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07-05-2019 #381Registered User
- Join Date
- Oct 2018
- Location
- San Jose, CA
- Posts
- 523
The manual brake setup seems to be a lot more finicky than power - everything has to be right - balance bar adjustment, MC sizes, pads, and air in lines.
I have a similar set-up on my car - also designed by Ron. I am using his brake package made in collaboration with StopTech which uses ST60/ST40 calipers and his own compound pads which are a combo street and track pad. They also need a bit of heat to really work well - but also the even the bedding is very critical to getting them functioning correctly. I spent a lot more time tweaking things to get it all working right. And even after two bedding sessions ended up with a bit more air in the lines (just a few bubbles) that I could really feel in the pedal. Spent a lot of time getting the balance bar adjusted correctly so that the masters were even at full braking force. that is a lot more critical than I realized - you need to make sure you know where the pushrods are at full brake force and they need to be close to even - I had to skew the rear with a much longer pushrod adjustment to get even master push at full braking. Before that was set-up correctly the braking was terrible because the fronts were not fully activating into that "bite zone"
The end result is very good. But it is different from a power set-up. The travel is a lot longer - almost double. But the bite zone as I call it is very consistent and easy to modulate. But you have to push further into the travel to get to that bite zone. The pedal pressure is actually not super firm on my set-up - takes less effort than my 2016 SS for example. But you have to push a few inches into the travel to get to the sweet spot. So it's a bit unnerving at first - but as you learn the pedal profile you gain confidence in it and can rely on it. But I swear any tiny bit of air in the lines or any tiny bit off on that balance bar adjustment throws it all out of whack. Power is way more forgiving. But it's pretty good with a good manual set-up once you get through all the teething and set-up pains.
My set-up uses 15/16" masters, but the ST calipers have a bit more PA than the Wildwood Aero.
Anyway - just wanted to add in my experience for others that are considering both approaches on brakes. In my case the motor doesn't make enough vacuum to consistently operate power brakes so manual was the easy choice. Sure could go hydroboost but I don't think that would give the feel I was looking for.
If I had a motor with better vacuum I would have gone the easier route with power boost. Even more so knowing what I know now on what it takes to set up manual brakes correctly. But that said - once set-up, they work very well and I really do like the feel and am getting used to the pedal travel quickly on the street - so I'm very happy with the brake package on my car right now.1971 Camaro - 406 / T56
2016 Camaro SS convertible
2018 Colorado 4x4
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07-08-2019 #382Registered User
- Join Date
- Aug 2010
- Posts
- 445
I have short legs, and the main issue I had with the manual set up was pedal travel on the street. Before I went to power, I had to think ahead all the time, and yes, it felt like I had air in the lines (when compared to my Boss 302, z/28, or GT350R). The feel of the power system is much more to my liking!
Joe
1969 Firebird Project
1967 Frirebird 400 convertible
2013 Boss 302
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07-08-2019 #383