Notice the relatively crude way the rubber OEM brake hose is crimped into the metal fittin
When testing volumetric expansion, Goodridge found that standard OE-type rubber brake hose expanded by 0.136 cc/ft at 1,000 psi, 0.150 cc/ft at 1,500 psi, and 0.290 cc/ft at 2,900 psi, whereas the company's PTFE braided stainless hoses expanded by only 0.0002932 cc/ft at 4,000 psi. The close-to-zero expansion to the braided hose means the brake pedal will feel firmer and will respond more quickly to brake pedal inputs, and if you've done any racing then you'll know that even a split-second faster response from the braking system can mean the difference between slowing enough to make the corner and finding yourself parked backward in the weeds.
When conducting the burst/working pressure test as defined by the FMVSS106 and SAE J1401 standards, Goodridge's PTFE braided hoses burst at 12,750-13,500 psi, which is triple that of the 4,250 psi required by the standard for this type of hose. By comparison, the OE rubber lines tested burst at 8,000-9,000 psi, with a recommended safe working pressure of 3,600 psi. What this means is that the PTFE braided hose provides a safety factor of 3, whereas the rubber hose provides a safety factor of 2.36.
The whip test standards require that "a hydraulic brake hose assembly shall not rupture when run continuously on a flexing machine for 35 hours." When Goodridge conducted its testing, the company found that the OE rubber hoses from five different manufacturers failed in 15 to 27 hours, whereas six sets of tests carried out on PTFE braided hoses of various lengths resulted in 45 to 82 hours of flexing before rupturing. What this means is that even though the rubber hose manufacturers claim compliance with the FMVSS106 whip test standard, Goodridge's internal testing showed failure of these hoses long before meeting the minimum 35-hour requirement, while its PTFE braided hoses far exceeded this standard.
It's also a little-known fact that rubber brake hose is generally only guaranteed for three years or 60,000 miles because rubber loses its elasticity over time. I've never really thought of brake lines as a wear item that need regular replacement, but having discovered this limited life expectancy for rubber lines, anyone with a car more than three years old should take a very close look at the condition of their brake lines and replace them if they show any signs of wear and tear. And if you're going to replace them, upgrading to stainless braided PTFE hose makes a lot of sense in light of the firmer pedal feel and faster braking response they provide as well as the increased safety factor illustrated by Goodridge's internal testing. It's also worth noting that Goodridge offers a 150,000-mile guarantee on all their brake lines, made possible by the greater durability of the PTFE liner and stainless braided outer layer.
Having a brake line fail and losing virtually all stopping power as a result is a shocking and extremely dangerous experience. I got extraordinarily lucky to escape unharmed, and although the Corvette sustained a fair bit of paint and underbody damage, it appears to all be easily repairable. Whether the line failed due to a manufacturing defect or damage to the rubber hose sustained during servicing or from road debris, we'll never know. But given the higher safety factor and far greater durability of a PTFE stainless steel braided brake hose, there's no doubt in my mind that equipping the car with these before racing it would have avoided this "Dukes of Hazzard"-style trip through the infield. Live and learn, and I hope you take this experience to heart and consider a brake line upgrade on your vehicles or at least inspect and replace the factory rubber brake hoses regularly.