embarrassed I took it to the shop

[rcrahn]

I went back and looked over your build thread. On post 55 I noted some things..may not add up to anything

1. hubs were painted. In the picture the rotor faces look like they have smudge marks and are dirty. Were they scuffed and cleaned thoroughly with brake cleaner before installation?
2. The new SS brake hoses - what about the adapter 3/16 to 1/4? Normally adpaters on brake hoses are not required. Makes me wonder if it is the right hose. Did the hose come with the kit purchased from CPP?

About burnishing - it's very important. My son drives a vette and Spec E30 BMW in NASA so we change brake components frequently. The bedding in of pads is a deliberate process and takes time. It's critical for a track car (and a street vehicle as well) to heat cycle them to build up a layer of sacrificial material.
I remember one weekend we took his vette to Thunderhill with newly installed Raybestos racing pads. North on 5 in the middle of nowhere he took it up to nearly 100 (because these pads are racing pads) and braked hard to around 30. Repeated this 5-8 times and continued on to allow cooling. BTW - when brakes are super hot coming off the track it's advised never to set the parking brake.
Sorry to digress....

[JointTech]

thanks for checking my build thread!
I did paint the new rotors. I tried not to get anything on the contact surface.
I DID NOT clean the rotors...
I got the braided hoses from Scotts hotrod. Not sure why they didnt have the different ends included. And for that matter why GM thought 2 different sizes was a good idea.

I did some 40-0 stops on the way back to the shop today. The brakes actually feel better. Or maybe its placebo. I still think I have to push to hard to hold it at a light and hard stop but its not as bad as it was when I was first testing in the parking lot.
Maybe some more burnishing and ill be good?

Last thing... Ive been working with Justin over at Scotts. He had one other idea today. Theres a thing called a residual pressure valve that holds the rear shoes against the drum.

I specifically told CPP I had disc/drum NOT 4discs and they said this is the correct setup for that. But Im on hold now with them to find out if it has that valve.

Well CPP just said that valve is built into my Prop valve.
They said I should adjust the rear shoes.
The valve tells 500psi to go to the rears and then 1200psi to the fronts. If the rears never get close to locking the fronts sure arent going to.

So looks like im going to rebuild the whole rear brake system this weekend.

Im also going to take another look at the brake pedal pushrod.

Maybe im just used to driving my 2000 pound Scion with ABS and 4 wheel discs and this monster just isnt ever going to stop that well.

[JointTech]

oh and for the record Brake Masters is who I took it to. They were supposed to charge me $70 to look at it.
When I got there today he just tossed me the keys, no charge.
So Ill shutup about the spanglish. Maybe not "Masters" of brakes but at least honest. hehehe

[afmdmc]

did you happen to change the bore size of the M/C, this can have a big effect peddle pressure.

good luck.

[Ackattack]

I have nearly the same issue with my '68. The brakes just don't stop the way they should. I have POL dual piston calipers on the front and LT1 camaro calipers on the back.

Initially I had a CPP distribution block....replaced that with just a prop valve on the rear line. I've had like 3 MCs on it (stock 72, stock drum/drum mc, and no I'm running a 72 corvette manual mc) trying to change the bore size to get it worked out. I've changed front pads trying to burniish them in. New brake booster. Bled and bled and bled.

Let us know if/when you figure out your issue!

[JointTech]

well i went ahead and did the rear brakes. new hardware kit, shoes and wheel cylinders.
tightened up the E-brake.
ebrake will hold the truck solid in drive and just barely in reverse. but does hold.
did some more brake stomping around the parking lot.
while it doesnt lockup I feel like after putting a few miles on them it'll be fine.