Floater setup--yes or no - Lateral-g Forums

**DFRESH** · #1 01-13-2012, 10:22 PM

Thanks for the feedback. Payton, yes, still have your number and thanks for the offer. Will hope to reach out and connect this weekend.

I am aware that several types and brands of floater setups are out there, including the circle track components. Having some friends in the "Rearend Business" (and i'm not referring to Dave Gordon--just because he lives in San Fran), i've had some conversations with Currie and and few others about the various setups they would typically reccommend for what I was doing. The honest answer back was that they didn't have anyone they knew driving long distances plus tracking the car. It's not what a floater was designed to do---doesn't mean it won't work in that manner--(I am quoting here on these 2points). Thus, i am left with only those of you with real world experience and what exactly that experience has been like for you up to this point.

I got the 2 to 3 thousand dollar figure from the cost of the parts and the labor to install on my housing plus the extras I don't know about.

Thank you again for the input. I do believe that a true floater setup is safer and more durable, which is appealing also.

FYI, i do know one sure method to cure knock back---convert back to drum brakes. Mine still work--but I continue to take severe abuse everywhere I go.

Doug

**Flash68** · #2 01-13-2012, 11:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DFRESH

Having some friends in the "Rearend Business" (and i'm not referring to Dave Gordon--just because he lives in San Fran),

Whoa whoa whoa... I thought I had to only worry about Todd on this one... now YOU are gonna go there? You BASTAGE!!

You don't post much no more Dougie... but when you do.... you drink Dos Equis?

**clill** · #3 01-14-2012, 06:35 AM

My two cents...If you are going to track your car and push it hard I would do a floater. If you are going to street drive your car and maybe hit the track once a year for a fun day I wouldn't worry about it. I hate puck knockback. Jackass has it and it really gets your attention when you are doing 100 mph, hit the brakes and the pedal drops instead of slowing the car. You simply need to hit the pedal again but when you are running out of stopping room it really gets your attention. For any people that don't know what knock back is...When there is slop in the bearings or slop anywhere, the rotor flexes, when it flexes it pushes the piston behind the brake pad back into the cylinder. When you step on the brakes you waste the first push on the brakes just getting that brake pad back out to the rotor. You then hit the brakes again to actually apply the brakes.

**Stuart Adams** · #4 01-14-2012, 06:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clill

My two cents...If you are going to track your car and push it hard I would do a floater. If you are going to street drive your car and maybe hit the track once a year for a fun day I wouldn't worry about it. I hate puck knockback. Jackass has it and it really gets your attention when you are doing 100 mph, hit the brakes and the pedal drops instead of slowing the car. You simply need to hit the pedal again but when you are running out of stopping room it really gets your attention. For any people that don't know what knock back is...When there is slop in the bearings or slop anywhere, the rotor flexes, when it flexes it pushes the piston behind the brake pad back into the cylinder. When you step on the brakes you waste the first push on the brakes just getting that brake pad back out to the rotor. You then hit the brakes again to actually apply the brakes.

With how fast JA is I'll bet hitting the brakes with no results the first time will test your scones.

Vegas69 · #5 01-14-2012, 07:54 AM

All I can say is when I ran 5 sessioins at Buttonwillow with 2 year old axle bearings, I had 0 knockback.

For once I took the economical route and it works. I do want to switch to a 7/8 master eventually and that could change things. Your real problem is Baer doesn't offer a decent floating caliper. You are forced into a floating rear end if you want 0 knockback. If you aren't in a hurry, give it some time for this new baer setup along with the Speedtech to get some miles under their belts. I also feel if you keep the rear wheel lip where it is currently, you will have less knockback naturally. A 5.25/5.5" BS on a 12" rim looks great but it puts a ton of leverage on a bearing. Matt over at Art Morrison calculated it for me and it is 5 or 10 times greater(Don't remember) than what the bearing was engineered for originally. FYI Have you ever seen a deep dish on a Corvette.

