Pads and MC

[gridgway]

My brakes seem to work, but they are rock solid and don't inspire confidence. I know there's no servo, but I am very used to driving without a servo.

I can't tell what the pad material is and I don't know what m/c is in there. I suspect 19mm.

Q1 - is it obvious what size the MC is? Or if not how do you tell? (is that two, now three questions?)
Q4 - what are people's fav pads? Want some decent bite from cold and we might venture on to track.

Cheers
Graham

[Mr Pharmacist]

I got some porter field R4-S from pmb performance for my road legal race car. I'm pleased with them but might be worth getting some input from Moggy.

As for the MC - not sure if there is an easy way to tell. The 17 and 19mm certainly look very similar

[davep]

I second the Porterfield R4-S. The master cylinder size is cast into the body, but you need to pull it out of the pedal cluster to see it:

[gridgway]

I don't really want to pull the MC out to see what it is. Might a borescope camera get in there?

Also looking for UK suppliers of pads, does anyone in the UK supply the porterfield ones?

Graham

[Mr Pharmacist]

yes there is a UK website - they dont list them on there. I emailed them for a price but the price they quoted me was eye wateringly expensive, thats why i used PMB. Even after shipping and import duty they were way cheaper than getting them from the UK

http://www.porterfieldbrakes.co.uk/

Edit: Just checked the site - they do have on line prices now - £91 - £128 a pair depending on compound. $59 for the fronts and the same for the rears at PMB

[gridgway]

Wow, that's a lot for something that is £40 in the US. I guess that's just what happens. Tomorrow will be the best time to buy as the pound soars against the USD as we vote to stay in!

[middlefour1]

Try Green Stuff from EBC, used them for years and always been very happy with them and no they don't wear out discs at an alarming rate as some will suggest.

[gridgway]

I've never used EBC as they do have a very mixed reputation!

[camperco]

If all is well with the actual braking system they are still crap for hard driving. The main problem is tiny caliper pistons on tiny calipers that were carried over from the Type 3. We have a larger caliper solution pm me for pics 7 details.

[middlefour1]

I've never used EBC as they do have a very mixed reputation!

Says who?? In 20 years I have never had or heard of any problems so would be interested to know what they are??

[gridgway]

Says I! I have no direct experience (hence the use of the word reputation), but I have read mixed thoughts. Some good, some less so (dust and overheating). YMMV!
Graham

[gridgway]

the tiny pistons would explain the rock hard pedal especially if the MC piston size has been increased.
That wouldn't surprise me as there are a few questionable mods on my 914 (including the aftermarket rear arb which I have just put in the bin!

The pads a brand-spanking new, so I will probably get some mileage on them to see what happens before upgrading. But upgrade I expect I shall!

If all is well with the actual braking system they are still crap for hard driving. The main problem is tiny caliper pistons on tiny calipers that were carried over from the Type 3. We have a larger caliper solution pm me for pics 7 details.

[middlefour1]

Says I! I have no direct experience (hence the use of the word reputation), but I have read mixed thoughts. Some good, some less so (dust and overheating). YMMV!
Graham

One of the advantages of Green Stuff pads is there is no dust problem at all, as for overheating never had a problem at all on any of the vehicles I have had them on.

[davep]

I don't really want to pull the MC out to see what it is. Might a borescope camera get in there?

No, there is no room to fit a camera in there.
Just remove the two nuts holding the MC to the pedal cluster, and pull it out to expose the numbers. There should be enough slack to not have to disconnect anything else. IIRC the numbers are on the bottom, and should be visible when pulled back; don't expect to find a 20 in there though.

[gridgway]

Very happy to stand corrected, I will look at putting a set in
[quote="middlefour1]
One of the advantages of Green Stuff pads is there is no dust problem at all, as for overheating never had a problem at all on any of the vehicles I have had them on.[/quote]