Rubber brake lines are one of the few genuinely invisible wear items on a Porsche. They don't leak, they don't set a light, and they pass inspection for twenty years. What they do is get slightly softer with age and expand under pressure — and on a car you brake hard in, that expansion is exactly the sensation you're trying to eliminate.
Stainless braided lines are a cheap, once-per-car fix for a problem most owners have quietly adapted to without noticing.
What they actually do (and don't)
What they do: a braided stainless line has a PTFE inner hose inside a stainless sheath. It doesn't balloon under high pressure the way an aging rubber hose does. The result is a firmer pedal with more consistent travel — you get more information from your right foot, and you can modulate closer to the limit.
What they don't do: they don't increase braking force, they don't lower temperatures, and they don't fix fade. Fade is pad compound and fluid. If your pedal goes long after four hard laps, that's fluid boiling and lines won't save you.
Where you'll actually feel it: an older car with original rubber lines, driven hard. On a two-year-old 992 the difference is marginal. On a 996 with 90,000 miles and its factory hoses, it's genuinely noticeable — because you're not just gaining stainless, you're replacing two-decade-old rubber.
That's the honest case for them: on an older Porsche, stainless lines are less an upgrade than a maintenance item you may as well do properly.
The single most useful rule
Do them at the same time as a fluid flush. The system is already open, the labor overlaps almost completely, and doing them separately means paying to bleed the car twice. Every owner who does lines and fluid as one job is glad; everyone who does them six months apart wishes they hadn't.
Which kit fits what
911 — 996, 997, 991 and 992
- Goodridge Porsche 97-04 911/996 inc Turbo / 05-11 911/997 C2/4/4S/GT2/GT3/GT3 RS/Turbo Stainless Steel Brake Line Kit
- Goodridge 2019+ Porsche Carrera/911 (992) / 97-12 Porsche 911 (996/997) Stainless Steel Brake Line Kit
Both listings are the same kit: Goodridge part number 37035. It covers the 996, the 997 and the 991 — Carrera, Carrera 4, Carrera S, Targa, Turbo, Turbo S, and the 991 GT2 and GT3 cars — plus the 986 Boxster and the 992 Carrera and Turbo range.
The exception is the 992 GT3 and GT2. Those take a different kit. Everything else water-cooled is covered by this one part number.
That breadth is unusual and it's the reason this kit is the default answer. The same box goes on a 996 Carrera daily driver and a 991 GT3 track car.
- Goodridge 99-13 Porsche 911 Stainless Steel Rear Brake Lines — a rear-axle-only set. Useful if you're replacing rears specifically; not a substitute for a full kit.
- Goodridge Porsche 97-04 911/996/Boxster / 05-11 911/997 C2/4/4S / 12-13 911/991 Phantom Stainless Steel Brake Lines — the Phantom (clear-sheath) cosmetic variant of essentially the same coverage. Same function, different look, limited stock.
993 — the last air-cooled 911
Covers C2, C4 and Turbo. On a 993 this is a near-certain yes — the factory hoses on these cars are now thirty years old regardless of mileage, and age matters more than miles for rubber.
911 / 930 — 1975 to 1989
Same logic as the 993, more so. If you own one of these and don't know when the lines were last replaced, assume never.
Boxster & Cayman — 987 and 981
- Goodridge 05-12 Porsche 987 Boxster / 987C Cayman Stainless Steel Brake Lines
- Goodridge 13-17 Porsche Boxster / 14-17 Porsche Cayman Stainless Steel Brake Line Kit
The 981 kit covers base, S, GTS, Black Edition, Boxster Spyder — and the 2016 Cayman GT4. The 987 kit covers 2005–2012 Boxster and Cayman. Both generations are prime candidates: mid-engine cars get driven hard, and the lines are old.
What to skip
Don't buy stainless lines instead of fluid. If you can only do one thing before a track day, flush the fluid. Lines are the second job.
Don't buy lines for a car under three years old expecting a transformation. The factory rubber hasn't degraded yet. Spend the money on pads.
Don't mix a partial set. If you're doing lines, do the whole car. A stainless front and rubber rear gives you an odd pedal and you've paid the labor anyway.
Symptoms/specs quick reference
- Pedal that goes soft under sustained high pressure: rubber lines expanding. This is the symptom lines fix
- Long pedal after a few hard laps: fluid boiling. Lines won't help — flush the fluid
- Fade at the end of a straight: pad compound out of range. Not a line problem
- Rubber brake hoses have a service life regardless of mileage. Inspect the sheath for cracking, weeping or bulging at every brake service
- Always flush fluid at the same time. The system is open; the labor is nearly free
- Bleed order matters on these cars, and ABS units complicate it. This is a job worth handing to someone who's done it
- PCCB (carbon-ceramic) cars: lines are the same, but pads and rotors are not. Verify the whole system spec
- Goodridge 37035 covers 996 through 992 — including the 991 GT2 and GT3. The 992 GT3 and GT2 take a different kit
- Stainless lines last a long time but aren't immortal. Inspect the outer sheath annually
FAQ
Will stainless lines make my Porsche stop shorter?
No. Stopping distance is tires, pads and rotors. Lines give you a firmer, more consistent pedal, which makes it easier to use the braking capacity you already have. That's worth having, but it's a feel upgrade, not a physics upgrade.
Are stainless lines street legal?
DOT-compliant braided lines from a reputable manufacturer are sold for street use. Confirm the specific kit's compliance for your jurisdiction if that matters to you.
Do stainless lines wear out?
They last far longer than rubber but they aren't permanent. The stainless sheath can be damaged by impact or abrasion, and the PTFE inner hose has a service life. Inspect at every brake service.
Should I do lines on a 992?
If you track it, yes. Goodridge 37035 is the kit for a 992 Carrera or Turbo. A 992 GT3 or GT2 takes a different kit — ask us. On a street 992 the gain is small; the factory hoses haven't aged yet and your money does more in pads.
Can I do this myself?
If you've bled Porsche brakes before and have a pressure bleeder, yes. If not, this is the wrong job to learn on — improperly bled brakes are dangerous, and the ABS unit on the water-cooled cars makes the procedure less forgiving than it looks.
How long does it take?
Budget a day of shop time for a full kit plus a fluid flush. Less if it's a rear-only set.
Which should I do first — lines, pads or fluid?
Fluid, then pads, then lines. That's the order of return on money for almost every car and driver.
Shop the parts: Porsche 911 (996/997) · Porsche 911 (991/992) · Porsche Boxster & Cayman · Porsche Brake Pads · Brakes - Performance
In Miami? We'll install it. Full line kit, high-temp fluid flush and a proper pressure bleed in one visit — book it a week before your event and we'll have you sorted — book service or call (305) 847-9935.
Verify fitment to your exact chassis, model year and rotor type (cast iron vs PCCB) before purchase. Brake work is safety-critical; if you're not certain, have us do it.