Power brake conversion: Necessary??
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,877
Likes: 13
From: Doha
St. Jude Donor '08
I have a '73 small block with manual brakes. The brakes are stock except for Hawk HPS pads. The car stops fine but takes a lot more pedal pressure. As Gordon mentioned above when autocrossing one of these you will definitely need to adjust your driving style. Hertz found this out very quickly when they were renting Mustang GT-350's back in the 60's... manual disc's up front and drums in the rear.
A few years back I was caravaning with our club to a show in Myrtle Beach. I like to stay in the back for personal reasons so I just followed behind. Very quickly I realized that with all of the C-5's and C-4's (and their much more efficient brakes) in front of me, I had to be very observant when they would stop. After diving for the side of the road a few times to avoid the car in front of me, I got much better at watching the cars up front to give me a few more seconds of braking time.
My point is that with so many vehicles on the road today equipped with power brakes, driving in traffic with manual disc brakes requires an adjustment to your driving style. This is particularly so if you don't drive them daily.
Good luck... GUSTO
A few years back I was caravaning with our club to a show in Myrtle Beach. I like to stay in the back for personal reasons so I just followed behind. Very quickly I realized that with all of the C-5's and C-4's (and their much more efficient brakes) in front of me, I had to be very observant when they would stop. After diving for the side of the road a few times to avoid the car in front of me, I got much better at watching the cars up front to give me a few more seconds of braking time.
My point is that with so many vehicles on the road today equipped with power brakes, driving in traffic with manual disc brakes requires an adjustment to your driving style. This is particularly so if you don't drive them daily.
Good luck... GUSTO
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,608
Likes: 3
From: TEXAS - you mean there are other states?
HamadUP..... what do you mean "When someone else drives my car".....
Hmmm - so I am going towards power brakes from manual and knowing my cam affects the vaccuum...... will I have a problem?
I recall a 'feeling' when I stopped very quickly (years ago), my power steering would fade for a split second due to low idle, but that 'effect' would not happen with power brakes would it?
Hmmm - so I am going towards power brakes from manual and knowing my cam affects the vaccuum...... will I have a problem?
I recall a 'feeling' when I stopped very quickly (years ago), my power steering would fade for a split second due to low idle, but that 'effect' would not happen with power brakes would it?