**DFRESH** · #6 01-14-2012, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vegas69

All I can say is when I ran 5 sessioins at Buttonwillow with 2 year old axle bearings, I had 0 knockback.

For once I took the economical route and it works. I do want to switch to a 7/8 master eventually and that could change things. Your real problem is Baer doesn't offer a decent floating caliper. You are forced into a floating rear end if you want 0 knockback. If you aren't in a hurry, give it some time for this new baer setup along with the Speedtech to get some miles under their belts. I also feel if you keep the rear wheel lip where it is currently, you will have less knockback naturally. A 5.25/5.5" BS on a 12" rim looks great but it puts a ton of leverage on a bearing. Matt over at Art Morrison calculated it for me and it is 5 or 10 times greater(Don't remember) than what the bearing was engineered for originally. FYI Have you ever seen a deep dish on a Corvette.

Ya, that makes total sense---the more lip the more leverage ability it would have/create along with the tire and its much larger contact patch. I like the approach of not being in a hurry as you know---I have been watching a couple of cars with these setups in them---but like Matt said, everyone is using them a bit differently. James Shipka and Matt---possibly Payton--have the most street miles on their cars at this point with these setups in them. I only want to do this once and not regret it later---would rather go with too much than not enough given future plans for the car--you know how that goes. The thought of what you have described to me (I beleive it was at Optima event when we were there with you car) and Charlie's description of hitting the brakes at that kind of speed and having to pump the pedal---there's just no way I am going to take the chance. Pay now, or pay later.

Doug

**GregWeld** · #7 01-14-2012, 08:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clill

My two cents...If you are going to track your car and push it hard I would do a floater. If you are going to street drive your car and maybe hit the track once a year for a fun day I wouldn't worry about it. I hate puck knockback. Jackass has it and it really gets your attention when you are doing 100 mph, hit the brakes and the pedal drops instead of slowing the car. You simply need to hit the pedal again but when you are running out of stopping room it really gets your attention. For any people that don't know what knock back is...When there is slop in the bearings or slop anywhere, the rotor flexes, when it flexes it pushes the piston behind the brake pad back into the cylinder. When you step on the brakes you waste the first push on the brakes just getting that brake pad back out to the rotor. You then hit the brakes again to actually apply the brakes.

This is the most Charley has ever said.... and a technical post as well!!

No knock back on the Mustang.... so do I owe you more money? Or is it that I just can't drive it fast enough....

**DFRESH** · #8 01-14-2012, 08:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Flash68

Whoa whoa whoa... I thought I had to only worry about Todd on this one... now YOU are gonna go there? You BASTAGE!!

You don't post much no more Dougie... but when you do.... you drink Dos Equis?

I do stay thristy my friend--but mostly for Apple Pie.

**GregWeld** · #9 01-14-2012, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DFRESH

I do stay thristy my friend--but mostly for Apple Pie.

You guys should appreciate that more if you watch "Moonshiners" on the TV -- I had no idea just how much trouble a guy could get into...

Gawd I'm glad I don't drink (anymore).... so I can still feel my lips.

**Flash68** · #10 01-14-2012, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vegas69

All I can say is when I ran 5 sessioins at Buttonwillow with 2 year old axle bearings, I had 0 knockback.

For once I took the economical route and it works. I do want to switch to a 7/8 master eventually and that could change things. Your real problem is Baer doesn't offer a decent floating caliper. You are forced into a floating rear end if you want 0 knockback. If you aren't in a hurry, give it some time for this new baer setup along with the Speedtech to get some miles under their belts. I also feel if you keep the rear wheel lip where it is currently, you will have less knockback naturally. A 5.25/5.5" BS on a 12" rim looks great but it puts a ton of leverage on a bearing. Matt over at Art Morrison calculated it for me and it is 5 or 10 times greater(Don't remember) than what the bearing was engineered for originally. FYI Have you ever seen a deep dish on a Corvette.

So I've wondered why my knockback seems to be mininal compared to you other guys with your fancy wheels and I guess this explains it? Maybe I should just keep the damn Vette wheels....