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I have two wedges: a '76 coupe and '81 PI DHC.
Both now have new master cylinders, new rotors, pads and rebuilt calipers within the last year. Identical parts. Rear brakes look fine on inspection on both.
The '76 brakes are just fine for the era. Not great but exactly as I expect them to be.
The '81 is just plain poor. Loaded truck-like. What troubles me is what I'll call 'permafade'. It takes noticeably more pressure to get braking underway and there is not a linear increase in braking power with greater pedal pressure. It's the same kind of feeling that happens when you have mild brake fade -- except it's all the time.
I can definitely heat up the front brakes on hills with hard braking, smell them, and induce genuine brake fade.
Would you say the difference is the product of the extra few hundred lbs of the '81 ? Have others noticed the same difference between early and late models?
Next -- I'm considering dropping some semi-metallic pads from the Roadster Factory into the 81 and seeing if that helps. Has anyone experience with these in comparison to the stock items?
Are there some other areas to look at? How can you tell if the booster is busted? The proportioning valve?
I think I'll turn the 81 rear drums and replace the cylinders as a matter of course. I rather like a stock car so bolting on a big brake kit isn't that attractive to me.
I just can't belive that in the final year of the wedge that brakes were that wimpy! So I'm open to wisdom.
Both now have new master cylinders, new rotors, pads and rebuilt calipers within the last year. Identical parts. Rear brakes look fine on inspection on both.
The '76 brakes are just fine for the era. Not great but exactly as I expect them to be.
The '81 is just plain poor. Loaded truck-like. What troubles me is what I'll call 'permafade'. It takes noticeably more pressure to get braking underway and there is not a linear increase in braking power with greater pedal pressure. It's the same kind of feeling that happens when you have mild brake fade -- except it's all the time.
I can definitely heat up the front brakes on hills with hard braking, smell them, and induce genuine brake fade.
Would you say the difference is the product of the extra few hundred lbs of the '81 ? Have others noticed the same difference between early and late models?
Next -- I'm considering dropping some semi-metallic pads from the Roadster Factory into the 81 and seeing if that helps. Has anyone experience with these in comparison to the stock items?
Are there some other areas to look at? How can you tell if the booster is busted? The proportioning valve?
I think I'll turn the 81 rear drums and replace the cylinders as a matter of course. I rather like a stock car so bolting on a big brake kit isn't that attractive to me.
I just can't belive that in the final year of the wedge that brakes were that wimpy! So I'm open to wisdom.
