corvette brakes
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 6,134
Likes: 46
From: Raleigh North Carolina
if anyone hasn't noticed there seems to be a few brake threads on the forum now,same old problems and questions. after reading through these threads i have come to the conclusion (some) people just don't understand how a brake system works. as mentioned above a competent person who understands what each component does and how all the components work together seem to have fewer (no) problems than folks who know how to bleed brakes but really don't understand the ins and outs of what they are actually trying to acomplish.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 87,334
Likes: 1,589
From: Western NY
Not really a good comparison, as ALL of the '67 Camaros' front calipers were the 4 piston design. FWIW, my father had on of these Camaros, and it was his year round, DD, for 3 years. He never had a brake problem, but on the other hand, we didn't also have a '67 'Vette at the time, to use for comparison purposes.....
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 16,978
Likes: 7
From: In Dreams There Is Truth Ohio
I doubt very much if both the Corvette and Camaro brakes would be functional after sitting for 30 years....
I do know my 68 brakes were fine sitting for 15 years...
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 16,978
Likes: 7
From: In Dreams There Is Truth Ohio
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 16,978
Likes: 7
From: In Dreams There Is Truth Ohio
Maybe those people should have a competent person rebuild their brake system...if they are having problems, then they don't know what they are doing...right? Right...I knew you would agree...
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 3,593
Likes: 103
From: Southern Indiana
Sorry, have to disagree with you, and reading what you wrote, makes me believe you don't know anything about the brake system...just sayin' Really, then how did I replace all 4 calipers and pads then bleed them and have brakes if I don't know anything about brakes? Who made you a brake expert?
I doubt very much if both the Corvette and Camaro brakes would be functional after sitting for 30 years.... Sorry but I 100% guarantee the Camaro would work before the vettes brakes would. I pulled a 71 442 w-30 out of a field that sit for exactly 22 years and never touched the brakes and they worked perfect. My vette sat for exactly 1 month this winter and a caliper started leaking all over the garage floor.
I do know my 68 brakes were fine sitting for 15 years...
I doubt very much if both the Corvette and Camaro brakes would be functional after sitting for 30 years.... Sorry but I 100% guarantee the Camaro would work before the vettes brakes would. I pulled a 71 442 w-30 out of a field that sit for exactly 22 years and never touched the brakes and they worked perfect. My vette sat for exactly 1 month this winter and a caliper started leaking all over the garage floor.
I do know my 68 brakes were fine sitting for 15 years...
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,879
Likes: 38
From: Los Gatos CA
Call me incompetent if you wish, but that's my experience.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvette Engines RANKED by Peak Torque (70+ Years of Muscle!)
Joe Kucinski
Corvette ZR1X Will Be Pacing the Indy 500, And Could Probably Race, Too!
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Corvettes Coming to Mecum Indy 2026!
Brett Foote
Top 10 C9 Corvette MUST-HAVES to Fix These C8 Generation Flaws!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Revolutionary 'Corvette Firsts' Most People Don't Know
Joe Kucinski
5 Reasons to Upgrade to an LS6-Powered Corvette; 5 Reasons to Stay LT2
Michael S. Palmer
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 16,978
Likes: 7
From: In Dreams There Is Truth Ohio
Actually, I don't agree. I have done many brake jobs, on 60's cars up to modern cars. I have done brake jobs on 3 C3's. The only way I could get a pedal was with a Motive Bleeder. My point is, brakes should be easy and these brakes can be a pain to get a firm pedal.
Call me incompetent if you wish, but that's my experience.
Call me incompetent if you wish, but that's my experience.
Never used any of the bleeders...just stepped on the pedal, got the fluid to move, used a dead blow hammer to whack the caliper two three times to dislodge any air bubbles...simple, no hassle...and brakes are tighter than a....um...better not say....
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 16,978
Likes: 7
From: In Dreams There Is Truth Ohio
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 16,978
Likes: 7
From: In Dreams There Is Truth Ohio
Actually, I don't agree. I have done many brake jobs, on 60's cars up to modern cars. I have done brake jobs on 3 C3's. The only way I could get a pedal was with a Motive Bleeder. My point is, brakes should be easy and these brakes can be a pain to get a firm pedal.
