Baffled by Brakes

[jonali]

Ok guys thanks for the advice. Tight budget is gonna see me putting right the original system. be back soon with other queries

Regards

John

[bmcecosse]

It will be fine - ask away - there's always someone on duty!

[alex_holden]

Maybe the reason for the experiences described by Alex and MT are more to do with retaining the poor rear brake system rather than fitting uprated rear brakes,

I didn't say they were unbalanced, just that when I move from the standard brakes to the Wolseleys it takes me a bit of time to get used to not needing to press the pedal as hard. I'm the same when I get in a modern car with a servo.

[alex_holden]

Just make sure you open up the new cylinders and check there isn't any swarf inside before you fit them.

You are joking!!!! I've just bloody replaced all of my cylinders and pipes almost ready to fill up with fluid. Having had to make my own copper pipes up because the ones I bought originally were short... the thread was none existent on the one cylinder so needed re-tapping... Are you telling me now these units that came assembled and banded up have metal filings in them? Grrrr!!!

I haven't found swarf in new cylinders myself, but someone else on this forum told me he had.

[DAVIDMCCULLOUGH]

Im not keen on the pattern front cylinders, in my experience if they start to leak at all, they will fail really quickly. I prefer to use the lockheed front as at least you can fit repair kits, though I suppose a kit is almost as dear as a new pattern cylinder!

[Dominic]

I've recently fitted an entirely new (except for drums) braking system. I tried supposedly good quality UK made patterns, both front left cylinders failed miserably immediately, ruining the shoes.
After fitting Lockheeds all round, and allowing for the new shoes to bed in, I must say I'm amazed at how much "bite" they now have. The handbrake even held the car stationary on a 1:4 hill when I tested it, with no creep at all.
Our other car is a Nissan Micra, which has brakes that are almost too powerful. It feels as if there is an imminent somersault when doing an emergency stop!
I have to admit that the initial feeling when swapping back to the "real" car, is of no brakes at all, until one gives the required amount of boot! Then it truly repays all the effort !
To sum up: in my opinion well maintained standard brakes are fine for everyday driving, as long as the driver uses proper observation of the road ahead.

[bmcecosse]

Unfortunately Alex - that light pedal pressure means that the rear brakes are not getting enough pressure applied to work to their full efficiency - even when the fronts are on the point of locking. And this is why overall I prefer the higher pedal pressure (but by no means unreasonable) when using W brakes with their original cylinders, rather than with Minor cylinders