[DeTomaso] Trying to diagnose weak brakes

[Mike & Elizabeth Thomas]

I've been working through trying to figure what seems like a weakness in my
brakes on 6328.  

 

How do they feel now?  There seems like a fair bit of pedal travel before
they start to hook up.  Once they hook, they're fine when I'm just in normal
traffic and stop and go.  If I have to stomp down on them, it just doesn't
seem like they're biting very well.  If I have to really stomp on them, I
can't get any wheel to lock up at all.

 

Current setup:  the brakes are stock Girling, rebuild in 2004. they've been
fully bled at Les Schwab 6 months ago with DOT 3 (they wouldn't use DOT 4 as
it was not spec).  Yes, they were aware that there were two nipples on the
front, the tech that handled me has 2 or 3 Panteras that come in through the
year.  The flex lines were replaced with stainless lines in 2004 when all of
the calipers were rebuilt.  The vacuum line from the engine to the tube and
tube to booster is recent, about 3-4 years ago.  So far as I know, the
proportioning valve has been gutted, but not really sure nor know how to be
sure.  The master is an early '80's GM/Cadillac replaced about 10 years ago,
the same was in the car when I bought it in '04.  I've just replaced the
Porterfield R4S pads.  It was rather cold day when I went out to burn them
in so first speculation is that they are not fully 'seasoned'.  However,
they feel about the same as the previous 10-yr old R4S's, and that wouldn't
explain the pedal travel.  The booster is original so far as I know.

 

First question, how much pedal travel should there be before the pedal feels
resistance the brakes start to take up?

 

So, what else can I check/do out to figure out why my brakes seem so lazy.
I will try to re-season them when the weather gets warmer, but that won't
deal with pedal travel.  When brake booster starts to fail, how does that
happen?  Gradually or all at once?

 

Your input is appreciated and eagerly awaited.  I'd like to get this
figgered before the season starts as everything else is running a well as it
ever has.

 

Thanks

Mike Thomas

Pres., Panteras Northwest

206-795-3302

Yellow '74 #6328

www.panterasnorthwest.com <http://www.panterasnorthwest.com/> 

 

 

-------------- next part --------------
   I've been working through trying to figure what seems like a weakness
   in my brakes on 6328.


   How do they feel now?  There seems like a fair bit of pedal travel
   before they start to hook up.  Once they hook, they're fine when I'm
   just in normal traffic and stop and go.  If I have to stomp down on
   them, it just doesn't seem like they're biting very well.  If I have to
   really stomp on them, I can't get any wheel to lock up at all.


   Current setup:  the brakes are stock Girling, rebuild in 2004. they've
   been fully bled at Les Schwab 6 months ago with DOT 3 (they wouldn't
   use DOT 4 as it was not spec).  Yes, they were aware that there were
   two nipples on the front, the tech that handled me has 2 or 3 Panteras
   that come in through the year.  The flex lines were replaced with
   stainless lines in 2004 when all of the calipers were rebuilt.  The
   vacuum line from the engine to the tube and tube to booster is recent,
   about 3-4 years ago.  So far as I know, the proportioning valve has
   been gutted, but not really sure nor know how to be sure.  The master
   is an early `80's GM/Cadillac replaced about 10 years ago, the same was
   in the car when I bought it in `04.  I've just replaced the Porterfield
   R4S pads.  It was rather cold day when I went out to burn them in so
   first speculation is that they are not fully `seasoned'.  However, they
   feel about the same as the previous 10-yr old R4S's, and that wouldn't
   explain the pedal travel.  The booster is original so far as I know.


   First question, how much pedal travel should there be before the pedal
   feels resistance the brakes start to take up?


   So, what else can I check/do out to figure out why my brakes seem so
   lazy.  I will try to re-season them when the weather gets warmer, but
   that won't deal with pedal travel.  When brake booster starts to fail,
   how does that happen?  Gradually or all at once?


   Your input is appreciated and eagerly awaited.  I'd like to get this
   figgered before the season starts as everything else is running a well
   as it ever has.


   Thanks

   Mike Thomas

   Pres., Panteras Northwest

   206-795-3302

   Yellow '74 #6328

   [1]www.panterasnorthwest.com

References

   1. http://www.panterasnorthwest.com/