Due to my recent brake/rotor/bearing escapade, I have two questions. During disassembly, (I did the rears first) I remember thinking "these pads are half gone anyway" as they were replaced by Porterfield R4-S pads. While bleeding the system after rebuilding the left rear caliper, I noticed the pedal never got firm (I used speed bleeders with thread sealer) after almost using all of the BIG bottle of Castrol LMA.
Oh well, fix that later.......on to the fronts.
I pull out the pads on the front, and they are almost like new? That "new look" bevel was even still present. The front and rear pads "look" to be installed at the same time, same make, same semi-mettalic compound, neither "cleaner" looking than the others. Having no prior experience with Pantera proportioning valves, can they be this out of whack to cause such un-even pad wear?
Oh well, install new slotted rotors and Porterfield pads....
I then changed the fluid in the front via speed bleeders, the pedal gets neither firmer or softer. I then hit the hid the road to "Bed in" the rotors. Out of the gate, this sucker had no brakes and a mushy pedal. During the procedure listed on this website http://www.zeckhausen.com/bedding_in_brakes.htm , through each cycle, the brakes improved. When things get hot, things get smelly and the porterfield make some scary noises going through the thermal cycles. By the end, I had a very quiet system with the windows down, even the wheel bearing little "ssqueek" gone, and even though the pedal is mushy, I can get all 4 wheels to lock up (previously this car NEVER locked even one), and the fronts lock first (proportioning valve ok?). Even with the BS mushy pedal, this car has NEVER stopped this good.
I'm thinking the shuttle valve gout "stuck" during the bleeding of the rears, what is the least painful way of getting it "un-stuck". I'm trying to avoid the "Now all I gotta do is cut the Beige wire, not the Ivory colored one" during bomb defusion scenario.
And lastly , if this stuff has to come out/apart to be corrected, what are the good "upgrade pieces", and what vendor has them, might as well do it while I'm there. Time for another vendor call (the bills can wait another month, and who says I have to eat anyway).
My Cat now has CLAWS!
Ron
#2492
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