[FC] FC brake UPGRADES
David C. Herrin III
corvanatics@corvair.org
Fri Oct 10 22:29:01 2003
Harry,
Choosing the correct friction materials is crucial to operation.
Original Metallics Delco Moraine and Velvetouch ( No Longer Available )
had several serious shortcomings for street driving
and the material wore the drums
- 2 to 3 sets of drums during service life...
Recently one of our technical staff rode the brakes till they "failed"
and when he applied the parking brake - our US "Street Kevlar" still
functioned. He had boiled DOT 5 Silicone Brake Fluid. DOT 3, 4, & new
5.1 Glycol attract moisture and this moisture lowers the boiling
point... ... DOT 5 1) does not like Third World rubber components, 2)
aerates - traps air - spongy pedal if not handled properly.
You have seen my 1971 Nova SS in my garage - 1 mile from ocean
it was converted about 20 years ago ... the fluid has no detectable
moisture content.
David
hmoore@sandiego.edu wrote:
> Some more qeustions. How do metalic brakes help stop brake fade, is the
> coefficient of friction higher on them? or does the meterial resist/disipate
> heat better (or is that what a higher coefficeient of friction is?) Also, the
> proper way to drive a brier (or any car) in hills is to apply the brakes hard
> till you slow then let off of them, is that correct?
Yes and use the transmission - engine braking to slow vehicle.
Mainly do not ride the brakes !; they cannot effectively disperse the
heat if constantly applied.
What about for highway
> and freeway braking or just regular driving for that matter? The short
> wheelbase does have some effect on the drving requirements, yeah? What about a
> power brake booster, would that have helped the brier that lost its brakes in
> the mountains?
Power boosters make up for weak legs VBG and loss of pedal feel
> What are some other ways I can help cool the brakes-I know that if I drive it
> properly this would not be necccesary.
> Thanks
> Harry
>
>
> Quoting Keith Hammett <khammett@stainlessfab.com>:
>
>
>>Brake Fade is when the brake pads or shoes heat up to a point that the
>>coefficient of friction is no longer effective between the pads/shoes and
>>the rotor/drum. Fluid type (air/DOT3/Silicone) does not matter for brake
>>fade! If you have ever driven in the mountains then you have seen the
>>emergency ramps (most people think they are just for trucks, wrong), most
>>vehicles that are pulled from these have no brake problems, except that the
>>driver over used his brakes heating them up and losing friction!
>>
>>Boiling brake fluid is when you have heated the fluid in the
>>caliper/cylinder from way over using your brakes. This will occur if you
>>continue to use your brakes after fading has occurred. After letting brakes
>>cool one will usually have spongy brakes from the air that gets trapped in
>>the lines. I would recommend that if you have boiled the brake fluid that
>>you change it.
>>
>>This summer when we went up Pikes Peak the ranger at the bottom told me to
>>make plenty of stops on the way down that minivans tend to over heat their
>>brakes. I drove straight down and at the brake check station the ranger
>>that checked the brake temperature said that I was in great shape and to
>>continue on. I still sat there for about 15 minutes to allow some cooling
>>before proceeding. Knowing how to drive is the best way to avoid Brake Fade
>>and boiling of brake fluid. I did this with less than 70% of brake pads
>>left on the van. BTW the van is a 2000 windstar.
>>
>>Keith Hammett
>>
>>
>>
>>-----Original Message-----
>>From: corvanatics-admin@corvair.org
>>[mailto:corvanatics-admin@corvair.org]On Behalf Of srmarti
>>Sent: Friday, October 10, 2003 7:19 AM
>>To: corvanatics@corvair.org
>>Subject: RE: [FC] FC brake UPGRADES
>>
>>
>>
>>>please put dual master cylinder on any fc , or any corvair ,for that
>>>matter.make sure that everything is in good condition. I watched
>>>the greenbrier ahead
>>>of me on a mountain in vt lose its braking due to heat years ago
>>>, heard them
>>>on cb saying they lost them, and we had thier kids riding with us. the
>>>brakes faded out from heat. i think that a dual cylinder would
>>>have saved them.
>>>they did get hurt. not good memories at all. also silicone
>>>fluid would handle
>>>the heat better. regards tim colson
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>>I don't question the added safety backup of a dual master cylinder. But how
>>does a master cylinder prevent brake fade? Isn't that an heat issue?
>>
>>Steve
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>
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