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Topic: Poor braking

in Forum: C4 Handling Components


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Poor braking (1/7)
 4/20/16 4:08pm
cco
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Joined: 8/16/2013
Posts: 191

I feel that my '94 brakes have poor braking quality. This after considerable investment in upgrading the rotors, lines and pads by a pro.
 
It's not that they feel soft ..... quite the contrary....they are responsive and pedal travel seems normal. It's that they don't stop sharply and seem to take an abnormal amount of pedal pressure for effect braking.
 
There are no warning lights or any other indication that there is a problem other than the fact that I don't like them.
 
Is this normal for brakes of that era and is there an upgrade/change I can make for better, more confident braking?
 
Tnx. for any input.
 
C.
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Re: Poor braking (2/7)
 4/22/16 7:19am
Black Shark
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Black 1979 L-82 Black 1996 LT1 Black 1999 Coupe


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I find that ceramic pads need more pedal pressure.
 
What kind of pads and rotors and pads did you use?
 
Was this a problem before you upgraded the braking system?
 
 
 
 
 
The brake booster is responsible for making pedal pressure light while the brakes bite hard.
Re: Poor braking (3/7)
 4/22/16 7:48am
CaledoniaBrian
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  might want to check for any kind of vacuum leak around the booster.



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Re: Poor braking (4/7)
 4/22/16 9:49am
Tesla220
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Brake pad composition

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Re: Poor braking (5/7)
 5/4/16 3:02pm
Barn find
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Happened to mine. I replaced the rotors pads and lines. Still had the same feeling your describing. One day I pulled into my garage and the car had just been started so the idle was up. When I stepped on the brakes the front brakes locked up and the rears pushed the car across my painted floor into some wood saw horses that cushioned the stop and by luck, no damage. Turns out the antilock brake system was malfunctioning and not allowing brake pressure to the rear brakes. To test jack it up apply the brakes. IF the rears  keep spinning you have the same issue.
If it is the same issue let me know and I will dig up the name of the place that sold me a rebuilt unit
 
Re: Poor braking (6/7)
 5/4/16 4:43pm
cco
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Posts: 191

Barn find said: Happened to mine. I replaced the rotors pads and lines. Still had the same feeling your describing. One day I pulled into my garage and the car had just been started so the idle was up. When I stepped on the brakes the front brakes locked up and the rears pushed the car across my painted floor into some wood saw horses that cushioned the stop and by luck, no damage. Turns out the antilock brake system was malfunctioning and not allowing brake pressure to the rear brakes. To test jack it up apply the brakes. IF the rears  keep spinning you have the same issue.
If it is the same issue let me know and I will dig up the name of the place that sold me a rebuilt unit
 


Thanks for all the replies.....lots of good hints here......
 
I'll start with Barn find's suggestion which should show problems quickly.
I'm guessing that the anti-lock can have problems without showing a malfunction light on the display. -- and tnx for the offer for info on the rebuild kit Barn find.
I'll give it a try and post back with results on that and the other suggestions.
 
Colin.

Re: Poor braking (7/7)
 5/4/16 5:12pm
cco
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Posts: 191

Strats-N-Vettes said: I find that ceramic pads need more pedal pressure.
 
What kind of pads and rotors and pads did you use?
 
Was this a problem before you upgraded the braking system?
 
 
 
 
 
The brake booster is responsible for making pedal pressure light while the brakes bite hard.


Replacements pads are EBC Ceramic (red) which came highly recommended for good braking and low dust.
New rotors but not sure of which ones but are vented and slotted. New stainless lines.
No problem braking per se b4 or after, just wanted sharper braking -- the mods seemed not to make much of a diff.
I may also think about installing softer pads to help with sharper braking too. Dusting will be worse but it'll be worth the sacrifice if effective.
TNX everyone again.
Colin.
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