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Brake pads age / lack of feel
se7ensport - 9/7/12 at 06:17 PM

I put some Wilwood Powerlites with smart pads on my kit about 4 years ago, since then I have only done a few hundred with the car being off the road for the last 18mths with an engine change.

I took the car out last night and it just doesn't have the feel that the brakes used to have; they used to stand the car on it's nose, it doesn't any more (it will still lock the wheels but initial bite is lacking), it has new master cylinders and fluid and pistons move smoothly with a firm brake pedal.

Can / do brake pads go off with age?

britishtrident - 9/7/12 at 06:46 PM

What changes did you make to the master cylinders ?

steve m - 9/7/12 at 06:47 PM

Every time i drive my 7, after a layover, the bakes feel odd, and i put it down to driving my Mondeo with servoed brakes all the time
so my 7 feels so different,

also brakes do need to be clean and dust free, etc,

I bet if you did a few more miles and used the brakes, they would come back to your expectations

Steve

se7ensport - 9/7/12 at 07:20 PM

quote:
Originally posted by britishtrident
What changes did you make to the master cylinders ?


The old ones had started to leak from being stood up and rusting near the seals, I have replaced with like for like sizing; 0.75 rear and 0.625 front.

se7ensport - 9/7/12 at 07:23 PM

quote:
Originally posted by steve m
Every time i drive my 7, after a layover, the bakes feel odd, and i put it down to driving my Mondeo with servoed brakes all the time
so my 7 feels so different,

also brakes do need to be clean and dust free, etc,

I bet if you did a few more miles and used the brakes, they would come back to your expectations

Steve


I know what you mean, but these just don't make the front dip and bite like they used to. Will give them a few more miles, but also plan to pick up some better spec ones shortly.

rusty nuts - 9/7/12 at 07:43 PM

Could be a build up of rust on the edges of the pads where they locate in the caliper , take them out , clean and lubricate the backs ,top and bottom edges of the metal section of the pad before refitting