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alfafan · Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2004 2:23 pm Post subject: Brake pads - What are the best?

I have a 1991 33 1.5 with carbs.
I´m going to replace the front pads (the disks are almost new - Solid disks), because when you drive it, to get the car stoped the pads must be hot. When they are cold and you have to brake hard, the back wheels lock and the front dont stop... Shocked

I think they are very hard...
So, what do you recomend?
I must say that this is my wife´s car, so she doesn´t drive it hard as me...

Regards

Carlos Oliveira

gritsop · Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2004 3:15 pm Post subject:

Hi,

It is strange that your back wheels lock - they shouldn't. The rear brake pressure valve has this very aim:not to lock the wheels. Maybe you should have a look to the valve.

About the pads - I use the ATE pads along with the ATE powerdisk disks. I'm very satisfied since they operate more than good when cold for the first few hundred meters and when they obtain the correct temperature the feel fine!

Hope this helps.

Regards,
_________________
Thanassis Gritsopoulos
1991 Alfa 33 1.4 IE
2001 Alfa 147 1.6 Distinctive

http://www.alfa-restoration.co.uk
Parts Shop: www.alfa-restoration.co.uk/shop

alfafan · Posted: Wed Jul 14, 2004 3:55 pm Post subject:

It´s not the rear valve...
I checked all system, and everything is fine...
It´s the pad...
They are bad quality. They costed me 19 euros 2 month ago. I asked if they were ok, and the guy told me they were...
But they are not, they are garbage... Sad

When they heat, the car brakes just fine...

Regards

Carlos Oliveira

Chris Notsis · Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 4:34 am Post subject: Locking rear brakes

If the brake proportioning valve and its assembly are ok, then check using a static weight attached to the hook to the left (from the rear) of the assembly. Attach a 6kg weight, after loosening the hook, then re-tighten. As well, the rear circuit of the master cylinder may have a problem, such as a hardened or damaged seal. This can only be checked by dismantling the unit, obviously.

Consider also bleeding the brake lines, replacing all the fluid.
_________________
Chris Notsis

alfafan · Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2004 9:34 am Post subject: Re: Locking rear brakes

Chris Notsis · Posted: Fri Jul 16, 2004 7:14 am Post subject: pads etc

Thanks Carlos.

I obviously missed something. I agree with you - the pads are the problem. All too often I have to deal with poor materials being used on things like brake pads and clutches. Here in Australia, we get a lot of parts being sourced from Indonesia and China. ALthough most are produced for companies like PBR and Repco, there is real inconsistency between material quality used on different models of the same manufacturer, eg Alfa 33 and 75. It really does not pay to buy cheap, although this is not always true! - very frustrating. Recently, I fitted Bendix pads to a large local Ford that the customer provided. The noise from these was amazing! I replaced them with pads from another source (at half the price) and the noise was gone - and the brake efficiency increased. So much for these particular Bendix.

Cheers.
_________________
Chris Notsis

GaryUK · Guest

With the solid disc I would reccomend a higher temp pad as the discs will overheat quicker and hold the heat for longer than the vented discs. Obviously not as higher temp pads as you currently have!