Topic: My Brakes Suck!
in Forum: C3 Engines, Driveline and Handling
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My 71 has non power brakes and I have to stand on them to stop quick, & I don't think I can lock them up. Is this common? Pads and rorors are new. Bled them a number of times and they don't get any better. I have plenty of pedal just no stoppage. Is there anything I can do to make them better? Terry
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Duncanville, TX - USA
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Drive slower?
(sorry...it had to be said!)
You should be able to "lock them up" if you stand on em hard enough. Has the master cylinder ever been changed, that you know of? Perhaps someone stuck one for a power brake car on it.
What kind/type of pads are you using? Some metallic/semi-metallic pads never work until they get red-hot...not really a good thing on the street.
The '63 Z06 cars were almost "unstoppable" until the brakes were smokin hot. That is due to the brake pad compound..ceramic-metallic. Once HOT, they werked purdy well. It was just gettin them up to temp that was scary as heck!
(sorry...it had to be said!)

You should be able to "lock them up" if you stand on em hard enough. Has the master cylinder ever been changed, that you know of? Perhaps someone stuck one for a power brake car on it.
What kind/type of pads are you using? Some metallic/semi-metallic pads never work until they get red-hot...not really a good thing on the street.

The '63 Z06 cars were almost "unstoppable" until the brakes were smokin hot. That is due to the brake pad compound..ceramic-metallic. Once HOT, they werked purdy well. It was just gettin them up to temp that was scary as heck!
Joel Adams
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Common' Joel. I'm a gearhead at my midlife crises drivin a Vette. I don't do drive slow.
Yes I did replace the master a while back. I'm not sure what the pads are. I imagine their semi-metalic. If I pump once and then stand on them I could probably lock them. I'll have to try it. Sometimes theres no time to pump once. Maybe your right.The brakes just suck!!

IF you have to pump them once, the fluid system is not working correctly. You still have air, or the master is not working properly. You should NEVER have to pump them. Granted our cars are very hard to bleed. The right rear is the worst due to the fact one of the steel lines is routed up and back down going across the rear. Makes it stubborn.
The standard organic pads work very well for stopping power, but may fade a bit when very hot. Semimetallic have less fade, but require more pressure to make the same stop.

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...........well, they're not ABS............they are old school...........

...sorry, I could not help myself......






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Eagleville, PA - USA
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Hmmm... This got me thinking. I believe mine act the same way. I'll have to check the next time I get her on the road.
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My first Vette, now owned by JB79:

in Forum: C3 Engines, Driveline and Handling
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