[DeTomaso] Brake Upgrade

[JDeRyke at aol.com]

In a message dated 11/10/11 8:54:10 PM, julian_kift at hotmail.com writes:
snip.....
> Here are some independent parking brake caliper (Spot caliper) options 
> recently discussed on the GT40 forum;
> 
> Wilwood Spot (Kart) Calipers; 
> www.summitracing.com/search/?keyword=spot%20caliper&dds=1
> 
These mechanical caliper 2-'piston' brakes work well, but you either make 
your own rear upright slide-adapters or buy the setup complete from Pantera 
East- who also offer the set for Vipers. Mine (home-made brackets & stock 
cables) have been working well for legal parking brakes since the mid '90s. 
Nice 'n tidy and mount to the unused stock upright bosses.

Another thing that helps if you tip-toe into brake upgraxdes with street 
rotors and stock front calipers is: 
1)- totally remove the stock non-adjustable proportioning valve that limits 
the front brake pressure, so you rely mostly on the toy rear calipers. 
Removing this and re-plumbing for full use at both ends allows the decent stock 
front brakes to work to full capacity. This alone improves brake power 
markedly and is all some guys decide they need.
2)- totally remove the brake shuttle valve under the power booster. This 
assembly is supposed to turn on a red warning light when the pads are worn too 
low or theres a fluid leak. The sliding shuttle inside the valve often 
sticks at the far end of its travel, virtually cutting off fluid flow to brakes 
at one end of the car and again. limiting stopping power. 
3)- make very sure the vacuum booster is actually working! I've found 
several Panteras in which this vacuum booster has no vacuum, and does not boost.

Do all three of these, try the car and if you think you need even more 
stop-power, the 3 above form the first things most vendors do before they 
install oversized brakes on a Pantera. Jack's Rule of Thumb: if you can lock up 
any tire with the car (after doing the above), you need larger, wider tires to 
maximize the stopping you already have. If you CANNOT lock up any wheel, 
you need more powerful, upgraded brakes. Welcome to the slippery slope of 
Pantera upgrades! Good luck with your choices- J Deryke