DeTomaso Mailing List: August 97, Message #32
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On Fri, 1 Aug 1997, Brock C Tella wrote: > On Wed, 30 Jul 1997 19:30:29 -0400 (EDT) dave aument > <hooligan@redrose.net> writes: > >At 01:32 PM 7/30/97 PDT, you wrote: [...] > > 2 SS lines are NOT D.O.T. approved. I read on the autocross list that at least one company's SS lines are now DOT approved. Unfortunately I don't think that mailing list is archived, and I don't much care what the DOT wants me to run so I didn't save the info... > > As far a Wilwoods go...their nice.. but they have no dust seals on > >them > >and the pistons are stamped, not machined. I'm sure that they work > >well > >though....and believe it or not the're one of the most afforable > >calipers > >around. I can tell you how the Wilwoods work on my '72. I got the Wilwood calipers all around and wider front rotors. The rear rotors are the originals and the original rear calipers are still in place so that the parking brake will work. I got the whole kit from PPC and had my mechanic install it (a good idea as it turned out a little machining and creativity was necessary). At Pocono I was using the brakes *very* heavily at the trasition from the tri-oval to the infield section. Lap after lap I would exit Turn 2 at about 125 mph (the tippy-top of 4th gear) with a very commited (I was at 10-tenths in this turn) line that carried me wide and long after 2. I would then (once the car settled next to the wall) brake down to about 20-30 mph for the hairpin entrance to the infield in 100 ft or so. The braking here was so heavy that the car was covered in brake dust from the front wheels back - I mean *covered* - and the front wheels went from silver to _black_ with dust. The Wilwoods never faded, and slowed me reliably lap after lap. They (together with the grip of the BFG R1s) repeatedly slowed me with breath-taking rapidity, allowing me to make up big-time ground on virtually every car on the track (including the spec racer Diablo from Hell after they powered way past me on the back straight). The DOT 5 fluid that came with the Wilwoods, on the other hand, prevented me from getting a firm pedal. I plan to flush it and use DOT 4 at the first opportunity. Incidentally, Wilwood recommends flushing and replacing their DOT 5 fluid after every race or every 30 days. I don't think any of us want that kind of maintenance load from our brakes... > > Why does everyone squirm when thinking about spending money on > >their > >brake systems? If your car won't start it's just a minor > >inconvenience...If > >it won't stop or turn you have a major problem! Amen brother. I always prioritize my performance upgrades so that the safety-related items come first. To see my list, check out http://realbig.com/~andy/pantera_ongoing.html -Andy 72 Pantera: wicked fast 91 Miata: easy fast 96 A4Q: surprisingly fast 84 RZ350: scary fast ==============================================================================