[SSLance]

Just a bit more "seat of the pants" first impressions of the new brakes...

With the old brakes, after we put the oversize metric calipers on several years ago, the pedal throw became fairly long. We attributed it to the increased fluid the larger pistons needed to move. With the engine off, you would press the brake pedal until it firmed up (quite a ways down really) then you could press even harder on it and get the pedal to go further down...almost to the floor.

After I vacuum bled all 8 bleeders on the 4 new calipers, I hopped in the seat and immediately felt a much firmer pedal with a surprisingly much shorter throw. I then put the wife in the seat to be the pedal pusher and hoisted her up in the air. I have to say, these calipers are SO much easier to bleed than OEM style calipers. With the bleeders pointing straight up, you put a clear tube over the bleeder, point it straight up then over to catch can, have your pedal pusher pump the pedal, crack the bleeder and you can feel immediately if any air in there and as it releases. With fluid in the tube over the bleeder, it's very easy to close it again without letting any air back in.

Once done with this I hopped back in the seat and pressed the pedal...it was even firmer still but the best part was...once the pedal firmed up, it didn't move ANY further down at all, well maybe just a bit...but that was probably firewall flex. I'm not kidding, I could tell a huge difference in pedal feel after the pads made pressure on the rotors over what I had before. Being a hard line hydraulic system, this can only be the result of two things firming up...the 4 flex lines and the calipers themselves.

The flex lines that came off of the care consisted of braided steel fronts about 5 years old I guess and rubber rears about the same age. Remember though, I had the prop valve on the rears just about closed with the old setup.

Anyway, there is no flex now, when the brakes hit...they hit. Can't wait to play more with them and dial in the bias. More importantly...can't wait to test them out on a course at speed.