A work over for the anchors
Discussion
The Griff ( 98 500) is sat doing not a lot until the sun comes out so I thought about giving the brakes a work over. Generally I find they work fine with two exceptions.
When really standing on them it is always the front left that locks up first and they offer no “feel” from cold. This effect is such that I am in the habit of driving the first 2-300 yards with my foot on the pedal after which they seem to wake up.
I believe the discs are as originally fitted but don’t know about the pads. I was considering replacing all the pads, the flexible hoses at the front as they look a bit tatty and the fluid.
I know this has been done before but any suggestions of what pads to use ? I would like a good bite from cold and don’t use the car in a way that makes fade a problem. Would prefer to keep the standard set-up unless someone comes along to convince me otherwise.
So what I am after is :-
What pads for a good bite from cold ?
Any thing I should be wary of before starting the job ?
When really standing on them it is always the front left that locks up first and they offer no “feel” from cold. This effect is such that I am in the habit of driving the first 2-300 yards with my foot on the pedal after which they seem to wake up.
I believe the discs are as originally fitted but don’t know about the pads. I was considering replacing all the pads, the flexible hoses at the front as they look a bit tatty and the fluid.
I know this has been done before but any suggestions of what pads to use ? I would like a good bite from cold and don’t use the car in a way that makes fade a problem. Would prefer to keep the standard set-up unless someone comes along to convince me otherwise.
So what I am after is :-
What pads for a good bite from cold ?
Any thing I should be wary of before starting the job ?
DOT 5.1 fluid, DS2500 pads, and bed them in to new discs following the manufacturers instructions. Uneven braking can be a sign that the calipers are snagging or twisting and this can also cause uneven pad wear. Check that the old pads have been wearing evenly, also while you have the calipers off check the sliders are working smoothly.
Rather than messing about do you think it may be best to replace the callipers at the same time ? I tend to agree that they may be sticking and I will probably end up spending hours faffing about with them before I am happy to put them back. This is the one area of the car I have not really explored at and they do look a bit tatty. Rather like stripping and repainting the wishbones. Far easier to simply fit new ones.
Will I find any benefit in braided hoses ?
The blurb on the Ferodo web site recommends 2500 as ideal for Sprints and hillclimbs which sounds ideal, only thing is they list one front pad type for all Griffs and according to Mr Heath there are several.
Will I find any benefit in braided hoses ?
The blurb on the Ferodo web site recommends 2500 as ideal for Sprints and hillclimbs which sounds ideal, only thing is they list one front pad type for all Griffs and according to Mr Heath there are several.
steve-v8s said:
Rather than messing about do you think it may be best to replace the callipers at the same time ?
Your time and money at the end of the day so you're the only one who can say, but I prefer to understand the problem before I fix it. I would look for uneven pad wear first.
Changed all my brakes last year - new ventilated grooved discs all round, stainless braided hoses, dot5 silicone fluid and Mintex performance pads (MDB1236M1144 and MDB1287M1144 rear and front). Stopping power much improved, and certainly no problems with bite from cold. Only thing with the Mintex pads (at least I think its the pads) is that they can be a bit noisy - sometimes squeak when braking gently.
As for calipers, since my car is currently in bits whilst the chassis is fettled, I'm taking the opportunity to have them re-manufactured by Bigg Red who do a fabulous polymer coating in various colours (mine are going to be bright red) which is fully resistant to brake dust, fluid etc and looks the dogs. See www.biggred.co.uk/ if you're interested.
As for calipers, since my car is currently in bits whilst the chassis is fettled, I'm taking the opportunity to have them re-manufactured by Bigg Red who do a fabulous polymer coating in various colours (mine are going to be bright red) which is fully resistant to brake dust, fluid etc and looks the dogs. See www.biggred.co.uk/ if you're interested.
petepetrolhead said:
dot5 silicone fluid
Your call obviously, but for what it's worth I wouldn't consider this suitable for road use. Silicone based fluid doesn't absorb water which means that the water entering your system will hang around in droplets. Water droplets in the hydraulic system is obviously bad news for all sorts of reasons. If you do change to or from silicone based fluid, you have to change all the seals of course so you're sort of committed to it now.
Yes it seems the extra 0.1 is quite important. How ridiculous is that to have DOT 3,4 and 5.1 compatible with DOT 5 a quite different product. Perhaps there was Government department invoved.
Agree on the point about understanding the fault but I am wondering if by the time I have un seized all the inevitable seized bits, cleaned everything up, put it back together, taken it apart again and put it back together correctly would it really have been better to have simply bolted on new ones? Can’t be that expensive if they are a stock Ford part.
I am defiantly going to replace the flexible pipes as they are showing their age. Will I notice any benefit in braided ones or is that a waste of money ?
Agree on the point about understanding the fault but I am wondering if by the time I have un seized all the inevitable seized bits, cleaned everything up, put it back together, taken it apart again and put it back together correctly would it really have been better to have simply bolted on new ones? Can’t be that expensive if they are a stock Ford part.
I am defiantly going to replace the flexible pipes as they are showing their age. Will I notice any benefit in braided ones or is that a waste of money ?
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