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Date:         Thu, 11 Sep 2014 07:06:10 -0700
Reply-To:     mark drillock <mdrillock@COX.NET>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         mark drillock <mdrillock@COX.NET>
Subject:      Re: New brakes and pedal question
Comments: To: Harry Hoffman <hhoffman@IP-SOLUTIONS.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <ppFw1o00n08X5Fr01pG4nT>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=windows-1252; format=flowed

That explanation would make sense except that the so called "big brake" calipers are usually with smaller piston area than stock calipers, not larger. Stock are 60mm, the common kits are 57mm, others 60 and even 54.

What is bigger about the "big brakes" is the effective rotor diameter.

Mark

Harry Hoffman wrote: > Thanks for the thorough explanation, Dennis et al! > > I think we happened is that I wasn’t thinking about how things would work in enough detail before I wrote the list. > > The brakes work great and stopping power is perfect. I guess I’d thought that with new pads, and bled brakes there’d be less space in the system for the brake fluid to occupy and so less travel on the pedal while braking. Of course it’s now obvious that the increase in piston size would mean more space for the fluid to occupy. > > I’ll try to think it through in more detail next time but am very thankful for all of the folks who have so much knowledge to share on the list. The willingness to share is what makes this such a great community! > > Cheers, > Harry > > > On Sep 10, 2014, at 10:36 PM, Dennis Haynes <d23haynes57@hotmail.com> wrote: > >> As other have noted, the new calipers may have a larger bore which requires more volume and thus more pedal travel. However, the larger bore means more clamping force for a given pressure so while the pedal may travel further you will get more braking force for a given pedal pressure. This will be further enhanced by the larger rotor diameter and the larger brake pad surface. With disc brakes there should almost no piston travel so you should not really sense this difference? Also, thick pads will compress more than old worn thin ones. The pads also need to seat and bead to the rotors before maximum brake action is obtained. >> >> If getting a lot of pedal travel you need to check the rear brakes and maybe bleed the system better. It is also possible that you have a bad master cylinder. There is a rear brake proportioning valve (right side frame near fuel tank) that partly responds to van tilt. They do go bad and a soft pedal can be the result. Testing with a brake pressure test gauge is in order. >> >> Dennis >> >


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