[EagerCrow]

I was out driving my 83ZXT hard yesterday. I decided to see how well the brakes were working so I was on them hard. The first few times they felt normal but soon afterward the pedal would go all the way to the floor with little resistance and the braking sucked, even pumping them did nothing. After trying to brake like this for a while I could smell the brakes. I decided to take her on home, Once there I checked the level of the brake fluid which looked fine. With the car off the pedal would get rock hard but as soon as I turned the car on it would once again go to the floor with little resistance.
Is this because I was working the brakes too hard?
Should it be doing this?
What can I do short of upgrading my calipers and rotors?

Oh yeah my rear calipers are brand new as are all 4 rotors, and brakes have new fluid and were bled not too long ago.

Thanks for the help zers
Josh 83zxt

 

[Nicks 83zxt]

A good set of brake pads are recommended and replacing the brake fluid with at least DOT 4 is a must. DOT 4 has a higher boiling point than the DOT 3 crap that comes factory installed.

Also VERY important is to have air flow to the brake calipers to help cool them, if you are running solid rims (i.e. not spoked, you can't see the caliper or rotor) you should install some vent tubing from the front airdam to the front calipers.

Nick

 

[Tyson(280z)]

Well for starters, stock brakes will kill you if you want to stop during a high-speed run.

Upgrade your pads, you got your pads real hot and they turned to mush. Stock brakes work fine for daily driving, but for performance, changing them out is a must.

 

[EagerCrow]

Thank you Nick and Tyson,
What kind of pads should I get? and I will be changing out the fluid soon, I can't remember what I put in there before but I will be sure to get some DOT 4 this time

 

[jcool78 2plus2]

I like the Axxis/PBR/Repco full metallic pads (called Metalmaster, w/ an "M" suffix in the part no.). Try Carparts.com or other.

BUT, the stock front brakes are still going to be weak. I've got the "blue" rotors used w/ ord. semi-met. pads to prove it.

 

[Avatar Rising]

<---why it did what it did
Brake fluid attracts water. Water boils at a MUCH lower point than even dot 3.
The water in your BF, boiled, causing air bubbles (hence the pedal going to the floor). When you change to Dot4 make SURE you completly flush the system out.