Author Topic: Question to NON power brake C3 owners (Read 5006 times)

demonx · « **on:** August 29, 2008, 03:47:30 PM »

How well does/doesn't your car pull up?

If you slam your foot to the floor, would it pull up to a skid on firm gravel? On bitumen?

I've just finished rebuilding the calipers, new rotors, completely bled the brakes etc and I drove the car today and I'm very disappointed with the braking ability.

It takes a while to pull up. If I'm just rolling at walking pace it stops well, however once I get it on the road and put the foot down it slows to a stop rather than braking like a power brake car.

I've only driven power brake vette's so I have nothing to compare it to and when I got this Vette it had no brakes so I don't know how they were!

Thanks in advance

BOSCHVETTE · « **Reply #1 on:** August 29, 2008, 03:58:36 PM »

my 68 coupe wouldnt stop in a hurry if you drove it into a brick wall head on the brakes are shocking. i also rebuilt the whole system only to find it didnt improve the stopping at all.
cheers boschvette

demonx · « **Reply #2 on:** August 29, 2008, 04:23:06 PM »

Hmmm... F**K. ;30;30

I was kind of hoping for a "yes they are great - there must be something wrong" - and then all I could think of is maybe the master cylinder needs a rebuild, but I think it should be ok.

I'm getting great pedal pressure. I've bled them as much as I can. (3 bottles of fluid is a hell of a lot of bleeding)

Smithy007 · « **Reply #3 on:** August 29, 2008, 04:51:36 PM »

Been down that road to mate. Bleed lines, replaced hoses, checked seals. Mine slows real well, but wouldn't get a lock up unless I threw a hook out the back as well!! ;27

gtc · « **Reply #4 on:** August 29, 2008, 07:47:46 PM »

According to the previous owner, my big block C3 arrived in Oz without power brakes and it wouldn't stop until he installed the booster. Stops real well now.

While on the subject of brakes, have your slave cylinders been lined with stainless steel? I'm told they are notorious for leaking until sleeved.

BOSCHVETTE · « **Reply #5 on:** August 30, 2008, 07:23:46 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by gtc
According to the previous owner, my big block C3 arrived in Oz without power brakes and it wouldn't stop until he installed the booster. Stops real well now.

While on the subject of brakes, have your slave cylinders been lined with stainless steel? I'm told they are notorious for leaking until sleeved.

;51Thats right gtc;51

demonx · « **Reply #6 on:** August 30, 2008, 09:53:32 AM »

Yeah - it looked like they'd been re-sleeved.

There wasn't anything wrong with any of the calipers when I got it except for one leaky cylinder, so I rebuilt them all just to be safe and take the time to inspect them all.

WARFARIN · « **Reply #7 on:** August 30, 2008, 08:35:15 PM »

Vette Brakes & Products have booster upgrades available.

Your Vette still LHD? In my RHD conversion; realestate is at a premium on the right side!

I have a recond booster with master cylinder, never seen fluid for a C3 [1978] from VB&P that looks like will not be required in my resto.

I also have the booster and master cylinder that came with the car [condition unknown] but the booster is the "cadmium" finish [yellowish] where the VB&P recond is dark grey.

If you are interested let me know.

Cheers

David

demonx · « **Reply #8 on:** August 30, 2008, 09:07:51 PM »

Thanks for the offer, but I'm going to sleep on something that I'm thinking about (a complete system upgrade).

"sleep" meaning I'll dwell on it for a few weeks.

Cheers!

sirfixalot · « **Reply #9 on:** August 30, 2008, 09:22:23 PM »

when i had my booster recoed the guy told me it is same as on a volvo dont know what model.The master cylinder & pushrod changed round about 77

Thunder Kiss · « **Reply #10 on:** August 31, 2008, 01:38:35 PM »

Before making any decisions, have a chat to someone like Hoppers Stoppers.
They did the front brake upgrade on my Corvette and they also convert a lot of 1960's Mustangs etc. to power brakes.

77CVT · « **Reply #11 on:** September 01, 2008, 09:08:38 AM »

A few use a booster from a gemini as a replacement.