New member, my car and a question about my brakes!
ell_bkr - 4/4/09 at 07:08 PM
I've been lurking on here for a while now and as i've now finally purchased a car i thought i'd post up and introduce myself!
I'm Ell, I'm 22 and live in Leeds.
After month of searching I picked this up last week:
Its a Tiger Super six built in 2003 and running a 2.0 pinto. It needs a little bit of work and it's a little bit tatty however nothing a bit of
polishing wont get rid of! Hope you all like it!
Something i wanted to ask you all. The brakes on the car are PANTS! I have to really nail the pedal to get it to slow down. There so bad, at first i
wondered if the fronts were even working! The brake pedal doesnt feel overly spongy so dont think they need bleeding. I was wondering if its possible
that the pads have deteriated or maybe been contaminated? They've got plenty of meat on them and have only done 4500 miles however are probably
5-6 years old. Any suggestions? Its got drums on the back and vw stamped calipers on the front.
Cheers in advance everyone!
****edit****
Sorry, one other thing. The radiator has a slight leak, i'm currently in the process of flushing the cooling system, whats everybodys take on
using radweld in a pinto? I've read mixed reviews on the stuff. ta
[Edited on 4/4/09 by ell_bkr]
[Edited on 4/4/09 by ell_bkr]
[Edited on 4/4/09 by ell_bkr]
hellbent345 - 4/4/09 at 07:13 PM
hi! welcome and nice car, i dont know much about brakes but sounds like either pads are gone, hardened over time or similar, or the pad arent
contacting properly because of a problem with the automatic brake movement 'thing' lol
tul214 - 4/4/09 at 07:16 PM
Ell,
The S6 has the front brakes from a mk1 golf gti. Some are vented, some are not. The rears are Cortina drums on the Cortina axle.
The golf brakes where always considered crap on the Golf and I worried about mine when I 1st drove my S6 but you do get used to them. I have now
fitted Mintex 1144 pads and they where faultless at the last trackday I did.
There is a 280mm conversion kit you can buy but honestly, with a lightish car you shouldn't need them.
rusty nuts - 4/4/09 at 07:19 PM
Welcome, I once worked for our local VW agents and can tell you that Golf brakes are not very good even when new. We had loads of guys buy a mk1 Gti
without road testing one, drive 1/2 mile up the road till they came to a roundabout and then come back saying the brakes don't work !!
scudderfish - 4/4/09 at 07:47 PM
Also if you haven't driven a car without a brake servo before, you will be giving the pedal a surprising shove to get anything out of it.
ReMan - 4/4/09 at 07:57 PM
quote:
Originally posted by scudderfish
Also if you haven't driven a car without a brake servo before, you will be giving the pedal a surprising shove to get anything out of it.
Wot he said
Whole different game to your tin top
ell_bkr - 4/4/09 at 08:57 PM
quote:
Originally posted by scudderfish
Also if you haven't driven a car without a brake servo before, you will be giving the pedal a surprising shove to get anything out of it.
Yeah at first i thought I would just need to get used to them, but they also just seem to be missing any form of bite and sharpness. Think i'll
try some new discs and pads and hope for an improvment.
Cheers
ell_bkr - 4/4/09 at 10:01 PM
Anybody know if these are the type i need and if there any good?
Ebay Linky
And by the sounds of things Green Stuff pads are the ones to go with?
Cheers
speedyxjs - 5/4/09 at 07:31 AM
Welcome to the madhouse 
Nice looking car btw
eznfrank - 5/4/09 at 07:45 AM
quote:
Originally posted by ell_bkr
And by the sounds of things Green Stuff pads are the ones to go with?
Cheers
Green stuff are pretty good but on 7's standard stuff should do the trick no sweat due to the light weight.
In terms of the radiator for the cost of a new ally one I'd do that rather than mess about with radweld. Could pick up a nice lightweight ally
Polo one for about £25 on the Bay.
[Edited on 5/4/09 by eznfrank]
bob tatt - 5/4/09 at 09:00 AM
welcome nice car where abouts in leeds you from ?
andrew.carwithen - 5/4/09 at 09:22 AM
Just to reiterate what was said in a previous post re. rad.
I'm assuming you've got the original Tiger rad fitted? (notorious for springing leaks)
If it'll fit in the S6 nosecone, replace it with the much lighter polo ally rad.
They definitely fit in the Tiger Cat and Avon so reckon should fit the Six.
Have a look/search on main Tiger forum at http://www.tigerownersclub.co.uk for confirmation.
ell_bkr - 5/4/09 at 09:33 AM
Cheers Andrew will definatly look into the polo rad.
I'm from North Leeds Bob, how about you? Do you know if there are there any regular meets organised in Leeds/west yorks? Would be nice to meet
some people and have a nosey round other peoples cars. Cheers.
Jon Ison - 5/4/09 at 10:25 AM
On the brake front check out master cly size (maybe to large) and pedal ratio.
I changed the pedal ration on mine, similar problem, had to push the seat out the rear of the car to get it to stop, now I have very progressive
superb brakes that will stop on a sixpence with little pedal effort.
Oh, welcome.