You probably boiled the fluid in the calipers. If only the drums had faded,
you'd still have functional front brakes, which do about 70% of the stopping.
Theo
"D. E. Adin" wrote:
> Hi tigers,
> Last spring I mounted a video camera in the Tiger for a run to Denver and
> back and did tape a segment on the west side of Wolf Creek Pass, coming
> down.
>
> Never ran over 70 mph, but generally about 20 over the posted limit. Only
> two hairpins on the way down and some light braking in the esses.
>
> I could barely stop at the bottom to turn off the video camera!!!! I never
> considered this a "hard" drive, nor a high-speed run and yet almost no
> brakes at the bottom!!! I shudder to think what the brakes might have been
> like if I ran the car hard.
>
> In theory, disks aren't needed because the rears become unloaded in a panic
> stop and cannot use much in the way of stopping power.
>
> Think about how hard that little car can accelerate without very much effort
> and how nice it would be to be able to stop it.
>
> I attribute the severe fade to the drums, only because drums will fade way
> before disks.
>
> Take that car out and do 5 hard stops from cruising speed . . . . you might
> be surprised.
>
> motor gently,
>
> Durango David
>
> Subject: Re: #2
>
> Chris:
>
> I remember reading a car magazine (may have been grass roots
> motorsports) where someone with a Tiger had written in asking about rear
> disc brake upgrades.
> Their response was interesting: they said that since the majority of
> braking was done by the FRONT brakes, the best thing this owner could do
> was to upgrade the braking material on the front pads, put upgraded
> brake shoes on the rear and have fun.
>
> I can't offer any personal experience--my Tiger came with rear discs, so
> I have no basis of comparison, but if cost is your major motivator, the
> above might be a good starting place, and then if money permits you
> could consider upgrading to rear discs. You also haven't mentioned
> whether you were wanting the rear discs for racing, autocrossing, or
> street use--if it's street use, upgraded brake pads might suit you fine.
>
> Regards
>
> David Sosna
>
> Chris Hill wrote:
>
> > So, this guy also has a Fiat 128 convertible in his yard, one wheel off on
> the
> > back. The caliper on that side looks good, the disc a bit rusty, but
> probably
> > salvagable. What do I need in order to do the rear disc trick. Is it
> worth
> > it relative to buying a Wilwood setup or doing one of the things Derek has
> > written about? (budgetary constraints are a factor!). Thanks!
> >
> > Chris Hill
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