Pads and MC

[gridgway]

yes, good question, I've got the new pads in and bedded in, but frankly I am not impressed. The brakes do work and if you press hard enough you can lock the wheels, but they are not good enough for me. So I will be upgrading the front calipers to the BMW ones - getting a pair off Angus.

Graham

[smallspeed]

What BMW are they off Graham? A lot of the "young timer" cars have rubber seals around the sliders which can be replaced with bronze guides which give a huge improvement in feel and response.. Definitely worth getting a set and fitting them before you install the brakes if they're applicable

Ben

[gridgway]

good question Ben to which I don't know the answer!

[gridgway]

Here:
http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticle ... lipers.htm

320i ATE from 78-83. Although it is not universally liked...

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=261133

[Mr Pharmacist]

Interesting reading Graham. I was thinking about upgrading mine to BMW calipers. Might fully evaluate my stock brakes first to see how effective they are / aren't. Stage one will be bedding in the brake pads properly first. Once I renew my mot that is

[smallspeed]

E21..

Might be worth looking at the 323i as well as they may have had the same or even slightly larger calipers..
You can cross reference part numbers at realoem.com, but you'll need to select the "classic" catalogue first and let the page reload as anything that old is separate to the main etk now

These are fixed calipers so the bronze slider bushes I mentioned before are irrelevant

[gridgway]

Still not sure I'll do it as it sounds like just putting the bigger calipers on will give more front brake pressure with longer pedal movement which might not feel nice. I don't want to end up tale chasing!

[gridgway]

or maybe tail!

[Mr Pharmacist]

I might get my originals rebuilt first - £74 each plus vat and postage for the front calipers at classicbrake.co.uk

[camperco]

Graham re. rock hard pedal - I'll bet that if you still have standard 914 front calipers they are seized up and probably the pressure regulator valve (on the bulkhead) is too.

[gridgway]

I lost the rock hard pedal Angus. I rebuilt the front calipers and got the right size pads in and they have the 'proper' feel. They just don't give me enough confidence. It's more hope than confidence!

When fitting the BMW calipers, what does it do to the pedal feel?

Graham

[LMR]

Can can one determine if the pressure regulator valve is seized?

[gridgway]

If the regulator is not working it will not limit the pressure to the rear brakes, so under heavy braking, the rears will lock first (I think!).
Graham

[LMR]

So there is no way of bench testing it?

[gridgway]

Dunno, feels hard to me. You'd need some hydraulic pressure and two gauges or some other way of measuring the difference in pressure.

Or some much smarter way. Call for Kevin I reckon!

So there is no way of bench testing it?