Another first DE - brake help

Speed Buggy · Speed Buggy's Garage

Aloha - I did my first DE Thursday. What a blast! I have a question about brake feel though. I couldn't get too close to the corners because my brakes didn't feel that strong. I changed out the fluid (Synpower) and bled them last weekend, several times around. I know my instructor wanted me to stay on the power longer but I still would stand on the brakes coming into a corner and they would feel mushy and I didn't feel too confident in their ability. Could this be old brake lines, or did I not do a good job of bleeding. The pads are > 70%. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
P.S. also still grinning. Boy was I exhausted last night.

Jim Richards · 06-18-2004, 09:26 AM

Did the brakes feel that way all day, Speed Buggy, or did they feel worse as the day went on?

Speed Buggy · Speed Buggy's Garage

I don't believe they were real strong to begin with. I don't know if they got worse throughout the day, or if I was pushing it more each session and noticed it more. This was my first session so I was probably paying more attention to the track to begin with and more on the car as the day went on.
Mike

Doug Steinel · Doug Steinel's Garage

How old are the rubber lines? If they are old they expand which can give the feeling of a mushy pedal. Also, did you pound the calipers with a rubber mallet vigorously when bleeding? You could have a few small air bubbles in the system.

Doug

Speed Buggy · Speed Buggy's Garage

Didn't "excersize" the calipers. I don't know how old the lines are. I will replace them. I can't imagine the PO did much in the way of maintenance now that I have been under the car. I will also bang the calipers while bleeding after the line replacement. Thank you.

Cheers, Mike

Wil Ferch · 06-18-2004, 09:38 AM

Stock pads at 70% ??
Try a performance pad like Porterfield or Pagid...
How is your braking style....hint..get on them rather hard after they first "bite-in"...then gradually let up until you come to the end of your braking zone before you turn-in. Most newbies "slide into" the brakes and brake harder-and-harder in the braking zone before they let up to turn-in. This style *really* tends to fade the brakes !!

---Wil

Speed Buggy · Speed Buggy's Garage

I will try different pads. My instructor took me for a ride in his M3 and showed me the difference between the way I applied the brakes on my first run and the way you describe. My second and subsequent (sp?) runs, I was getting the head nod at each corner when I hit the brakes. Obviously on my first track day I was not great at it, but my instructor said the brake application was correct, (or beginning to be). Thank you
Cheers, Mike

toolman · toolman's Garage

Mike, Let me know if you need help doing those brakes, I did mine last fall and they turned ouut great. Plus it would be a good reason to take the 911 for a ride.

porschenut · 06-18-2004, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Wil Ferch
How is your braking style....hint..get on them rather hard after they first "bite-in"...then gradually let up until you come to the end of your braking zone before you turn-in.
---Wil

Is this what they mean by "trail braking"?

Wil Ferch · 06-19-2004, 08:22 AM

No...this is not trail braking.
Trail braking is not completing your (amount) of braking while you're in a straight line, and thereby you're still braking as you enter the turn.
For most 911 drivers...and especially newbies..don't trail brake. Get all your braking done in a straight line before you "turn-in"...
Trail braking induces...as you would imagine...a degree of oversteer that would be very hard to control...especially at the end of a high speed straight.
---Wil