09-12-2005, 02:52 AM
.RJ Wrote:Installing discs wont increase the amount of stopping power. You can still get just as much brake torque on drums with a good set of shoes.
Discs have plenty of advantages sure, but if you're looking at ultimate stopping distances, its not one of them.
Going to a bigger front brake setup, as long as the master cylinder and proportioning valve are properly sized will not change the brake bias what so ever.
Master cylinder has no affect on brake bias. Proportioning valves obviously do, but its fairly complex how they do because of the different step point and ratios.
.RJ Wrote:You should know better than this - you cant reduce weight transfer. Its a function of weight distribution and Cg, and its always the same.
Like has already been pointed out, lowering your car changes the center of gravity. Why else do people lower the car? To lower the CG of course. Again, as has already been stated, you where probably thinking that evan was mistakingly assuming that roll/squat/dive causes weight transfer (which is absolutly incorrect, other then the very very slight change in CG caused by roll, squat, and dive).
.RJ Wrote:going to an 11" setup infers you swap the master and prop valve because if you don't... well your pedal will feel like poo-poo.
suppose i should have qualified this more for evan's nitpicking hatred:
11" front brakes + appropriate mc and prop valve + drums > stock fronts + rear discs
The pedal will be affected mainly from a change in caliper piston diameter. A larger diameter piston will create more force for a given line pressure, but the brake pedal has to be pushed further to achieve the same line pressure because more fluid has to be displaced. The MC and calipers are functionally opposite of each other. You can increase the diameter of the piston in the MC to lessen the pedal throw, which will also decrease the pedal pressure. If you take from one you gotta give from the other.
The factors that have the largest effect on weight transfer are rate of ÔÇôacceleration (deceleration), center of gravity height, and the length of your wheelbase. Increasing the rate of deceleration and increasing the CG height both increase forward weight transfer. Increasing the length of the wheelbase decreases it. Many aftermarket brake kits increase stoping distances because they give to much front bias. A larger diameter rotor will most definatley increase brake torque and change brake bias. So will larger diameter caliper pistons. So will higher coefficient of friction pads in the front with crappy pads out back (alot of people do this).
A sort of wierd cause/effect thing that happens with when you make your brake system to front biased. With too much front bias you are hurting your stopping distances, basically lowering the rate of deceleration. This means there is less weight transfer up front and therefor less available traction. This further inscreases front bias. Just the opposite happens if your runnning a car with very sticky (ie race) tires. You can brake harder, causing more front weight transfer. This gives the front more traction.
-Mike