Brake balance

[RCCob]

Hi every one, I don't know much about the braking system on my cob other than its jag. I find it very easy to lock the front wheels as if all the braking force was going to the front wheel and not enough to the rear. is there anything that can be done about this? it can be unnerving some times when you have to brake hard for those idiots! that don't drive sensible round the lanes by us. firstly how is the braking pressure regulated between front and the rear? Next is it possible to adjust the front balance?

All help appreciated Russ

[Wilburn]

Hi,

I found this also.

I have a brake bias fitted to REDUCE the braking on the front wheels giving the back more work to do.

Works a treat.

However, you have to make sure you don't reduce the front too much as this would result in the back wheel breaks being more powerful than the front ........ and you DON'T want the back wheels to lock under breaking!

Tilton Brake Proportioning Valves - summitracing.com

[wilf]

Front brakes do 80% or more of the work in heavy braking - restricting their performance may not be a good idea. Fronts should always lock before the rears anyway.

If the fronts are locking up, then that may well be the braking limit for your car. Does one side always lock before the other? - if so you could check that the opposite side caliper is free and not seized, no oil on disc/pads etc. and maybe alter corner weights if you have adjustable coil overs.

Lastly, some different front tyres could make a big difference in braking, especially if yours have been on for some years (probably age-hardened, although with plenty of tread left).

[Wilburn]

Originally Posted by wilf

Front brakes do 80% or more of the work in heavy braking - restricting their performance may not be a good idea. Fronts should always lock before the rears anyway.

If the fronts are locking up, then that may well be the braking limit for your car. Does one side always lock before the other? - if so you could check that the opposite side caliper is free and not seized, no oil on disc/pads etc. and maybe alter corner weights if you have adjustable coil overs.

Lastly, some different front tyres could make a big difference in braking, especially if yours have been on for some years (probably age-hardened, although with plenty of tread left).

True, but the different it made to my braking is HUGE.

My front wheels would lock up under reansable braking from 30mph leaving two fat tyre marks on the tarmac and lots of smoke.

Now, if I floor the brake from 60mph, the car just stops, I may get a hint of locking up from the front but only a hint.

Before I had the brake bias fitted, in my opinion the car was dangerous and not road worthy - as it simply would not stop!

[wilf]

Really strange - any other De Dion owners had the same issue?

[RCCob]

Originally Posted by wilf

Front brakes do 80% or more of the work in heavy braking - restricting their performance may not be a good idea. Fronts should always lock before the rears anyway.

If the fronts are locking up, then that may well be the braking limit for your car. Does one side always lock before the other? - if so you could check that the opposite side caliper is free and not seized, no oil on disc/pads etc. and maybe alter corner weights if you have adjustable coil overs.

Lastly, some different front tyres could make a big difference in braking, especially if yours have been on for some years (probably age-hardened, although with plenty of tread left).

Hi guys thanks for the replies, I had a problem with the front brakes when I first got the car, I had to send it to the garage for repair. I have no real locking of any wheel in particular other than it just seems to be locking the wheels with out much slowing of the car, and have to say my van stops much faster than the cob. I have spoken to Magwick cars about this and they no longer fit the jag servo it is a ford fiesta, they told me to change it. I don't really want to do this as it is a real pain to do.

Wilburn is much of a job to fit? and wear do you fit it?

[Wilburn]

2 pics attached of its installation.

I think it took about 30 mins to fit - was a long time ago.

[RCCob]

Originally Posted by Wilburn

2 pics attached of its installation.

I think it took about 30 mins to fit - was a long time ago.

Cheers Paul I will have a look and see how it is to fit on mine

Regards Russ

[RCCob]

Wilburn, I have just had a look at the master cylinder and pipe work and I don't think it will work on mine there are 3 separate pipes coming off the master cylinder one for the rear and one each for the fronts I have drawn it out, any Ideas??

[RCCob]

Originally Posted by RCCob

Wilburn, I have just had a look at the master cylinder and pipe work and I don't think it will work on mine there are 3 separate pipes coming off the master cylinder one for the rear and one each for the fronts I have drawn it out, any Ideas??

Do you think this will work? if I re pipe the two front lines together and fit the proportional valve in to the single line going to the front brakes. Or is there a dual valve that will do both lines together??

Any advice appreciated Russ