Too Much Brake

[Guest dcdave]

Hi all.. i've been running around in my Exmo for years.. but only now are the brakes REALY starting to 'P' me off.! ..it seems like they're just too powerful .. or over- servo'd for the weight of the car.

Is there any quick fix.. or 'resonably priced' way of lessening the power of the brakes somehow.? .. i like to give the pedal a firm foot.. but in the Exmo it just seems to lock the wheels so easily.. especially in the wet.. almost dangerous.!

I did disconect the servo for a laugh... but no joy .

 

Any idea's.? ... i'm 'very' keen to sort this out.

 

Cheers.. Dave

[Bob Tucker]

I did disconect the servo for a laugh... but no joy

 

Disconnecting the servo should mean a far heavier push is needed for the same braking effect, and usually more feel.

What happened on yours? What do you mean by "No Joy"??

Have they only recently become sharper?

Bob

[Guest chris brown]

I did disconect the servo for a laugh... but no joy .

How did you disconnect it? What is required is the vacuum hose removing from the servo just pull it out of the grommet on the servo but don’t forget to blank the pipe off unless the car will run like a bag of nails. Now with the servo open to atmosphere it is the same as not having one at all giving you a much heavier peddle but better feel.

[Longboarder]

In theory, if you reweld the brake pedal so the ratio of pivot to operating rod and the pivot to foot pad is 1:3 or 1:2 instead of the current 1:4?5 you will get a less sensitive pedal. Adjust the other way for use without the servo? Anyone see a problem with this?

 

Nigel

[Guest micky bigthumbs]

Sorry but if its been working ok for years something has broke or siezed or have you put up with bad brakes for years if it has been ok something has gone wrong and you should be able to find a fault somewhere. perhaps the diagfram is stuck in the servo

Mick

[Longboarder]

Odd that they have become more powerful. I read the post as they have always been too powerful but Dave has only just started to get pi.........upset by them. They sound much like mine!

 

Nigel

[Guest Battery Bill]

Dave

We need to know more!

Have your brakes always been the same but you have finally got *bleep* off with them or are they getting worse?

More info on your "No Joy" statement !

We never fitted the servo to our 2B and are very happy with the brakes

 

Nigel

In theory, if you reweld the brake pedal so the ratio of pivot to operating rod and the pivot to foot pad is 1:3 or 1:2 instead of the current 1:4?5 you will get a less sensitive pedal. Adjust the other way for use without the servo? Anyone see a problem with this?

 

He did ask for a quick fix

Anyway our pedal is standard and works fine

[Guest dcdave]

Thanks for your replies and idea's all .. perhaps i should explain a bit better.

The brakes have always been like this, and havent suddenly become sharper.. it's just that i had a 'moment' recently on the road when another driver pulled out on me.. i hit the brakes.. like i do in my daily car.. but everything locked up so so easy. Since then it's happened a couple of times in the wet when i didnt think i was braking hard.

I've never been in that type of situation before in the Exmo.. and even tho i knew how powerful the brakes are, because originaly they stopped a car twice as heavy ... but it just reinforced my thoughts of 'nows the time to do something about it' ... as i was sliding towards little miss snooty boots who didnt even look..!!

I did disconect the servo.. obviously blocking off the vacuum pipe.. even sealing up the servo hole.. but in town.. i got the opposite effect and ended up having to use too much pressure on the pedal... yes it's ok..ish for nipping about... but when your on and off the brakes with town driving.. personaly it just feels too much of a heavy push. I'll give the shortening of the brake pedal some thought tho.. that sounds like all that can be done.... or find some REALY hard brake linnings.!

 

Cheers.. Dave

[Mat-Moo]

Was it a 2lt donor or 1.6? My original exmo had 1.6 donor parts with servo and wasn't too bad, but I would of liked to of removed the servo. The current one I am building I am using 2lt parts from, and already have the servo off with a modified push rod - hoping this will work but will have to wait and see.

[Guest dcdave]

Mat.. my doner was a 2.0L, but i'd imagine they're all the same... or very similar. I'm interested in the mod your doing to your servo push rod.. what does it involve and what are you hoping it'll do.?

 

Cheers.. Dave

[Mat-Moo]

There is quite a lot of difference actually The 2lt uses vented discs with much bigger pads than the 1.6 solid disc/small pads. Also the drums at the back are quite a size difference as well.

 

I've heard (and tiger sell a direct push rod) is suppose to help, hoping so

[Guest salty_monk]

That's what Bill & Joey use... personally I found the 2.0L servo ok once i was used to it...

You may find that there's a smaller servo that will fit off a fiesta, escort or something??

[Guest john@mrcs.freeserve.co.uk]

As a driving instructor i often get new customers who have been driving oldre cars without power assisted steering and servo on the brakes, i always ask before they drive my car, a fiesta not my pride and joy sub K2, they soon get used to treating my car diferently than the other one they practice in. if you are driving a heavy car with adequet brakes all week clocking up lots of miles your brain tells your muscles how much pressure is required and forgets to adjust to the lighter vehicle especialy in emergency situations where reactions will use the most learned memories instead of the newest. take a few advanced driving lessons with rospa and pollish your skills so that your awearness skills are sharper and save your self any costly alterations.

[Guest Battery Bill]

few advanced driving lessons with rospa and pollish your skills so that your awearness skills are sharper and save your self

 

Thats a good idea for Chris Brown

 

Sorry Sir

[Guest chris brown]

Thats a good idea for Chris Brown

Why me you big Scots git. :gdit: :gdit: