new cobra owner question

cobracosta · #1 (**permalink**) 09-04-2002, 09:02 PM

wow I'm finally a cobra owner!!!!! But I was a bit blind when I bought this beast and it has a few problems. The first one I want to tackle is the brakes. First off the owner had no idea what kind of kit it was!?!?!?!? I think its a classic roadster.anyway...the master cylinder is mounted in the footwell right next to the headers. Its not boosted but one of the lines runs up the firewall and across to the passenger side front fender,here resides a vacumn boosted master cylinder.the line then runs to the left front brake and then to the right brake. Is this normal.The brakes are extremely weak.I'm thinking of running the brake line right out of the MC directly to the driver side caliper with a splitter there going across to the passenger side caliper. the lines right now are very close to the headers on both sides which doesnt seem too bright. I need to do something because I want to DRIVE THE BEAST!! Thanks for any and all help.

Steve R · #2 (**permalink**) 09-05-2002, 08:58 AM

First, let's I.D. your car. Post pictures of the overall car, engine compt, firewall, instrument panel, differential, front susp, and
finally the brake system components of which you speak. Maybe something is getting lost in the translation, I have never seen a
brake sys that fits your description.
Steven
CALLING ALL COBRA FORENSIC EXPERTS!...

JT · #3 (**permalink**) 09-05-2002, 11:24 PM

There's a few snakes running around down there-I'd suggest having some brethren stop in to see what you've got to work with, they can help you make a good plan of attack. House of Cobras is just up the highway from you as well. Best of luck. Help should be on the way. This is a good place to find it.

Excaliber · #4 (**permalink**) 09-06-2002, 01:17 PM

The brake line routing as you described does not sound right AT ALL. As far as close porximity to the headers, well, that happens a lot, not good, but not bad either.

You MUST have a "bias" valve of some kind? 60% pressure to front and 40% to back (or something like that)? I have a manual adjustment which is cool as I "adjust" it for different racing conditions. I use a heat shield between the headers and the master cylinder but don't worry about my brake lines (which are close to headers).

Ernie

Steve R · #5 (**permalink**) 09-06-2002, 07:25 PM

Ya have to participate if ya want us to help ya. How about some kinda
sign that yer still alive?

cobracosta · #6 (**permalink**) 09-07-2002, 03:57 PM

fTHANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR POSTS!! I had a few problems at work this week and havent been able to check my e-mails. I'm working on the pictures but my scanner is on the fritz. I just put an order in at finishline for a painless wireloom. I figure the brake lights and turn signals are going to need to work before I start driving it as well. Like I said this beast has issues.
On to the brakes. I was under the car this morning and there is nothing activating that second boosted mastercylinder. On the plus side the brake lines are not hooked up to it. the lines go in and out but are just hanging there.Its as if he was trying something that didnt work and just abandoned it. Even still, shouldnt the brake line be as short as possible? My neighbor was saying if you have longer lines the more brake fluid and the cooler the lines will be? I told him he was on drugs. I think I'm going to just take the booster out and reroute the lines.Does anyone see an advantage to hook up this second mastercylinder if its not activated? Is there such a thing as a boosted brake system such as this or was this guy an inventor? Thanks again I'm trying to get my scanner to work, it may be awhile! In the mean time I'm MR. ELECTRICIAN. thanks again for all the posts. Can't wait to be on the road. I am driving it but just around the neighborhood.

Ron61 · #7 (**permalink**) 09-07-2002, 04:51 PM

Cobracosta,

If you have a Classic Roadsters kit the doors will be quite different from the others. The brake line mess you have is something else that I haven't seen in any kit. Put some pictures out and I know someone in this club will be able to identify your setup if it isn't a one time owner modified thing.

Ron61
Ron Widener

Steve R · #8 (**permalink**) 09-07-2002, 10:48 PM

Cobracosta,
Glad to hear from ya. Use a friend's digital camera, then upload the pics to the photo gallery. If you have any questions on how to do that we'll help you. I want to see that brake setup.
Steven

cobracosta · #9 (**permalink**) 09-09-2002, 09:12 PM

I'll have to find someone with a digital camera

.I might not have the patience to wait for a camera though. I do not see a bias valve on the front brakes. the lines run straight from the MC to the calipers. there are connectors but they are just male and female connectors.I guess I can always take a picture of the second master cylinder after I take it out. Would a powerboosted MC help a brake system if it were just in line and not activated by the brake pedal?
doesnt seem right but what the he** do I know. STill waiting on the wiring from finishline

! Thanks for all the help I'm sure to be needing more.

Ron61 · #10 (**permalink**) 09-10-2002, 07:12 AM

Cobracosta,

I am not a brake specalist by any means but I just don't see how the setup you describe can work properly. Why would there be a power boos master cylender in the line after the first master cylinder and I don't know of any way it would work there properly. I think if this was my car I would be for pulling all of that setup out and installing everything new and doing it correctly. And yes, you should have some kind of proportoning valve as you want the front brakes to come in a little before the rears. You can either put in an adjustable one or get a fixed one that will work with your setup. What you want to use the car for will help you determine if you want to dial more brake from front to rear & etc.

Ron61
Ron Widener