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Tough brakes
AndyGaskell - 28/10/17 at 10:06 AM

Hi all,

I went to croft yesterday and had a great day on the track but i find my brakes really hard work. Now i just presumed that with running without a servo they will be stiff and hard to heavy brake but then i had a go of my mates older westfield and it was alot easier to brake and im wondering if i have missed something as i have never sat in another zero to compare.

My setup is

Ford sierra master cylinder
Ford sierra 2.0 front callipers (240mm discs)
Stainless braided flexis
Rear xr4i callipers and discs

Im going to be changing to willwoods on the front over the winter.

Could it be a cylinder problem, poor brake flaring or something else?

Thanks!

gremlin1234 - 28/10/17 at 10:19 AM

what pad materials are you using?

theconrodkid - 28/10/17 at 10:27 AM

my bet would be the master cylinder, try smaller diameter one , most people use a Fiat punto or similar, other than that, how long is the brake pedal leverage wise.

Dick Axtell - 28/10/17 at 12:07 PM

quote:
Originally posted by theconrodkid
my bet would be the master cylinder, try smaller diameter one........................brake pedal leverage


Agreed. Sierra mcyl dia = 22.2mm, so look for dia less that that.

What is your brake lever ratio? For pendant pedals, 5 : 1 is around the usual figure. If you're using floor-mounted pedals, they may have a lower ratio (maybe?).

AndyGaskell - 28/10/17 at 02:04 PM

Its a standard gbs pedal box (above mounted) supplied by kitspares. It will depress around 2” when pressed hard. Does anyone know exactly which cylinder would be best of what car, year etc? Is there much modifications to do the mount or is just drill new holes?

ian locostzx9rc2 - 28/10/17 at 02:20 PM

Maybe worth looking at the brake pads your using before doing major mods and expense I found fitting mintex 1144 pads on my striker was a major improvement.

David Jenkins - 28/10/17 at 05:28 PM

quote:
Originally posted by ian locostzx9rc2
Maybe worth looking at the brake pads your using before doing major mods and expense I found fitting mintex 1144 pads on my striker was a major improvement.


I use Mintex 1144 pads - they really do work. Unfortunately, they also squeal at low speed - but I ignore/tolerate that!

I've also found that doing a really hard stop - a full emergency stop - can also improve the existing pads. Probably the action takes any glaze off them. Obviously, do the emergency stop somewhere without traffic and in safe surroundings.

It's also good to see what your car can really do in an emergency stop... I'm hanging from the harness in mine.

SJ - 28/10/17 at 06:47 PM

As others have said the Sierra 22mm mc will give a rock solid pedal that needs a really hard push. I changed mine for a 19mm Fiat MC and the brakes are miles better.

Stu

AndyGaskell - 28/10/17 at 07:14 PM

quote:
Originally posted by SJ
As others have said the Sierra 22mm mc will give a rock solid pedal that needs a really hard push. I changed mine for a 19mm Fiat MC and the brakes are miles better.

Stu


Stu do you have any pictures of the install and which fiat did it come from?

SJ - 29/10/17 at 12:12 PM

It was from a Fiat 124 that came without a servo. You can also get a Fiesta MC that is the same diameter. I chose the Fiat one cos it was £19 from brakes international at the time.

This is it:

[url=https://brakeparts.co.uk/shop/Fiat/124/66-85/124%20EXC%20Sport/Hydraulic%20Actuation%20-%20Master%20Cylinders%20and%20Reg%20Valves/BMC4020]Link[ /url]

I don't have any pics but can take some if you like.

Stu

AndyGaskell - 29/10/17 at 01:46 PM

Thanks stu! Yes if you wouldnt mind a couple of photos would be a great help.

Ugg10 - 29/10/17 at 02:27 PM

I got a Suzuki 413 master cylinder for my Anglia, 3/4” non servo similar size to the mk2 escort one and reservoir fir horizontal install.

NEW SUZUKI SJ413 SJ410 SAMURAI GYPSY BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER #G208 (CODE 1427)

[Edited on 29/10/17 by Ugg10]