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Re: [6pack] Brake Pad Kickback and HD Axles and Spacers (Uncle

To: N197TR4@cs.com, tr6taylor@webtv.net, colinthom@shaw.ca
Subject: Re: [6pack] Brake Pad Kickback and HD Axles and Spacers (Uncle
From: emanteno@comcast.net
Date: Mon, 03 Sep 2007 12:39:47 +0000
This topic comes up periodically, so I saved my response from an earlier 
discussion. Hope this helps:

What happens is that front end flexing causes the brake rotor to knock the pads 
into the caliper pistons and the pistons get knocked back into the calipers. 
The first push on the brake pedal after that happens resets the the pads, but 
contributes little to braking. After lots of discussion, the TR racers came up 
with a list of things to do to eliminate this situation. After all, it is no 
fun to be heading into a corner at 100 mph only to find that pushing the brake 
pedal does little to slow the car down. Several of these things are applicable 
to our street cars, several of them are overkill. Here is what we discovered, 
in no particular order:
Wheel bearings must be in good shape and tightened properly.
Brake pads must be evenly worn, high spots on the pads can make this situation 
worse.
The brake rotors must be within spec. Thin rotors contribute to this malady. 
The front hub can flex under hard cornering. There is a way to reinforce and 
strengthen the front hubs to greatly reduce this flex. In addition, there have 
been several runs of custom, billet aluminum hubs produced that are way 
stronger than stock hubs.
The front stub axle can flex. There have been 2 mods produced to eliminate this 
flex. One is a spacer kit. The spacer fits between the inner and outer 
bearings, and when properly tightened, turns the whole assembly into a stronger 
unit. Additionally, new stub axles have been produced that are significantly 
stronger than the stock ones.
Some have added the residual brake pressure valve that earlier TR4's had.
How much any of us chooses to do depends on how much the problem bothers them. 
For a street driven car, I would think that fresh, properly installed wheel 
bearings, new or near new brake rotors, and evenly worn brake pads should cure 
the vast majority of this situation.

Irv Korey
74 TR6 CF22767U
Highland Park, IL




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