Reply to "Brakes Upgrade"

Take a moment and visit Goran Malmbergs "Hemipanter" site and grab a copy of the latest Hot Rod magazine.

According to the HR article, his lightened Hemi powered Pantera will do 60 to 0 in 98 feet. The accompanying photos clearly show stock Pantera rear calipers. Go to his website and you'll see that while he does use massive four piston calipers in the front of the Hemipanter, he says "The right pads makes the original Pantera Girling calipers more than enough for any street Pantera. The only problem is that they are heavy. Two important brake factors is, ALLWAYS a yearly change of brake fluid and the right pads". He further comments on front-rear balance, tires and more.

So the trick to stopping quick is evidently the pads and the balance. Massive racing brakes allow repeated heavy use before they get too hot and fade, stock discs just get there faster. In fact, he says the stock solid discs will offer the shortest stopping distances, because they can be clamped the hardest. How do you use your car?

The general consensus among most folks running stock brakes is the stock replacement Porterfield R4S pads answer the pad issue, which leaves the front rear balance thing. A popular idea is to delete the stock proportioning valve and very often, install a non-stock dual reservoir master. GM versions are popular, my car came to me with one. I'm not so sure that's the optimal arrangement. Goran uses side by side masters and a balance bar. That makes sense to me, no loss of pedal effort through a proportioning valve designed to limit pressure.

I have the GM master, stock calipers with R4S's and have so far resisted removing my proportioning valve, but I know that the quantity of brake dust that piles up on my rear wheels vs that on the fronts is telling me something.

I wonder just how much pedal effort there is with a balance bar set up and no booster. Has anyone been there? Is it bearable on the street and maybe some light track use (20 minute sessions) with a car 1000 lbs heavier than the Hemipanter?