Front brakes:
M16 caliper, 2 pot, 54 mm dia
Sierra master 22 mm dia

but Mk2 escort had 20.9 mm master. Now I just realised that the calipers are on mk3 cortina uprights so the mk2 escort data is irrelevant, but I'll continue anyways...

I want my brake to be more grippy - i.e. I have to press quite hard to slow down and stop.

Maybe this is due to being used to servo brakes I don;' know as last non servo car I had was an MGB over 10 years ago but can't remember it being this bad.


So ..... one way would be to decrease the master bore - a no-no since this would need a lot of modifications unless there is a sierra master with smaller bore, or else calipers with larger piston area.

I am looking at the dynalite?, about £ 100 per side.

RD do a set that are direct replacements but the piston area is much less that what I have. I am guessing that the pads are larger than for single piston - anyone know that to be the case?

And if anyone has used them, was there an improvement?

I am a bit sceptical that these will be an improvement due to having smaller piston area or is there some other effect that I am not aware of?

For a more responsive bite to your braking system there are a few things you can do;

1) new pads - different materials behave very differently. Try a few and see which you like.

2) Fit calipers with bigger pistons (will give a longer pedal travel).

3) Fit a master cylinder with a smaller bore (will give a longer pedal travel).

4) Add a servo. Most will mock this suggestion but I have a servo on my car and they make for very good brakes.

Otherwise do some squat/lifts with dumbells and build bigger, stronger thighs

Edited to correct the stoopid mistake

[Edited on 15/4/09 by JAG]

quote:

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Originally posted by JAG
For a more responsive bite to your braking system there are a few things you can do;

1) new pads - different materials behave very differently. Try a few and see which you like.

2) Fit calipers with bigger pistons (will give a shorter pedal travel).

3) Fit a master cylinder with a smaller bore (will give a longer pedal travel).

4) Add a servo. Most will mock this suggestion but I have a servo on my car and they make for very good brakes.

Otherwise do some squat/lifts with dumbells and build bigger, stronger thighs

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pads - yes, forgot to mention those; I did post about that before, need to look up what was recommented but £ 30 a pair, I am almost 1/6 of way for lighter 4 pot calipers.

2 and 3 both will give longer pedal travel.

my legs are plenty strong enough, problem arises is that I have size 12 and brake pedal is too low to instead of pressing with my ball of my foot, I end up using my instep. (I think this is the real problem but I cannot shorten the pedal nor raise the master).

Got room to length the brake pedal? Dead easy fix and also gives you more feel. This is how I solved the beach buggy’s dodgy unassisted all-round drums no brakes problem

pah you just posted above...sounds like you going to have to spend some money or lose weight

[Edited on 15/4/09 by Mr Whippy]

^^^ ok, larger discs, that is another option. are these avaialble for cortina uprights? and what calipers do use? I don't have machining facility to make brackets.

.... but back to M16 4 pot replacment - these are available in 2 piston diameters, both of which combined diameter is less than that of the M16 2 pot brakes - so how do they perform stopping power wise compared to originals?

The problem with a lot of four pot calipers is they will give you lost pedal travel even if they are the same toatal effective area or smaller than Sierra or Escort/Cortina/Capri calipers.

The reason for this apart from mounting issues (calipers need to be bolted on dead square to the disc in all axies) are I suspect due to the caliper body flexing under the hydrualic force exerted the and the design of the seals. In this respect it it may be more than possible that some brands are better than the market leaders.



If you want better brakes that don't require a massive push even for a gentle stop it really is down to more pedal leverage &/or smaller master cylinder bore --- or fit a servo.
(

quote:

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Originally posted by 02GF74
pads - yes, forgot to mention those; I did post about that before, need to look up what was recommented but £ 30 a pair, I am almost 1/6 of way for lighter 4 pot calipers.

2 and 3 both will give longer pedal travel.

my legs are plenty strong enough, problem arises is that I have size 12 and brake pedal is too low to instead of pressing with my ball of my foot, I end up using my instep. (I think this is the real problem but I cannot shorten the pedal nor raise the master).

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