Strange drag brake ?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,112
Likes: 62
From: Chicago IL
Strange drag brake ?
I recently installed a set of strange drag brakes on my 1999 Corvette. No matter how much I bleed them I still get a spongy pedal. I talked to a tech at the strange and he told me I must switch to a manual brake booster because that's what the brakes were designed for. He also stated that I probably don't have enough pressure and I should be at 1400 pounds. I will check within the next day or so when I get a brake pressure tester.
So here's the question. How will me putting a manual set up affect the car? How will it affect the ABS system? Will I have to delete anything else or am I opening up a can of worms here?
So here's the question. How will me putting a manual set up affect the car? How will it affect the ABS system? Will I have to delete anything else or am I opening up a can of worms here?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,112
Likes: 62
From: Chicago IL
Yea, I'm kinda at a standstill here. I've already cut off the factory caliper mounting points to install the strange kit. The strange kit also spaced the wheels out another 1/2 inch and I've already got $1200 worth or CCW wheel lips coming to change the wheel offset . I'm kinda committed to this. Looks like the strange manual master is $100 so I'm leaning that way. At this point what's another $100 out of curiosity? Strange Engineering is only about a 30 minute drive.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,112
Likes: 62
From: Chicago IL
Just checked the brake pressure. It's at 800psi and strange told me I should be around 1400psi. I see a manual booster in my future.
Last edited by junk c5; Apr 19, 2017 at 09:33 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 6,029
Likes: 85
From: Palm Coast, FL
I've been using the Strange Brakes now for a few years without any problems, so there is some hope. They work great on the street. I've even had to hit them pretty hard a few times. I wouldn't take them auto crossing of course but, zero issues for street use. You'll be happy with your decision. 
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,112
Likes: 62
From: Chicago IL
I've been using the Strange Brakes now for a few years without any problems, so there is some hope. They work great on the street. I've even had to hit them pretty hard a few times. I wouldn't take them auto crossing of course but, zero issues for street use. You'll be happy with your decision.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,112
Likes: 62
From: Chicago IL
Anybody else have Strange drag brakes on the rear of their car ? The guys at strange don't really have a solid direction for me to go in order to get my rear psi from 800 to over 1000psi. Seems like a 1.25 inch master bore and changing the pedal to a 1:6 ratio is what I have to work with.
Last edited by junk c5; May 1, 2017 at 02:56 PM.
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Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,112
Likes: 62
From: Chicago IL
Not yet, I've been talking back and forth with the guys from Strange all last week and they haven't come up with a guaranteed solution so they're kinda reluctant to recommend a particular course of action. At this point it seems like their only suggestions are a 1.25" manual bore master and 1:6 pedal ratio. I'm pretty much at the point that I've just gotta throw parts at it and see what happens . I kinda understand their position that they don't want to hear any bitching if their recommendations don't satisfy me. Thursday I'm taking a ride to Strange to get parts and either solving this issue or being forced into another direction.
I just missed a no prep streetcar race and I'm a little sad after hearing that I've got 90% of the entrants covered.
I just missed a no prep streetcar race and I'm a little sad after hearing that I've got 90% of the entrants covered.
Last edited by junk c5; May 1, 2017 at 11:26 PM.
Supporting Vendor
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,198
Likes: 119
From: tempe Arizona
The larger bore will lower the pressure. But the up side is that it will likely boost the volume- which is what you need.
My guess is that the rear calipers have in inordinately large bore and piston area. Nearly anything greater than 3sq" (or 4 x 1.375) will net the soft pedal. And boost the rear brake bias significantly vs the fronts. Do you know the spec?
From my experience these rear drag kits are nice when fit to a proper built car for drag racing but less effective and balanced when installed on street vehicles.
My guess is that the rear calipers have in inordinately large bore and piston area. Nearly anything greater than 3sq" (or 4 x 1.375) will net the soft pedal. And boost the rear brake bias significantly vs the fronts. Do you know the spec?
From my experience these rear drag kits are nice when fit to a proper built car for drag racing but less effective and balanced when installed on street vehicles.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,112
Likes: 62
From: Chicago IL
The larger bore will lower the pressure. But the up side is that it will likely boost the volume- which is what you need.
My guess is that the rear calipers have in inordinately large bore and piston area. Nearly anything greater than 3sq" (or 4 x 1.375) will net the soft pedal. And boost the rear brake bias significantly vs the fronts. Do you know the spec?
From my experience these rear drag kits are nice when fit to a proper built car for drag racing but less effective and balanced when installed on street vehicles.
