Chunky Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 I would like to increase the efficiency of the brakes of my autocruise augusta iam thinking of using softer pads initially does anybody have experience of trying these, or is it possible to fit larger discs and calipers (?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lennyhb Posted June 12, 2013 Share Posted June 12, 2013 Softer pads will fade under heavy braking, I would have thought harder pads will give better braking at the expense of more peddle effort & discs wearing quicker. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wooie Posted June 13, 2013 Share Posted June 13, 2013 Chunky - 2013-06-12 7:59 PM I would like to increase the efficiency of the brakes of my autocruise augusta iam thinking of using softer pads initially does anybody have experience of trying these, or is it possible to fit larger discs and calipers (?) Can you not brake a little earlier or is it the speed that is the problem ? My van ( Now 4.100 Kgs ) is on the standard brakes and they are more than sufficient to stop us in a hurry and they were tested properly last week when someones " Precious Little Princess " ran out in front of us whilst we was driving along the front in Barmouth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowie Posted June 13, 2013 Share Posted June 13, 2013 Hi Chunky; what aspect of their efficiency are you unhappy with? and how did this inefficiency make itself known to you? regards alan b Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
t5topcat Posted June 13, 2013 Share Posted June 13, 2013 Greenstuff pads. http://www.ebcbrakesdirect.com/?source=googlebp&keyword=greenstuff%20brake%20pads&gclid=CP_Jv4_H4LcCFczC3godpkgA5Q Never tried them on a van but have used them on classic cars (no servo) and they can make a big difference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chunky Posted June 13, 2013 Author Share Posted June 13, 2013 HI Snowie The brakes are fine according to the M.O.T. On sunday an idiot pulled out in front of me from a slip road onto a dual carriageway doing considerably less than the 50 MPH i was doing while i was being overtaken i braked hard but felt that the van did not slow down quick enough i got to close to his back end for comfort before the gap increased it could have been a lot worse had i been towing the smart car and trailer, I have been driving for 45 years and driven a large variety of vehicles from 6 wheeled armored cars, lorries, various large motorhomes and 5th wheelers i just feel that the brakes should be better than they are, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chunky Posted June 13, 2013 Author Share Posted June 13, 2013 Hi T5TOPCAT thanks for the info Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowie Posted June 13, 2013 Share Posted June 13, 2013 That makes sense. The trouble is, that you won't know if the fix has worked until it happens again.........and that could be never..........to that extent. Not being funny; but maybe a very loud airhorn? I'd tread carefully, changing pad material could just change the characteristics and end up with very little real gain, particularly in a cold brakes situation, IMHO, regards alan b Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnerontheroad Posted June 13, 2013 Share Posted June 13, 2013 If the brakes were changed would you have to notify your insurance as it would be a modification, just a thought. Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chunky Posted June 13, 2013 Author Share Posted June 13, 2013 Thanks for your input Snowie. My idea is to have the efficiency checked replace the pads bed them in and have them re- checked . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BGD Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 Just drive slower. And leave a LOT more room between you and anything in front of you. I'm not taking the micky out of you at all. I'm completely serious. You are driving a Fully Loaded, at-or-about-maximum-weight-all-the-time, white van. These things are fairly agricultural. The handling, performance, braking, are all designed-down to a budget. You're really gotta stand on the brake pedal to get the maximum out of the brake servo/braking system on a heavy van in an emergency.......... I really mean stand on that pedal HARD! If the braking efficiency is good on the MOT test machine, that's about the best you're going to get....unless you can somehow reduce a lot of the weight of the motorhome; or do some leg muscle strengthening exercises. A gentler, slower, and a LOT more look-and-plan-far-ahead driving style is maybe the better way to go with these big heavy industrial beasts. Works for me........... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
George Collings Posted June 20, 2013 Share Posted June 20, 2013 I have recently been researching this subject and have found that unlike cars there is very little choice on the grade of pad on offer for LCVs. Commercially the main requirement is that pads/discs last a long time. If expense is no object then one of the specialist motor sport companies might be able to help, perhaps using parts from high performance road cars. Bear in mind the final choice particulrly of pad material is only made after prolonged period of testing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 Many motorhomes stand idle for long periods, and their discs rust. When they are then driven, most of the rust is polished off by the pads in normal driving but, unless the brakes have been applied quite hard, the remaining rust tends to form a glaze on the disc surface. This affects braking efficiency. Generally, after the van has been driven a few hundred miles, this glaze gets worn off, and the brakes become sharper. It is not good to stamp hard on the pedal immediately one moves off, as it is liable to result in uneven distribution of the rust/glaze, so causing uneven braking. But, once the initial rust has been polished off, a good hard prod at reasonably high speed, possibly when approaching a roundabout, will generally get rid of any remaining glaze and bring the sharpness back. Might this have been the problem chunky experienced? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lennyhb Posted June 21, 2013 Share Posted June 21, 2013 Not only as Bruce says you are driving a fully laden van & you need to push the peddle hard in an emergency. There is also a tendency not to push the peddle as hard as you would in a car as you are made aware of of all gear in in the cupboards and lockers moving about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Newell Posted June 24, 2013 Share Posted June 24, 2013 Only if you absolutely buried the brake pedal with all your might and the wheels still didn't lock would you need to upgrade the brakes. Did any of your goods re arrange themselves in cupboards or perhaps the fruit bowl fall off the table? (last bit is slightly tongue in cheek but I have seen it, also a magnetic knife rack attached to the sidewall of a motorhome and loaded with about twelve knives ranging fron a 3" pairing knife to a 12" bread knife). If nothing got re-arranged inside the motorhome then you actually weren't braking that hard. Trouble is with a motorhome we tend to err on the side of not disturbing our goods and chattels. I certainly wouldn't put softer pads in, yes they may give enhanced braking at low speed but they will wear out very quickyl and take the discs with them plus they will overheat and fade quickly too, 3500KGs plus of motorhome going down a long decent (crossing the pyrennees or alps for example) and running out of brakes all together is not a pretty picture! D. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.