Brake bias - help

Brake bias - help

Author
Discussion

Bluesatin

Original Poster:

3,114 posts

273 months

Saturday 9th November 2002
quotequote all
Help

Can't remebe which way to adjust the bias. The rears locked today so nead more front. Which way do adjust towards the front- clockwise or counterclock wise

Thanks and don't listen to a word stig says

ultiman

352 posts

263 months

Monday 11th November 2002
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Guy
The centre of the balance bar needs to be closer to the master cylinder that requires most pressure, ie the front one. Assuming your front master cylinder is on the right, you should have more spare thread sticking out on the right side if that helps. l recently bought a remote balance bar adjuster but have to change the pedals a bit to make it fit. Could be useful to you too if you locked up. What were the circumstances?

shithotfast

1,132 posts

269 months

Monday 11th November 2002
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I have had the same problem the other way around! My fronts lock up, without enough to the backs. With the bar fully wound over (max thread) the backs - still dont have enough bias. Is it possible to wrongly fit the bias bar (insert) ie would turning around make any differance? I dont think so?? The bias bar does work - just not enough. Due to the weight on the rears, and the size of the tyres I feel the backs should be close to the same as the fronts when adjusting. Ideas????

canam-phil

489 posts

260 months

Monday 11th November 2002
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shithotfast said: I have had the same problem the other way around! My fronts lock up, without enough to the backs. With the bar fully wound over (max thread) the backs - still dont have enough bias. Is it possible to wrongly fit the bias bar?


Forgive this question, but I take it that you do have the brake master cylinders the right way round... one is bigger than the other on my AP factory purchased system.

bluesatin

Original Poster:

3,114 posts

273 months

Monday 11th November 2002
quotequote all
Ultiman

Thanks for this. I have adjusted them in the past but have forgotten which way. Needs a bit more at the front as the rears locked in the wet.

ultiman

352 posts

263 months

Monday 11th November 2002
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Paul, Phil
Interesting one this. l suspect Paul does not have AP brakes but the Sport big brake option like my car. My master cylinders are the same size (0.65" I believe)and the balance bar has plenty of spare thread both ends althought he bias is toward the front master cylinder. Originally l was supplied with 0.75" cylinders and the brake pedal felt like pressing a wood block, virtually no movement and inadequate pressure at the brakes. Even the 0.65" is a bit hard so l might buy somehting smaller to give more feel. AP brakes look good and no doubt are but unless someone will sell me the full set for £100 I will stick with what I have.
Yours Aye, Scrooge

PS Does anyone (Paul)with Sport brakes have an inadequate handbrake. l can virtually push my car with the hand brake on and the lever is very stiff. ls it a matter of greasing the cables or a common fault?

>> Edited by ultiman on Monday 11th November 12:56

james

1,362 posts

285 months

Monday 11th November 2002
quotequote all

bluesatin said: Ultiman

Thanks for this. I have adjusted them in the past but have forgotten which way. Needs a bit more at the front as the rears locked in the wet.


Might I suggest that, when you've figured it out, you put a little arrow on the knob to indicate which way is forward and which way is back.

You generally need to put more brake bias on the frint in the wet, so the adjustment might be a more common thing if you're driving in varying road/track conditions.

There is a simple way of determining which way to turn the knob. Try clockwise. If the problem gets worse, you need to turn it anti-clockwise.

James

shithotfast

1,132 posts

269 months

Monday 11th November 2002
quotequote all

ultiman said: Paul, Phil
Interesting one this. l suspect Paul does not have AP brakes but the Sport big brake option like my car. My master cylinders are the same size (0.65" I believe)and the balance bar has plenty of spare thread both ends althought he bias is toward the front master cylinder. Originally l was supplied with 0.75" cylinders and the brake pedal felt like pressing a wood block, virtually no movement and inadequate pressure at the brakes. Even the 0.65" is a bit hard so l might buy somehting smaller to give more feel. AP brakes look good and no doubt are but unless someone will sell me the full set for £100 I will stick with what I have.
Yours Aye, Scrooge

PS Does anyone (Paul)with Sport brakes have an inadequate handbrake. l can virtually push my car with the hand brake on and the lever is very stiff. ls it a matter of greasing the cables or a common fault?

>> Edited by ultiman on Monday 11th November 12:56


I have the "girly" ford brakes - .625 clys both front and rear with twin servos so works fine. Factory seem to have a real mixture of clys sizes? Re handbrake - its crap - seems the same on every ultima I have seen... not sure why? Will keep playing with the bias!

ultimapaul

3,937 posts

265 months

Monday 11th November 2002
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Paul - Are you sure both of your servos are working correctly? Full bias to the rear and still no rear lock-up seems rather odd? May be worth checking to see if all the vacum hoses are OK. You may have a leaky/perished one.

Just a suggestion ...... Good luck.

Paul

Stig

11,818 posts

285 months

Tuesday 12th November 2002
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shithotfast said:

I have the "girly" ford brakes - .625 clys both front and rear with twin servos so works fine. Factory seem to have a real mixture of clys sizes? Re handbrake - its crap - seems the same on every ultima I have seen... not sure why? Will keep playing with the bias!


Well, you've not seen my Brembo setup then as supplied by the factory now. They're fantastic!