My guess is that the rear calipers have in inordinately large bore and piston area. Nearly anything greater than 3sq" (or 4 x 1.375) will net the soft pedal. And boost the rear brake bias significantly vs the fronts. Do you know the spec?
From my experience these rear drag kits are nice when fit to a proper built car for drag racing but less effective and balanced when installed on street vehicles.
AMP Racing
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 10,754
Likes: 589
From: Washington TWP NJ
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2017 C5 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12
My current setup is Strange on the front. OEM on the rear.
Manual master. No booster.
Obviously, no ABS/TC.
My OEM pedal feel is nice and solid.
So, I can't offer any help on your particular setup. Just adding my experience with my system.
Good luck with your project!
Manual master. No booster.
Obviously, no ABS/TC.
My OEM pedal feel is nice and solid.
So, I can't offer any help on your particular setup. Just adding my experience with my system.
Good luck with your project!
Last edited by C5 Pete; May 2, 2017 at 12:06 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,112
Likes: 62
From: Chicago IL
Thx. Gives me hope that I can make this happen. 😎 My motivation behind this was to get the rear brakes to hold the car back so I can foot brake over 4000 RPMs to spool my turbo. The car stopped perfectly fine with room to spare at 141 mph with factory brakes.
Last edited by junk c5; May 2, 2017 at 12:46 PM.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,112
Likes: 62
From: Chicago IL
I'm so close now. I can foot brake the car to 3700 on the factory brakes. I really don't want to loosen the converter anymore. Having a 16" wheel really makes getting good brakes challenging. I can leave on about 2lbs of boost and 60ft in the 1.56 range. If I can leave at 5 lbs I think I can 60 foot enough to drop my ET a good amount.
AMP Racing
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 10,754
Likes: 589
From: Washington TWP NJ
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2017 C5 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12
I'm in the beginning stages of learning about turbo builds, as I hope to have a build coming up next winter.
What size are you using for your hotside? Will the turbo spool better with smaller diameter header primaries?
What size are you using for your hotside? Will the turbo spool better with smaller diameter header primaries?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,112
Likes: 62
From: Chicago IL
It's got 1 truck manifold and 1 factory ls1 manifold that go into a 2 1/2 inch crossover tube. I'm thinking I'm about as small as I want to go since my turbo will support well over 1k RWHP. Generally a smaller hot side will help spooling but I think I'm as small as I should go. If I stab the throttle from a stop, the boost starts coming in like a freight train after about 30 feet. I've got a boost leash to control the ramp rate.
AMP Racing
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 10,754
Likes: 589
From: Washington TWP NJ
2023 C5 of the Year Finalist - Modified
2017 C5 of Year Finalist
St. Jude Donor '09-'10-'11-'12
ok. Thanks What about timing and fueling at the RPMs you're working with?
Interesting conundrum you have. need more boost... get better brakes to hold it while building boost... more boost needs stronger brakes... stronger brakes allow for more boost... more boost needs better brakes... vicious cycle... lol
I hope you get it figured out... so the rest of us might be able to learn a bit about the intricacies of builds like these.
Interesting conundrum you have. need more boost... get better brakes to hold it while building boost... more boost needs stronger brakes... stronger brakes allow for more boost... more boost needs better brakes... vicious cycle... lol
I hope you get it figured out... so the rest of us might be able to learn a bit about the intricacies of builds like these.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 1,112
Likes: 62
From: Chicago IL
ok. Thanks What about timing and fueling at the RPMs you're working with?
Interesting conundrum you have. need more boost... get better brakes to hold it while building boost... more boost needs stronger brakes... stronger brakes allow for more boost... more boost needs better brakes... vicious cycle... lol
I hope you get it figured out... so the rest of us might be able to learn a bit about the intricacies of builds like these.
Interesting conundrum you have. need more boost... get better brakes to hold it while building boost... more boost needs stronger brakes... stronger brakes allow for more boost... more boost needs better brakes... vicious cycle... lol
I hope you get it figured out... so the rest of us might be able to learn a bit about the intricacies of builds like these.
I figure it like this. If I can 60ft a little better I can probably go 9.70's at 15lbs. The alternative is another tune for more boost and run it out the back door to go a few tenths quicker. My injectors are close to 92% duty cycle and my MAP is about maxed out too. Getting the car tuned for 5 more lbs of boost may run close to $1800 . Lol. It never ends.
Last edited by junk c5; May 2, 2017 at 03:13 PM.