Reply to "Panic Braking"

THe basic problem with the factory non-adjustable brake proportioning valve is, it was designed to work with 185-70 x 15" belted bias front tires, and 205-70 x 15 rears. If you've changed ANYTHING- wheel size, tire width, brake pad compound etc, you are out of calibration of the stock system. Remove it. The part was apparently only added because Ford was panic-stricken at possible liability from selling high powered mid-engined cars to rookie drivers. Time has shown a proportioning valve of any kind is not needed short of pro racing or wholesale changes to the entire system.

A single locking caliper is often a stuck piston (or 2). There are rebuild kits for the calipers but they consist only of a square o-ring and a dust boot for each piston, and a stuck piston only need removal, scotch-brite polishing and careful reassembly. What happens is, owners simply will not change brake (or clutch) fluids yearly to get rid of absorbed water. Water plus heat from braking plus time generates varnish on everything, but the caliper pistons are moveable so they stick. Go to Mike Daily's giant website www.thepanteraplace.com for directions on doing this extremely messy but cheap cleanup. Incidently, the caliper pistons are chrome plated mild steel and eventually, the water will get under the plating and pit the piston. This then tears the seal, causing a leak. While a rebuild kit is cheap and has new seals, replacement pistons are completely unavailable. So the pitted piston tears the new seal too. CHANGE YOUR FLUIDS, PEOPLE!