Brake line size

[Honest Ernie]

Hello everyone. Build #10314 up here in Canada.

Could some one please let me know what size of brake line they are running. The reason I ask is, I cannot get the brakes to lock up what so ever. Have blead the brakes thoroughly and have a firm brake pedal. The car does stop hard in a very short distance, but just can't get them to lock up. I am running 3/16 brake lines with Wilwood cylinders. Should I be upgrading to 1/4 brake lines? Don't know what else to look at.

[rickshank]

3/16 is the standard size, boosted or not. What size MC?

[Mike.Bray]

3/16 or AN -3 is all you need. Like Rick said have a look at your MC sizing. Factory Five supply "universal" 3/4" bore MCs which may or may not be optimum. I ended up with three different sizes.

[Sharris2]

If you have the wilwood peddle box; check the balance bar. There website shows how to do it

[Nigel Allen]

If you are running the standard brake calipers, install Hawk HP+ pads. It will fix the problem. I have the part numbers written down somewhere so let me know if you need them. The standard brake pads that come with a kit are pretty much useless unless you are using a power booster.

Setting the brake bias correctly is also very important.

Cheers,

Nige

[Honest Ernie]

Yes Nigel, if you could please send me that part number for the Hawk HP+ pads that would be very helpful.

Thank you
Ernie

[edwardb]

Don't mess with brake line size. As others have said. 3/16" is standard and does the job. Keep in mind these cars have wide and typically sticky tires that run at relatively low PSI. They're not going to skid on braking nearly as easily as maybe you're used to. Eventually you can probably make them skid, but overall braking (which you describe as stopping hard in a short distance) is most important. What brakes do you have?

[Higgybulin]

Hello everyone. Build #10314 up here in Canada.

Could some one please let me know what size of brake line they are running. The reason I ask is, I cannot get the brakes to lock up what so ever. Have blead the brakes thoroughly and have a firm brake pedal. The car does stop hard in a very short distance, but just can't get them to lock up. I am running 3/16 brake lines with Wilwood cylinders. Should I be upgrading to 1/4 brake lines? Don't know what else to look at.

Ernie, where are you located? As everyone else has said, 3/16 brake line is standard equipment. People have went to the Hawk pads for some stopping help, also did you vacuum bleed the system or give it the old pump, pump, hold?
Higgy

[PMD24]

When dealing with essentially no flow line size becomes irrelevant. Once the caliper cylinders move slightly there is no flow, so no friction losses through the lines. The fluid in the system is referred to as incompressible, and when pressure is applied the entire system sees the same psi in every direction.

[Jeff Kleiner]

Have you bedded the pads?

Jeff

[Honest Ernie]

Have you bedded the pads?

Jeff

Yes I have bedded the pads last year. I am using the OEM FFR brakes and pads.

[Nigel Allen]

If you are running the standard brake calipers, install Hawk HP+ pads. It will fix the problem. I have the part numbers written down somewhere so let me know if you need them. The standard brake pads that come with a kit are pretty much useless unless you are using a power booster.

Setting the brake bias correctly is also very important.

Cheers,

Nige

Hi Ernie,

I went looking in my spreadsheet for the Hawk HP+ pad part numbers, but it looks like i never recorded them. I still have the original boxes, which will have the numbers on them, so will go looking for them. In the mean time, is there anyone else here that might be able to enlighten us with the HP+ part numbers for the standard calipers?

Cheers,

Nige

[John Ibele]

Not quite what Nigel was looking for, but I have been using the Hawk HPS pads with perfectly satisfactory results. Should have less initial bite but also less noise and dust compared to the HP+. They modulate well and have plenty of stopping power for the street, IMO. This is with the standard kit brakes, the Wilwood pedal box, and bias bar set according to instructions.

I believe I stepped my rear cylinder from 3/4 down to 5/8, but I would have to verify that. I was prepared to move to HP+ pads if I didn't like the initial performance (rears first, all four if needed), but I haven't needed to go down that path.

Here are the HPS numbers for front and rear, FWIW:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/54848689299_06b6e6442e_b.jpg (https://flic.kr/p/2ryMSqT)
Untitled (https://flic.kr/p/2ryMSqT) by John Ibele (https://www.flickr.com/photos/familycobra/), on Flickr