<VV> Weak brake action

[kenpepke at juno.com]

While you have done everything properly, within your power, there are a couple of factors behind this situation.  Back in the day your Corvair rolled along on 6.50-13 bias ply tires.  The rolling action was halted with soft organic based brake shoe linings.  EM stopping performance was comparable with other economy cars at the time.   

Today you are almost undoubtedly rolling on radial ply tires that have a wider foot print and a much greater traction ability.  And it is unlikely the brake shoes you installed are lined with a soft organic material.  Usually the rolling radius of modern radial tires is a bit greater than the original tires and that combined with the greater traction effort of the tires provides the effect of a greater lever advantage over the brakes which, by virtue of modern brake shoe lining, are also requiring more pedal effort.  It should still be possible to lock up the tires for that screeching halt ... but it _might_ take both feet!

You have all new stuff now so you may not want to do it all over but at least you could add a power booster.  This would also give the perfect opportunity to convert to a dual master cylinder.  Remember, on an EM the loss of a rear axle bearing means total loss of braking, including the parking brake and the clutch!  You have to hope for a high curb to rub the tires against :-(

Personally, I would not drive an EM on a regular basis without re-engineering the braking system and I would even limit the driving of a LM.  OK, I know there are a lot of guys out there that are not as fussy and cautious as me when it comes to stopping ability ... I am sure we will be hearing from them.  
Ken P


*********************************************

Charles McKinley <cmckinley313 at cox.net> wrote:

I'm a little embarrassed about asking this, as it seems like a moronic  
question, but I'm at a loss as to where to go next. I've had a '63  
Monza 900 for about 16 years now, and in all that time, the braking  
action is what I'd call puny - maybe I've gotten used to the power  
brakes in every other car I've owned for 40+ years, but it really  
doesn't feel right. The symptoms are that when I apply the brakes,  
they do work, but I have to apply more pressure than I think should be  
necessary, and there's no such thing as a panic stop - I can't jam on  
the brakes and screech to a halt (that's the most worrisome part.)

Recently I've done the following in an attempt to fix this:

- had all drums turned
- put in all new brake shoes
- put in all new wheel cylinders
- put in new brake line hoses
- installed new return springs

Long ago I rebuilt the master cylinder.

The brake pedal is very solid - no fading, solid stop with minimal  
depression

I have a complete set of new brake lines, but when I learned you have  
to drop the motor and remove the gas tank to install them, I decided  
to hold off until I have a more compelling reason to do either of  
those chores.

I've bled the master cylinder and the wheel cylinders until I'm blue  
in the face, with no improvement.

The only items left in question (that I can think of) are:
  - master cylinder problem of some sort (can't think what)
- old brake lines being a little plugged (although I get plenty of  
flow when bleeding the wheel cylinders)

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance,
Chuck McKinley 

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