It would be far cheaper to go to two master cylinders and a bias bar, and
it would work better. Your lotus friend must be using Physics from an
alternate universe. The pressure downstream of the proportioning valve is
lower than upstream. That's what it DOES. The only time you use them well
is when you start with too much rear brake.
You don't need to change your pedal box, you can get a weld-in bias bar,
or do it like Peyote does, with replaceable links of variable length. All
you need is two master cylinders--total cost could be about $100 if you're
a talented scrounger.
-----Original Message-----
From: Joe Curry [mailto:spitlist@cox.net]
Sent: Saturday, August 09, 2003 9:26 AM
To: 'Henry Frye'; fot@autox.team.net
Subject: RE: brake bias suggestions
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-fot@autox.team.net [mailto:owner-fot@autox.team.net] On Behalf
Of Henry Frye
Sent: Saturday, August 09, 2003 8:56 AM
To: fot@autox.team.net
Subject: Re: brake bias suggestions
I assume you are using a dual circuit master brake cylinder. Obviously, no
adjustment here.
**************
I am using the dual circuit master cylinder from a Mk3 GT6.
**************
You could convert to a dual master cylinder setup. Maximum adjustability
using a bias bar. Spend your cash once, can play with brake bias until the
cows come home.
**************
I really Don't want to go to that extreme and might not have the room on
my abbreviated shelf to mount that sort of arrangement. I was thinking
more in terms of line pressure regulation.
**************
You could install a proportioning valve in the brake lines. You will not
be
able to ADD any rear bias, but I assume you could put the valve on the
FRONT brake circuit and crank that down a bit. I don't know if I would go
that route.
**************
I was discussing that issue with a Lotus Elan driver and he said that by
restricting the flow to the rear brakes, the pressure would increase and
therefore increase the rear bias. Is that the case or his "pipe dream"?
**************
That leaves playing with the size of the rear wheel cylinders, using a
better brake lining on the shoes, increasing the size of the drums, or
converting to rear disk.
**************
That would be a bit more extreme that I would like to go since the amount
of bias I want to add is not much on the grand scale. If a proportioning
valve will do the trick, that would seem to me to be the easiest and
cheapest thing to do, right?
**************
Thanks for your input.
Regards,
Joe (C)
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