5l Chimaera Braking...
5l Chimaera Braking...
Author
Discussion

jasandjules

Original Poster:

72,607 posts

259 months

Tuesday 6th June 2006
quotequote all
All,

Just wondering, do the 5l Chimaeras lock up quite easily? Drove one at the weekend and it seemed to lock up quite quickly under brakingm whereas my 4l hardly ever locked up at all...

GreenV8S

31,021 posts

314 months

Tuesday 6th June 2006
quotequote all
The 5L shouldn't lock up any more easily than the 4L.

jasandjules

Original Poster:

72,607 posts

259 months

Tuesday 6th June 2006
quotequote all
Interesting.

Thanks for that. I know they have stronger brakes, but I was surprised how easily it managed to lock. Is there anything which can be done to the brakes to check they are ok? Any common problem that is easily fixed if they lock? Nothing stupid/simple like the pressures are out is it?

jonnyb

2,590 posts

282 months

Tuesday 6th June 2006
quotequote all
I would imagine that has more to do with suspension set up than engine size.

Edited to add:

The later 4.0s (from about 1996 on) had the same brakes as the 5.0s. I think the disc size went up from about 240mm to about 260mm on the front and the back discs got bigger too.



Edited by jonnyb on Tuesday 6th June 09:50

jasandjules

Original Poster:

72,607 posts

259 months

Tuesday 6th June 2006
quotequote all
Even more interesting !

Soo, not a fatal flaw if I buy her then.....

pupp

12,972 posts

302 months

Tuesday 6th June 2006
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Prolly just a function of pad/disc condition. If the car has been standing for a while and there's some surface rust on the rotors, that might account for some grabbiness. Similarly, if your pads are a bit glazed through habitually gentle use then the bite may could well feel different on the other car. Most likely just a case of re-educating the right toe

jasandjules

Original Poster:

72,607 posts

259 months

Tuesday 6th June 2006
quotequote all
The car hasn't been used much in the last year or two. So it could just mean the pads need clearing.

I managed to get it to slow a few times nicely, certainly from 60-20 it was sharp and smooth. But an emergency stop due to horses meant I locked up.

tahiti450

712 posts

267 months

Tuesday 6th June 2006
quotequote all
- Do you mean front or rear locking or one wheel in particular. Assuiming that you are braking in a straight line on reasonably a even surface free from debris and grit then the fronts should lock up simulataneously and then the rears if you keep pushing harder. Any deviation from this - either in balance side to side or front to rear could suggest a problem.
However the one thing that no one has mentioned yet is tyres .... clearly the amount of decelleration and brake force required to lock any wheel will depend on the grip available, if the tyres are poor- inflation / type / compound / wear/ ageing, etc then wheels will lock earlier as brake torque exceed available grip.
So the first thing you need to do is ensure the tyres are sorted and ideally similar to those you are used to before you will be able to assess the brakes.
Discs, especially the rears often corrode quite badly on the inboard surface to the exetent thtat the braking surface becomes very rough and can cause uneven braking .

jasandjules

Original Poster:

72,607 posts

259 months

Tuesday 6th June 2006
quotequote all
The tyres had plenty of tread, but I do not know about the PSI as it was a test drive.

It braked evenly as far as I can tell, quite frankly it was superbly straight which is just as well as it was a country lane.

I am not 100% if it was front or backs first as I was surprised how gently I pressed the pedal to get it locked. This is especially since the throttle took more pressure (so it felt to me) than my 4l to get it to move.......

M@H

11,298 posts

302 months

Tuesday 6th June 2006
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tahiti450 said:
- tyres


...my immediate thought too, what was it running on.?

jasandjules

Original Poster:

72,607 posts

259 months

Thursday 8th June 2006
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SO3s I think. NO idea about the pressures though, but plenty of tread (a good 5mm on all 4). Also, the car hadn't done much distance in the last year, so brakes needing wearing in highly possible.

Well, I am getting her inspected today, if all goes well, collecting tomorrow night....VEEERY excited...

asty

13 posts

245 months

Thursday 8th June 2006
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did it check out ok mate

jellison

12,803 posts

307 months

Friday 9th June 2006
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jasandjules said:
All,

Just wondering, do the 5l Chimaeras lock up quite easily? Drove one at the weekend and it seemed to lock up quite quickly under brakingm whereas my 4l hardly ever locked up at all...
Maybe you were going THAT much fast in the 500! Even the std 500 brake aren't tht great - only 260mm trying to stop 1100 odd kg, simple physic and TVR being tight with spec of the Griff's and Chims to keep the cost down compared to the Cerbs and Tuscan that were out at the same time 9that had larger rotors and AP 4 pots).

jasandjules

Original Poster:

72,607 posts

259 months

Friday 9th June 2006
quotequote all
Well, TopCats have said it is fine. Sooo, we will pick her up tonight..

So it could have been the tyre pressures or whatnot, as it went on a 30mile or so journey to get to them. Could have been the brakes needed a bit more bedding in...

I don't think I was travelling that much faster than I would normally, maybe I just need to get used to the brakes, or maybe it was an emergency stop situation due to horses so I could have over pressed the pedal.....

WWESTY

2,690 posts

268 months

Friday 9th June 2006
quotequote all
jasandjules said:
Well, TopCats have said it is fine. Sooo, we will pick her up tonight..

....




Well done!

jasandjules

Original Poster:

72,607 posts

259 months

Friday 9th June 2006
quotequote all
Ta..

Just you to find a new toy..............