manual brakes.. who has them?
03-03-2009, 09:53 AM
#1
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: cali
Posts: 168
manual brakes.. who has them?
I currently have power drum brakes... well they arent going to cut it anymore and i need to upgrade to disc. So my question is: who is running non power disc brakes and how do you like them?? do you wish you ran power? how are they compare to manual drum? Im leaning towards non-power because i just installed a supercharger and im worried about vacuum being an issue. I have a pretty radical cam so i was already running into vac. problems. I know there are vac. canisters out there, but under my hood already has enough stuff. Thanks everyone!
03-03-2009, 10:34 AM
#4
6th Gear Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Cork, Ireland
Posts: 6,417
i had horrible tiny non power assisted drum brakes. upgraded to manual disc (CSRP). difference is like day and night. no idea how much 'better' power assisted brakes would be but don't feel any need to find out.
03-03-2009, 11:16 AM
#5
6th Gear Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Elk Grove, CA
Posts: 5,896
I upgraded to the OE KH-style manual discs from CSRP last year after 7 years of driving around with manual drums every day. I wasn't sure about the lack of power assist on disc brakes, but my cam isn't very vacuum-friendly, so I scratched the booster and figured I'd add one later (with a vacuum canister) if I felt the need.
Almost a year later, and I'm still running on manual discs
If anything, I think pedal effort has decreased slightly, while pedal travel has increased very slightly. This probably has to do with the fact that the 4-piston KH calipers have a huge piston surface area. With the old drums, I used to have to stand on the brakes to get the car to stop, and there wasn't much pressure difference between stopping and locking up the brakes. Keeping it stopped on a steep hill required a death grip on the steering wheel. With the discs, coming to a stop slowly requires less effort and is much more controllable. If you want to stop slowly, light pressure on the pedal. If you want to stop fast, increase pressure.
My recommendation, get a manual setup and convert later if you want to. IMO, it's not needed on a street car as long as you have a healthy right leg.
Almost a year later, and I'm still running on manual discs
If anything, I think pedal effort has decreased slightly, while pedal travel has increased very slightly. This probably has to do with the fact that the 4-piston KH calipers have a huge piston surface area. With the old drums, I used to have to stand on the brakes to get the car to stop, and there wasn't much pressure difference between stopping and locking up the brakes. Keeping it stopped on a steep hill required a death grip on the steering wheel. With the discs, coming to a stop slowly requires less effort and is much more controllable. If you want to stop slowly, light pressure on the pedal. If you want to stop fast, increase pressure.My recommendation, get a manual setup and convert later if you want to. IMO, it's not needed on a street car as long as you have a healthy right leg.
03-03-2009, 11:26 AM
#6
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Georgia
Posts: 193
I am still driving around with the old manual drum and I have the CSRP kit sitting in the shop. I am not installing them until my personal business does better. That way I can sell them if I need the money. Someday, I will be able to stop. Until then, I don't tailgate, much.
03-03-2009, 11:38 AM
#7
2nd Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: cali
Posts: 168
the manual csrp brakes is the route i plan on taking... it sounds like its really no big deal power or not. I have a stick so i really dont want to modify my brake pedal or swap it out for a new one either.
anybody else please chime in.. i plan on buying them in a few weeks.
anybody else please chime in.. i plan on buying them in a few weeks.
