Discussion
Mine has drilled and grooved rears as well. Also has Greenstuff pads on the rear.
Have you had the brake bias looked at? If I'm right, it's biased towards the rear as standard and changing the discs and pads will alter the braking characteristics.
Suggest you get it professionally looked at. When it's right, you will definitely appreciate the improvement.
Have you had the brake bias looked at? If I'm right, it's biased towards the rear as standard and changing the discs and pads will alter the braking characteristics.
Suggest you get it professionally looked at. When it's right, you will definitely appreciate the improvement.
Mines got Willwoods too and they are fantastic with a capital "F". However, it sounds like, as previously mentioned, the bias settings are a little out. Get them looked at - you shouldnt be feeling that much difference - the majority of the braking should be the front and the original ones should be sufficient for the back - though you can of course make them better by using Greenstuff pads etc....
Oh, and if the budget stretches - try a damper change. That way you will get less back-end lift and rear-end squat hence improving the braking balance anyway (balance of the car that is, not the brakes - though it will react in a more stable manner).
Just try and do a track day with the willwoods - you will be amazed! Did one in mine and while everyone else skulked off with fading brakes, mine just got better and better....Ok, so the breathed on Scoobie whipped my arse, but that chap had spent £30,000 in getting that car to the performance it was.... though my brakes werent far off..... VERY impressive.
Oh, and if the budget stretches - try a damper change. That way you will get less back-end lift and rear-end squat hence improving the braking balance anyway (balance of the car that is, not the brakes - though it will react in a more stable manner).
Just try and do a track day with the willwoods - you will be amazed! Did one in mine and while everyone else skulked off with fading brakes, mine just got better and better....Ok, so the breathed on Scoobie whipped my arse, but that chap had spent £30,000 in getting that car to the performance it was.... though my brakes werent far off..... VERY impressive.
markh said:
I have just put Willwood calipers and 300mm discs on my Chimera and have drilled and grooved discs with green stuff pads on the rear. the rear brakes don'tn seem to be doing enough is there a rear upgrade that anyone has done or will this just make this worse
Mark
As you said, increasing the front size to 300mm increases the front bias. As standard they do generally seem to have too much rear bias (IMO) so a small increase on the front is no bad thing, but I think going up to 300mm is likely to be too much. Symptoms of this would be the front wheels consistently locking up before the rears especially in slippery conditions. Ideally you want the fronts locking up very slightly before the rears, but if the fronts lock up too soon you get reduced braking effect and reduced control. Not good.
Getting the bias right is moderately complicated because you have to set up the static balance to match the static weight distribution, and then get the cut-off characteristics right to suit the weight transfer under braking, and you also need to get the thermal balance right (because the cooefficient of friction varies with temperature). If you're making a big change you also need to worry about getting the leverage right and running out of hydraulic travel but I don't expect you'll have these problems.
This should all really have been taken into consideration when the brake upgrade was being designed. It's all too easy to find a set of parts that fit in the wheel and clear the suspension but getting the braking system set up properly involves a lot more than that.
Unless you're really confident you understand the problem (and from your post I guess not) I'd advise you to get somebody with car setup experience to do it for you. (This is not something that your common or garden mechanic would be qualified to do.)
I agree with Pete. I have the Wilwoods with 285mm discs and the balance is about right without any other mods. Excellent braking without braking the bank or worrying if the calliper is going to score the front wheel. You could fit an adjustable brake balance but it is a swine to fit as most of the brake pipes will need refitting.
I agree. I have 285mm discs with Mintex 1144s up front. No fade on the road or track with me driving (I'm no trackmeister). I'm sure your 300mm setup is better still - just needs the bias fiddling with.
WRT to the rear brakes, I personally hated EBC Green pads. They didn't work until they got some heat in them. Hard to do without driving like an arse on the road at this time of year. I'm using Ferodo DS2500 on the rear now which are great - they work well from cold and haven't overheated on me yet.
WRT to the rear brakes, I personally hated EBC Green pads. They didn't work until they got some heat in them. Hard to do without driving like an arse on the road at this time of year. I'm using Ferodo DS2500 on the rear now which are great - they work well from cold and haven't overheated on me yet.
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