<VV> LM Brakes

[James P. Rice]

Mel:  All true, with the exceptions as noted elsewhere by Seth and Warren.

BUT the topic was LM brakes for street use.  Apples to apples Mel.   Street
and race are two different subjects.  If you find yourself in a "because I
can" mode, get some aluminum drums for street use.  They actually look
better than disc's, will cool better if the need is there, and have a higher
"wow!" factor because of their rareity.

Historically Yours,
                   James


-----Original Message-----
From: Mel Francis [mailto:mfrancis at wi.rr.com]
Sent: Tuesday, March 03, 2009 3:17 PM
To: virtualvairs at corvair.org
Cc: James P. Rice
Subject: Re: <VV> LM Brakes

In true, hard racing, even a Corvair starts to lean hard on its front
brakes, as the fastest lap times involve
full throttle down the straight as long as possible, then as hard on the
brakes as you can muster, without
locking-up, before and sometimes during, the turn-in for the corner. This
sort of use-cycle would definitely
tend to quickly use up the stock front linings, being only 2" wide.

I can see why some racers might have converted their Stingers to 2 1/2" wide
linings on the front. It's a great
adaptive idea. That extra swept area really gives you more initial grip. But
remember, that in racing you are
working against the heat and drum expansion of repeated use, which causes
fade in even the best of drum brakes.

That's why discs are the preferred method of stopping a race chassis. Even
when they heat up,
unless you are using a really cheap pad material, they retain their stopping
power.

If someone was interested in a really 'original' restoration of a racing
Corvair, that was only to be used in short events,
drums all around are the way to go. But for any longer events that would
seriously overheat a drum setup, vented discs
are the only realistic solution that can save your car, perhaps your health,
too.

Mel

----- Original Message -----
From: "James P. Rice" <ricebugg at mtco.com>
To: <virtualvairs at corvair.org>
Sent: Tuesday, March 03, 2009 12:09 PM
Subject: <VV> LM Brakes


> All:  Just as a curious note, many years ago at the Corvair Track day at
> Putman Park SW of Indy, Gary Funkhauser (sp?), who took care of Jim
> Schardt
> Stinger race car, told me Jim used up his front brake shoes about twice as
> fast as the rears.  It may have been Jim's driving style.  I don't know.
> Anyhow, I asked Gary why he didn't put LM rears on the front.  Answer was
> he
> didn't know you could or how.  So I sent him a photocopy of the Communique
> article from Jan 83.   Don't know if he ever made the conversion or what
> the
> results were if they did it.  Anybody racer have similar brake wear issues
> and/or try this setup?
>
> IMHO if you use up the LM's brakes on the street you are driving way over
> any reasonable pace.  This practice will eventually see you kill yourself
> and maybe others.  Personally, it would be the others I'd grieve for.
>
> I do not recall seeing any info about brake swept area (BSA) of the
> various
> disc conversion vs stock LM brakes.  Seems to me the BSA is the critical
> factor, all other thinks being equal, in stopping power.
>
> While I cannot speak about EM brakes, all the LM conversions to disc fall
> into the "because I can" category of modification, which lots of us
> default
> to!
>
> Historically Yours,
>                   James Rice
>                   CORSA member since mid-70's
>                   Former Chairman of the Competition Committee
>                   Member of original CPF Advisor Committee
>                   CORSA/CPF BoD member and CPF Liaison 1999-01
>                   Occasional contributor to the Communique
>
>
>
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