Wilwood brakes/ performance upgrade.

[stephen.]

Hello all, I am new to this forum. I have a 1966 2+2 on which I have done all the welding . painting and mechanical work including fitting a new clutch on my driveway .
I had fitted a set of Wilwood dynalite callipers and series 2 discs but couldnt get a 'decent' pedal with the engine running . After a bit of searching I found that the calipers were bending,. Up to 1/8 inch and I could force the pedal to the floor. The inside half of the calliper doesnt move due to the stiffness of the mounting bracket. The callipers have 1.75" pistons.
Has anyone else done this conversion and had the same problem?Meanwhile I have fitted the previous Girling Volvo calipers .
Steve

[andyp]

Steve

First off well done on getting this far.

I've got 4 pot Wilwoods on my 66 2+2 and I've had no problems. I'm not clear what is amiss on your set up though.

I notice that you had S2 discs fitted. These are thicker than the S1 and so perhaps aren't centred in the same plane ie in the middle of the caliper slot. Could this be forcing the mount out of line?

There shouldn't be any sideways force on the caliper unless the piston(s) on one side are seized or the caliper is not sitting parallel.

I'd start by looking at the caliper's postion in relation to the disc (no pads fitted and pistons fully in). Is the disc running in the middle of the slot? If not you will need to do some shimming (or get S1 discs if they are out any real amount).

If all looks well bleed the system, making sure that you do both sides of the caliper carefully - that's why they have 4 bleed nipples! If all the air is out and the pistons are free they should pull up evenly on both sides leaving the caliper just where it was when you first checked.

Good luck

Andy

[stephen.]

Hi Andy, I have done all that, lined them up on the centre of the disc and within 0.010" parallel to the disc. Even tried taking them off their bracket and just letting them clamp around the disc unrestrained just in case something was twisted. Just the same , they flexed outwards.
Do you have 1,3/4" pistons on yours or the smaller ( 1,3/8 ? ) ?
I have gone back to the Volvo callipers that I had on before. They provided a good upgrade with little work.

Speaking of fans, I have fitted one of a Vauxhall ( I think ) it is multi bladed and all the blade tips are joined by a ring which fits nicely inside the radiator cover. The motor is mounted on a bracket that holds it just below the plate on the picture frame. Works really well. I have never had a moments overheating with this set up. Best of all it cost me ?10 from the local scrap yard 6 years ago. I use the usual otter switch but have wired a relay into the circuit as the earlier 3.8 ones had. The current through the otter switch now only operates the relay. The fan current is via the relay. I used an old standard Lucas relay probably an old horn one.

[andyp]

Bizzare Steve. If they are flexing outwards it sounds like it must be that the outside pistons are moving and the inside ones aren't (or at least are moving to a smaller amount).

So why would that be? Either something is holding the pistons in place (tight in the bores/lopsided) or else they aren't getting pushed out as well as the outboard pistons (air that side of the caliper)

OR

The pistons are not lining up with their opposite number and are creating a twisting force.

I can't remember what size my pistons are but I'll check when Im next by the car and remember. 1 3/4" sounds about right though.

The Volvo conversion is a good solution. It's just annoying when you have something that should work and doesn't.

Andy

[stephen.]

Thanks Andy, yes the frustrating thing is having something that should work but it wont. If its half broken and wont work then thats it. As I said the volvo brakes are back on now 'till I sort out whats wrong with the Wilwood set up. I have never seen anyone else with either the Volvo or Wilwood brakes fitted.
Steve

[andyp]

Should you find yourself down this way Steve you are welcome to come and try the Wilwoods.

And bring your calipers with you. I'd love to see what they are playing at. I'd be tempted to hook one up to a master cylinder and see what happens on the bench.

Andy