Brake Balance

[SPW]

I have recently purchased my first seven - bog standard 1.6 Supersport - and find the rear brakes seem to lock up prematurely under hard braking. Is this normal or do I have a problem and if so any clues?

 

Thanks in anticipation

 

Steve

[greg]

Your probably not going fast enough - try going faster, braking hard and you should find they lock up later :-)

 

The above was a joke !

 

Seriously I found that compared to a "normal" car the sevens brakes where harder, but muh more powerfull. Its therefore easier to lock them at slow speeds, but they work great at higher speeds.

 

Could this be an explination (i.e your just not used to more powerfull brakes - appologies if that sounds assumptive and rude!)

 

Greg, Q 880 RAE (Green/Ali XF)

[Graham Perry]

SPW , look in the archive and you will see lots about this. Usual cures are softer front pads, or more perminantly a brake balance valve(about £150 fitted)or more powerful 4 pot front brakes (asuming you have the standard two pots). Some cars have this problem worse than others though

[David Hopkins]

Give John Freeth a call at Performance Braking 01600 713117 he will give you all the advice you need and supply any parts you require .

[SPW]

Thanks for the tips - looks like a balance valve is the way to go in the long term.

 

Greg - I know the feel of the brakes on a Caterham are very different to a standard road car but it is the balance between front and rear that is causing me concern, under hard braking at any speed the rears lock up much too early before the fronts seem to be working very hard.

 

Thanks

 

Steve