Why use a stainless steel clutch hose? There are many advantages to using stainless steel; one is reduced volumetric expansion. Over time and under continuous use, OEM rubber hoses can swell and expand, exposing the driver to clutch fade. The rubber covers can also deteriorate and cause a failure. In extreme applications (autocrossing, racing, hard driving) rubber hoses can come into contact with debris, thus causing failure of a standard rubber hose.