Big Brake Stuff

[kishy]

Kinda forgot about the reinstallation half of it. D'oh.

I bought a vise, was on sale, how convenient! I'll see if I can get a hacksaw to go through it, if I can at least get the old ones out perhaps I can plead with a shop to cut me a break on pressing the new ones in. I was quoted "$60 to $80" to do the 4 bushings out and in, with them being fully aware the arms are not attached to a car. Unless I'm overlooking something it's a 10 minute job in total (with the right tools, of course, otherwise it's a multi-day fiasco) which makes it work out to $480/hr...and I can appreciate that they spent the money to open up shop and have the right equipment but that's a bit steep.

[IPreferDIY]

I'd be surprised if anyone could do it in 10 minutes unless they do enough to have an assembly line going. Maybe just pressing them in if they have the experience etc, but not out and in. Two things you can think about are: 1. how long it would take you and what you could be doing with that time, and 2. how much you'd have to spend on complete arms.

[sly]

an air hammer is an amazing thing.

[kishy]

After deciding I was tired of beating the crap out of these things, I paid a shop to do the pressing this afternoon. I now have arms that are ready to assemble tomorrow, all parts are on hand and correct, and this job is a go.

The hacksaw method was definitely making progress and had I continued with it I may have succeeded on the removal myself. The installation still would have screwed me over though.

[kishy]

Coming along. I have some car porn for you.

[HiFiMerc]

[88grandmarq]

After deciding I was tired of beating the crap out of these things, I paid a shop to do the pressing this afternoon. I now have arms that are ready to assemble tomorrow, all parts are on hand and correct, and this job is a go.

The hacksaw method was definitely making progress and had I continued with it I may have succeeded on the removal myself. The installation still would have screwed me over though.

Many years ago, when I did my big brake swap, I chose to take my control arms to a local machine shop. They used and industrial oven to heat lower control arms and remove the rubber part of the bushing so I could later install poly lower bushings. I had the machine shop press in new rubber upper bushings at the same time... whole process took about 2 hrs and saved me a lot of time and headache.

[kishy]

Holy crap, this car can STOP now!

Noticed a loud knock sound going all the way to full lock, I suspect it's that steering 'stop' because the caster's off (throwing off the angle at which the spindle impacts that stop). Alignment time.

I was not able to adjust camber or caster in any combination between the ball joint or control arm mounts that the tie rods could be left alone from before (new parts in the last year, no sense replacing yet). Both sides had to be lengthened. Still trying to fine tune that until I can get in with a decent alignment shop hopefully Tuesday. Commute is short (10 minutes, max 60km/h) so I don't think I should do too much damage to my new tires if I get it relatively close.

[gadget73]

Put some grease on the steering stops. the noise will probably go away.

Real brakes make a difference don't they? My favorite part about it is how much less touchy they get. With the stock brakes they like to launch you through the windshield at a slight touch, not very easy to modulate brake effort. The late brakes are a lot easier to control IMO.

[kishy]

I'm actually having the reverse problem, because of the weakness of the stock discs and how worn my drums are (yes I'll be fixing that) I got used to a lot of pedal travel before anything would really happen...if I jammed them on hard the drums would lock first...panic stops were never an issue, nor were snowy ones. These are very grabby now, takes way less weight on the pedal to make something happen.

That's how it should be and how it should have been all along, but it's funny how we adapt to things not working as they ought to.

I did put in the Speedway springs when the Moog ones simply refused to go in without a spring compressor. Loving the ride height/"stance" at least from an appearance perspective. Unfortunately the stiffness may be taking away from how I like the ride to be...hard to say yet. Shocks are stock replacement KYB Excel-Gs, I also have the Gas-a-Justs in the garage if needed. I know you're supposed to use shocks engineered for use with particular springs but seriously...I just replaced factory original everything (the brakes and bearings had been done, that was it)...this car is driving like something else entirely. Incredible sense of accomplishment.

Word to the wise...buy a nut splitter. Upper shock nuts and sway bar links wouldn't have budged any other way.

Next project is the rear shocks. Oh boy! Threads look clean enough that I might be able to undo the top ones without incident...

Thanks for all the help here, on CVN, in various PMs and other threads!

[jaywish]

Grabby is not necessarily optimum. I had that problem when I initially switched over to the big brakes. In heavy braking the fronts would lock first creating understeer. I solved it by changing pads to Centric Extended Performance pads. The formulation provides a flatter response curve over the cold to hot heat range. I also dumped the drums, gutted the rear brake restrictor/pressure retainer, added an adjustable restrictor, which is in my case is set wide open.

[gadget73]

mine was grabby and scary when I had the old half dead drum brakes on the back. Only one piston per shoe was operating. That all went away with the discs, but I expect you could get by with properly working and adjusted drums and not have so much trouble. The limos ran an 11" drum in the back and apparently did oK.

I ran the stock valving for years and it worked OK. Later it was all swapped to a late style booster, master cyl, and prop valve and it got better. Not a night and day difference, but its more balanced and the late booster gives you more brake power for your pedal effort. its still not touchy or grabby though. Of the 3 vehicles I own, the Towncar's brakes are by far the most confidence inspiring.