downimpact Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 Fitted the cusco master brake stopper and went out to feel the improvement, was very disappointed didn't seem to make much difference I didn't have the instructions when fitting but wondered if there was any procedure to ensure it's as tight as it should be against the master cylinder. Currently it's as tight as possible using an allen key, should I be doing something more? I've driven a dc2 before where the brakes were excellent, small pedal movement and really firm. Mine currently have lots of travel, though have a fair amount of pad left. Any ideas? Current spec: j-spec brakes do luck braided lines cw race pads Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rajinder Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 You will not notice any difference on the road. It comes on it's own on a track and then only when you brake very hard, eg slowing from 120 to a crawl to take a sharp bend. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downimpact Posted January 29, 2011 Author Share Posted January 29, 2011 I did do some repeated hard braking to warm up the pads as much as anything, albeit not from 120. Just expecting something much more immdiate from the pedal feel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jevansio Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 Did you get someone to press the brake when you were watching the master cylinder (before you fitted it)? That will show you the amount of movement (or lack of) you are trying feel with your foot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downimpact Posted January 29, 2011 Author Share Posted January 29, 2011 Did you get someone to press the brake when you were watching the master cylinder (before you fitted it)? That will show you the amount of movement (or lack of) you are trying feel with your foot No helpers about, so not sure, wonder if I have it tight enough. Might have a look tomorrow with a helper and see if it flexes with the brace installed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jevansio Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 Do it with & without to see exactly what it is doing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 You need to bleed your brakes bud. The stopper won't do much imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downimpact Posted January 29, 2011 Author Share Posted January 29, 2011 Fluids only been changed a couple of months ago and I had the same pedal travel before the last fluid change. I'll see how much flex there is in the master cylinder, maybe bigger brakes are the only way to go now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 Fluids only been changed a couple of months ago and I had the same pedal travel before the last fluid change. I'll see how much flex there is in the master cylinder, maybe bigger brakes are the only way to go now. The size of the brakes isn't what is causing the issues with your pedal though bud. You can't just throw parts at an issue and expect it to go away The first thing I would do is give the brakes a good bleed, regardless of when they were done that is what it is pointing to. Did you do the fluid change yourself? Next thing I would be looking at would be the calipers themselves, refurbishing the calipers makes a night and day difference to them Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downimpact Posted January 29, 2011 Author Share Posted January 29, 2011 The size of the brakes isn't what is causing the issues with your pedal though bud. You can't just throw parts at an issue and expect it to go away The first thing I would do is give the brakes a good bleed, regardless of when they were done that is what it is pointing to. Did you do the fluid change yourself? Next thing I would be looking at would be the calipers themselves, refurbishing the calipers makes a night and day difference to them CW did the last fluid change, checked the brakes and did some greasing under 400 miles ago. The pedal travel hasn't changed before or after the fluid change. I think I'm over stating the travel it's no different to other cars, was just hoping that bracing the master cyclinder would improve the pedal firmness significantly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 CW did the last fluid change, checked the brakes and did some greasing under 400 miles ago. The pedal travel hasn't changed before or after the fluid change. I think I'm over stating the travel it's no different to other cars, was just hoping that bracing the master cyclinder would improve the pedal firmness significantly. Ahh, no. Just FYI UKs won't help either, pedal feel can be a little numb. Major upgrade required Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guigsy Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 Mine on my jspec helped a load. I got another for my uk but there is other gubbins in the way of one of the brackets Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nic Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 Braided lines? As already said the BMC brace will help under medium to heavy braking, it takes less effort get the ABS to kick in. It doesn't make a huge difference to pedal feel but I definitely noticed an improvement when I fitted mine, although that was with the larger brakes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian C Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 Braided hoses and also remove any anti-squeal shims that are on the pads. When I took mine off, the difference was way beyond placebo effect Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted January 29, 2011 Share Posted January 29, 2011 He said he has doluck braided lines Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downimpact Posted January 30, 2011 Author Share Posted January 30, 2011 Thanks all, as above have braided lines, no shims - race pads squeal most of the time in normal road driving Will have another look today Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downimpact Posted January 30, 2011 Author Share Posted January 30, 2011 Had a look today there is still some flex in the master cylinder, that moves the brace back slightly. Is this normal or should it eliminate all movement? Concerned anymore tightening may damage the threads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted January 30, 2011 Share Posted January 30, 2011 The brace shouldn't be moving I would have thought. Surely it is mounted solid onto the strut? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downimpact Posted January 30, 2011 Author Share Posted January 30, 2011 The brace shouldn't be moving I would have thought. Surely it is mounted solid onto the strut? Yes it seems a solid mount right up until depressing the brake pedal, don't want to over tighten the bolts and hence break it. All bolts are tighten as far as possible and it's connected by all 3 positions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guigsy Posted January 30, 2011 Share Posted January 30, 2011 Maybe get us a pic. If you didn't have instructions maybe it's not mounted properly Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyT Posted January 30, 2011 Share Posted January 30, 2011 I believe the brakes are set to be a progressive feel, so a little pressure gets a little speed off and tramping on 'em gets the job done properly. I have all of those mods, fitted by professionals, and was equally underwhelmed by the difference in feel compared to say a brand new hire Mondeo say., but the performance has gone up. It just doesn't shout out "I'm better". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Posted January 30, 2011 Share Posted January 30, 2011 I believe the brakes are set to be a progressive feel, so a little pressure gets a little speed off and tramping on 'em gets the job done properly. I have all of those mods, fitted by professionals, and was equally underwhelmed by the difference in feel compared to say a brand new hire Mondeo say., but the performance has gone up. It just doesn't shout out "I'm better". Exactly how I feel with the UKs. They don't fill you full of confidence with their pottering bite, but if you stamp on them at 100+ you need to watch your teeth on the steering wheel lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AndyT Posted January 30, 2011 Share Posted January 30, 2011 Exactly how I feel with the UKs. They don't fill you full of confidence with their pottering bite, but if you stamp on them at 100+ you need to watch your teeth on the steering wheel lol. Not quite J Spec then. Lovely set of Kads on fleabay for 1500 earlier, I was tempted but they were 6 pot front and back and I wondered about the bias. Brake upgrades aren't bleedin' cheap are they?. Who the heck thought of putting small brakes on a 1.5 ton car because the speed was restricted? I could throttle that individual. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
downimpact Posted January 30, 2011 Author Share Posted January 30, 2011 It's fixed it exactly as per Mr Whiffin's car below. The only difference is I have an the extra black ring around the suspension strut, I've still used the washer as this seems necessary to level it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ark Posted January 31, 2011 Share Posted January 31, 2011 That's pretty much the same as I found - maybe it helps _slightly_ or maybe it doesn't. Either way, Cusco got £50, and I got something shiney under my bonnet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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