4th Gen Manual Brakes Swap?

[hardline_42]

Well, it looks like I'm finally gonna get my hands on a 4th gen daily driver tomorrow. It's a 93 Z28 with a 94 LT1 in it (hardtop, auto ). I wanna keep this thing street friendly and comfortable to drive (that means I can go all-out on my '81!) with a few performance upgrades focusing on stiffening up the chassis and better handling. Also, C6 Z51 brakes are in the plans.

My question is about the Billingsley Racing manual brakes conversion that BMR sells:
http://www.bmrfabrication.com/misc/BR-MBK.jpg

Has anyone done this conversion? The Strange MC is basically a Mopar MC that cost about thirty bucks (did this swap for my '81) so I'd like to do it on the cheap by maybe making my own firewall adapter and pushrod. Any thoughts?

[V]

what are the gains of manual brakes? especially in a daily driver, maybe i'm just not seeing the point...

[WildBillyT]

Originally Posted by SmokingSS

what are the gains of manual brakes? especially in a daily driver, maybe i'm just not seeing the point...

Me neither. People go to great lengths to KEEP power brakes. I'm not sure why you'd want to get rid of them.

[hardline_42]

Originally Posted by SmokingSS

what are the gains of manual brakes? especially in a daily driver, maybe i'm just not seeing the point...

Power brakes give you a relatively non-responsive pedal. When you combine that with upgraded brakes and performance, you run the risk of easily inducing a skid. Plus, I like the pedal-feel. If you calculate the pedal ratio correctly, you can set up your brakes to require the same amount of pressure as a power set-up with the response of a manual as you get closer and closer to locking the discs.

[V]

ill stick with my power brakes and ABS

[hardline_42]

Originally Posted by SmokingSS

ill stick with my power brakes and ABS

Have you ever driven a car with manual brakes?

[V]

yes i have, and i understand they can be setup to be equal quality. But for a daily driver... id just leave it, but thats just me. Regardless, if you personally like the feel better and if you can do it inexpensively then it is an option for you.

[NJSPEEDER]

i wouldn't recomend changing to manual brakes if you have the benefit of antilocks already. hardline is right about the feel of manual brakes, it is much more immediate and direct.
manual also has the added benefit of linear pedal pressure, making them much easier to modulate at or close to the limit. vacuum power brakes tend to be more spikey in this regard as vacuum pressure is variable depending on engine speed and what you were doing just before you slammed on the brakes.
i have driven a bunch of different braking systems and my best advice to everyone is to use the one you are the most comfortable with from your own personal experiences.

[hardline_42]

Originally Posted by SmokingSS

yes i have, and i understand they can be setup to be equal quality. But for a daily driver... id just leave it, but thats just me. Regardless, if you personally like the feel better and if you can do it inexpensively then it is an option for you.

Inexpensive is the key word. Also, I have to admit that while I know a fair amount about 2nd gens, I know nothing about 4th gens so I'm making a lot of assumptions as to what needs to be "fixed" and what doesn't. I'll definitely wait a bit before the manual brakes swap. For starters, a set of SFC's (most likely a set of simple square-tube DIY's) some adjustable LCA's and panhard bar with Johnny Joints and some springs will be enough. Maybe a simple torque arm later on.

[BonzoHansen]

It's your DD, leave it alone. Concentrate on one project at a time.

[Ian]

I'd do SFC's, a torque arm and LCA's. and that would be it.

[Teds89IROC]

Originally Posted by BonzoHansen

It's your DD, leave it alone. Concentrate on one project at a time.