A racecar at its core is an exercise in maximizing the optimization of components to go as fast as possible. There are plenty of major parts you can look at to change to accomplish the goal of going faster, but how often do you look at the smaller ones? We talk with Jason Smith at TBM Brakes about a simple but important part you might be overlooking: the line lock.

Most racers don’t even look at their line lock as something that could be improved, it’s just a necessary part that has a simple job to do. According to Smith, a modern line lock should integrate into a race car’s complex systems easier.

“When a racer is shopping for a line lock they should look beyond just the obvious requirements of a product that’s reliable and functions as needed. Today’s racecars have become more sophisticated than ever when it comes to electronics, so having components that integrate cleanly with modern electronics is important.”

Having a line lock that has additional features and has been refined is going to bring a lot of positives to the table for a racer. A good line lock is going to provide faster response times, more consistent performance, and will have an elevated level of reliability. All of these attributes can help a racer improve their performance while not having to worry about if the line lock is going to work or not.

TBM, through its new RIFE Sensors division, has reimagined what a line lock can be with its new product. Smith explains what when into the development of TBM’s line lock.

“When we started this project in 2019, we set out to build a line lock with no compromises — one that would be easy to install, last a long time, and integrate with modern electronics. Doing things this way costs a bit more, but the results are worth it. Our line lock is packed with so many features. You can control it with the car’s ECU, it has an 8 GPM flow rate so it’s fast, it’s waterproof, and the valve is rated for 1,000,000 cycles.”

To learn more about TBM’s line lock and see all of its features click right here.