Call me incompetent if you wish, but that's my experience.
Call me incompetent if you wish, but that's my experience.
Drifting
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 1,372
Likes: 4
From: Springfield VA
Not only this but there are tools to clamp the brake hose so you can trace where the problem is. If you clamp and hose and still have a soft pedal move to another hose till the pedal gets firm.
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 1,879
Likes: 38
From: Los Gatos CA
I understand the problem. I have bled lotsa brakes. I tried gravity bleeding, 2 person bleeding, who knows what else. Other cars have been a snap. Heck, I gravity bled the front calipers on my 200K mile Tundra in just a few minutes by myself. Gravity bleeding did not work on 3 C3's. The Motive Bleeder finally gave me pedal. That was years ago and they are still fine. My point is these brakes are the only ones I have had a problem with. And there are many brake bleeding issue posts. Others can accept that or not. Just my experience...
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 7,445
Likes: 971
From: Tennessee/Rhode Island
If your having that much trouble bleeding the brakes, something else is wrong in the system. I have bled the brakes on my C3 probably 6-7 times in 30 years, changing the fluid every 3-4 years and replacing the OEM cailpers in 1985 with SS ones with regular lip sealed ones, and I have never had an issue-simple 2 person job, no different than the many other standard type brakes that i have bleed on other cars in the same time period!
Again, if bleeding the brakes is requiring a lot of effort on a C3, than the system is compromised some where in the system or the operator is doing something wrong!
Again, if bleeding the brakes is requiring a lot of effort on a C3, than the system is compromised some where in the system or the operator is doing something wrong!
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,164
Likes: 7
From: Beringen
Can I join in with a question ?
I have put my car together after a full body off. Original calipers were badly rusted and I order a new (not rebuilt) SS sleeved from VBP.
First testdrive done yesterday and the brake light seems to come on when applying the brakes. Checked for leaks but found none. Parking brake switch seems to be working correctly. I guess it's due to the so called prop. valve (messing block). Pumped the pedal a dozen times very hard. Will have to testdrive it once more to see if it has disappeared.
If not, what is the next step.
I have put my car together after a full body off. Original calipers were badly rusted and I order a new (not rebuilt) SS sleeved from VBP.
First testdrive done yesterday and the brake light seems to come on when applying the brakes. Checked for leaks but found none. Parking brake switch seems to be working correctly. I guess it's due to the so called prop. valve (messing block). Pumped the pedal a dozen times very hard. Will have to testdrive it once more to see if it has disappeared.
If not, what is the next step.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 16,978
Likes: 7
From: In Dreams There Is Truth Ohio
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 16,978
Likes: 7
From: In Dreams There Is Truth Ohio
Pro
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 721
Likes: 105
From: hernando fl
the two biggest problems i have seen with brake bleeding.
1 going to great lengths to "bench bleed" a master cyl. install on it the car and not bleed the lines going the master cyl.
2 "pumping" the brake pedal. slow and steady one stroke at a time is the way to go.all pumping the pedal gets you is a bazillion tiny bubbles instead of a few big ones.the harder and faster you pump the worse things get.
1 going to great lengths to "bench bleed" a master cyl. install on it the car and not bleed the lines going the master cyl.
2 "pumping" the brake pedal. slow and steady one stroke at a time is the way to go.all pumping the pedal gets you is a bazillion tiny bubbles instead of a few big ones.the harder and faster you pump the worse things get.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 6,134
Likes: 46
From: Raleigh North Carolina
Actually, I don't agree. I have done many brake jobs, on 60's cars up to modern cars. I have done brake jobs on 3 C3's. The only way I could get a pedal was with a Motive Bleeder. My point is, brakes should be easy and these brakes can be a pain to get a firm pedal.
Call me incompetent if you wish, but that's my experience.
Call me incompetent if you wish, but that's my experience.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 6,134
Likes: 46
From: Raleigh North Carolina
Unfortunately... this falls on deaf ears.
I gave up the crusade.