from any retailer.

Do HEL and Goodridge come in different colours?

HEL Performance offers their lines in multiple cover colour options (clear, black, red, blue and others depending on application). Goodridge offers stainless or plated finishes as the primary differentiator, with a smaller range of cover colour options. If colour matching to your engine bay or wheels matters, check the specific kit listing before ordering.

Supporting Mods

Brake lines work as part of the wider brake system. Pair them with:

• HEL Performance — Cornwall-built CNC-machined braided brake lines, ADR-compliant with lifetime warranty
• Goodridge — the original braided line manufacturer (1969), the largest application catalogue in the industry
• Brake Fluid — Alcon Pro-System PRO-600 & PRO-660, DIXCEL 328 Racing & Ultra Racing. Fluid and lines together is the cheapest meaningful pedal-feel upgrade in the catalogue.
• Brake Pads — DIXCEL Premium, EC, M, ES, S, Z, RA, RE and Specom-β compounds.
• Brake Rotors — DIXCEL one-piece, Paragon two-piece floating, Alcon motorsport.
• Big Brake Kits — Brembo, AP Racing and Alcon. Every BBK install requires new lines.
• Brake Calipers — caliper-only options when you're already running matched rotors.
• Alcon — UK motorsport calipers, rotors and Pro-System brake fluid.