Front brake caliper pressure

[Argess]

Yes Patrick, your braking system is much envied by those of us with a stock system, yet I feel bad for you as you're not getting the full Cobra experience.

Seriously, I don't even think those options were available when I ordered my kit back in 93, and even if they were I wouldn't have realized that I might need them. But for me, all is not lost because I enjoy tinkering and modifying my car more than driving it. In fact, most of my driving has been test runs... well a significant percentage at any rate. But that's probably just me.

[Grubby]

I have owned an early ERA with stock brakes and a late one with the optional front brakes and ERA rear.

They both had similar brake feel and effort. The optional brakes could take more high speed stops before brake fade.

John

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Argess

... yet I feel bad for you as you're not getting the full Cobra experience.

I think I could achieve that by putting some grease on my brake rotors, loosening the hose clamps ever so slightly on the fuel lines and radiator hoses to induce a periodic fuel drip and coolant steam leak, and maybe lightly wiggling a plug wire or two so they have an intermittent connection when hot. Oh, and of course wiggle loose the wires on the fans so they only operate sporadically and the car overheats in traffic.

[Argess]

No, no, no; not talking about neglect requiring maintenance. It's about modifying to make things better.. and doing it yourself because either ERA didn't offer the upgraded system, or it wasn't chosen as the benefits weren't apparent to me as I had never driven one stock, or at all for that matter. It's very satisfying to improve the car, especially when it was well designed from the start. (a compliment to Bob P. here).

Back to the brakes. Maybe I can lock the wheels, but it doesn't feel like I should. Back in the day ERA recommended DOT 5 which I still use. So instead of a rock hard pedal, I get one that feels like if I press harder I'm bending something. It's just that DOT 5 is slightly compressible. No air in the system either. But it's a weird feeling that's hard to get used to.

They no longer recommend it, but I will say I havn't had any seal problems with it.

There was a thread, about 10 years ago or more, where the OP was worried because one front wheel locked before the other. So he could lock the wheels, but I'm not sure what braking system he had. I was surprised about his problem though.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Argess

Back in the day ERA recommended DOT 5 which I still use...

Jeez, are you sure about that?

[Argess]

Originally Posted by patrickt

Jeez, are you sure about that?

Yes. Here's a scan from the manual I got in 1993 when I placed my order:



Here's a scan from a newer manual I got a year or so later after I had already added DOT5:

[patrickt]

Well, dang. They likely did not change the brake calipers and master cylinders in between those two manuals.