Braided brake hoses replace the original rubber flexible brake hoses at the moving suspension points, at the front calipers or wheel cylinders, and at the rear axle, with a flexible inner core surrounded by a woven stainless steel outer sheath. The purpose of the braid is to prevent expansion of the hose under braking pressure. Rubber hoses, even in good condition, swell slightly as hydraulic pressure rises; over time, and particularly as the rubber ages, this expansion grows and contributes to a spongy pedal feel and inconsistent brake modulation. A braided hose holds its shape under pressure, giving a firmer pedal and more predictable braking response.
Stainless braided and classic braided
MGOC Spares stocks two finishes of braided hose set. The stainless braided hose set has the woven stainless steel braid visible on the outside of the hose, the characteristic appearance of modern braided brake lines. The classic braided hose set has the same braided construction underneath but is finished with an outer protective covering that gives a more period-correct appearance suited to concours and original-specification restoration work. Both finishes provide the same mechanical benefit, the consistent pedal feel from non-expanding hoses, and both carry the same modern hose construction underneath.
MGA 1500 and MGA 1600 fitments
Hose sets are stocked in two variants matched to the car's brake specification. The MGA 1500 set suits cars with the original Lockheed all-drum brake specification, front and rear flexible hoses routed to the drum brake wheel cylinders. The MGA 1600 set suits cars with the Lockheed front disc / rear drum brake specification introduced from the 1600 onwards, and fits both the 1600 and 1600 Mk II. The front hose fitment on the 1600 set is specific to the Lockheed disc caliper inlet; the 1500 set's front hose fits the drum brake wheel cylinder arrangement.
The two are not interchangeable, a 1600 hose set cannot be fitted to a 1500, and vice versa, because the hose ends and routing are different. Both the stainless and the classic finishes are available in both the 1500 and 1600 variants, giving four set options to choose from depending on the car's brake specification and the owner's preference for visible braid or concours-appropriate covered finish.
Scope, pushrod cars
The braided hose sets stocked in this category fit pushrod MGAs: 1500 (with the 1500 set), and 1600 and 1600 Mk II (with the 1600 set). The Twin Cam and De Luxe use the 11-inch Dunlop four-wheel disc brake system with different hose routing and different hose-end specifications from the pushrod installation. The hose sets listed here are not applicable to Twin Cam or De Luxe cars; specialist specification should be confirmed for those variants before ordering.
Concours considerations
For concours restoration to factory-original specification, the original rubber flexible brake hoses are the period-correct item. The classic braided hose set is the appropriate compromise for owners wanting the mechanical benefit of braided construction while retaining an appearance closer to factory-original than the stainless set gives. The visible stainless braid is more common on cars set up for track use or modernised road driving; the classic covered finish is more appropriate for concours cars driven regularly on the road.
Ordering considerations
Hose set selection requires two decisions: the car's brake specification (1500 drum or 1600-onwards front disc), and the finish preference (visible stainless braid or classic covered finish). All four variants, stainless 1500, stainless 1600, classic 1500, classic 1600, are stocked as complete sets covering the front and rear flexible hose positions on the car. The hose sets should be installed alongside a full brake fluid flush and bleed, as any disturbance to the hydraulic system will introduce air that must be purged before the system is returned to service.