brakes

[danny haynes]

i have a brake question. the brakes don't grab hard enough. the pads are new. i removed the 4 bolts and found there were 3 blue shims and a small washer. i removed the washer and reassemble with the 3 shims and now the brakes grab with no pedal. each shim is about 3mm. are there different size shims? i think about 10 or 11mm total would be pretty good. or do i have another problem? also what brake fluid should i use?

[Garry Lobaugh]

The shims you are speaking about? Are they between the calipers or are they behind the pads?

What brake pads are you using?

[danny haynes]

the shims are between the calipers. i don't know what the pads are. they were in it when i bought it. how can i tell? is there a difference?

[Garry Lobaugh]

I thought I read that the pads were new. IF you are not getting the stopping you want, then I'd suggest starting off with new pads. For a customer three weeks ago in Florida I observed he was not braking properly. When he came off the track I explained the situation that I observed. We put in new pads, and he went one and one half seconds faster per lap. Getting fast is a lot more to do with set up than motor. I'd say if you have a problem with brakes,then you should make a simple investment in new pads!

[Andy Seesemann]

90 seconds????

Wow! That is the best change ever.....

:)

Andy

[Chris Lobaugh]

There are not different size spacers (the shim is what goes between the pad and the piston) but, there should be four spacers top and four on bottom. The previous owner must have gotten into a pinch and decided to remove one of the spacers to reduce the air gap. The reality of the situation is that Birel only makes one caliper that will accomdate different thickness brake discs by the use of spacers. At first glance it would seem like a good idea to adjust your air gap by removing spacers. The prolbem is that the spacers are 5mm thick. Normally we adjust in increments of .5 mm. The solution would be to put the spacer back in and shim the brakes as needed. I would bet that the pads you have now are worn unevenly as well? This only adds to the problem Every time you add a shim you should rotate the pads to attempt to keep thing wearing evenly.
hope this helps.

[danny haynes]

thanks. i talked to steve in michigan the other day and he straightened me out. he's sending me the missing blue spacers and a few pad shims to fix the problem. thanks.