Potential Brake Failure with 31 tires?

[pathfounder]

Rear disk swap!

 

Alternatively, replace the Pathfinder with a Mercedes SLR McLaren. Those brakes will peel your face off, but I hear they are a bit touchy. Still, it may be your best option to go this route.

[Precise1]

Is there any way of beefing up the brakes for the R50 (97 SE)?

Quality pads, drilled/slotted rotors, stainless steel braided lines and synthetic brake fluid.

 

B

[piste]

Quality pads, drilled/slotted rotors, stainless steel braided lines and synthetic brake fluid.

 

B

 

Just curious how you would prioritize those four items in terms of having the MOST impact on improved brake performance. My thoughts would be...stainless braided lines, quality pads, synthetic brake fluid, drilled/slotted rotors...in order of greatest to lowest impact.

 

I engaged in a lot of dialogue on here and elsewhere earlier this year about the drilled/slotted rotor question (as opposed to standard OEM blanks) as well as talked to a lot of people directly. There was no consensus per se but the most common opinion was just stick with OEM blanks..with varying reasons to not bother with drilled/slotted. Don't mean to open a can of worms but just thought I'd throw that out there...

 

FWIW...I'm planning to re-do my brakes next summer...planning on OEM rotors and pads, stainless braided lines from AC...but didn't know about the syn brake fluid so thanks for that tip!

[rgallant]

For Modi, yup the "cut" sucks. I am out in the Fraser Valley with a 97, I have no issues on steep hills, at speed or otherwise. I would take a look at your front brakes my bet is they are overdue for a service. Simplest is pop a front tire and take a look at the rotors and pads, I am thinking you are in the iffy zone, if you commute in the gong show Vancouver calls a rush hour you might want to deal with this sooner rather than later.

[ModiFinder]

Quality pads, drilled/slotted rotors, stainless steel braided lines and synthetic brake fluid.

 

B

 

 

Thanks.

[ModiFinder]

Just curious how you would prioritize those four items in terms of having the MOST impact on improved brake performance. My thoughts would be...stainless braided lines, quality pads, synthetic brake fluid, drilled/slotted rotors...in order of greatest to lowest impact.

 

I engaged in a lot of dialogue on here and elsewhere earlier this year about the drilled/slotted rotor question (as opposed to standard OEM blanks) as well as talked to a lot of people directly. There was no consensus per se but the most common opinion was just stick with OEM blanks..with varying reasons to not bother with drilled/slotted. Don't mean to open a can of worms but just thought I'd throw that out there...

 

FWIW...I'm planning to re-do my brakes next summer...planning on OEM rotors and pads, stainless braided lines from AC...but didn't know about the syn brake fluid so thanks for that tip!

 

 

 

piste: much appreciate the order of importance.

[ModiFinder]

For Modi, yup the "cut" sucks. I am out in the Fraser Valley with a 97, I have no issues on steep hills, at speed or otherwise. I would take a look at your front brakes my bet is they are overdue for a service. Simplest is pop a front tire and take a look at the rotors and pads, I am thinking you are in the iffy zone, if you commute in the gong show Vancouver calls a rush hour you might want to deal with this sooner rather than later.

 

 

This is a hard one. I bought the car a few months ago and this was the first time that I had a full load down the hill. One thing I realised was that the car dove which gives me the impression that the front was not the issue (but I will check them for good measure). I also got some vibration which I am suspecting was the drums in the back. I am not sure how to check the drugs to make sure that they are smooth though.

 

How to I check the back breaks?

[pathfounder]

You pop the drums off. Make sure to release the parking brake (and of course, block the wheels). I put it in 4WD whenever I work on the rear axle in any way.