Stainless braided lines and DOT approval

[J Grammer <jim@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Here's the deal. The only test that a conventional  high quality crimped 
connection purpose built stainless braid covered brake hose failed that 
would prevent DOT approval is the 'whip' test. One end of the hose is 
rapidly and repeatedly moved up and down to some extreme of travel. There 
is a cycle count requirement for the DOT test. Non-reinforced stainless 
lines *may* fatigue where the braid enters the crimped fitting prior to the 
required # of cycles. The favorite technique to allow braided stainless 
hoses to pass the whip test is to add a section of shrink/tight fitting 
plastic tubing at the termination, spreading the flexure loading over a 
larger area of braid.

SJ hoses did not originally have the reinforcement, and were not DOT 
approved. Later versions do have the reinforcement and are approved.

Jim