Brake Cylinder Brace

Angreal · Post by **Angreal** » Tue Oct 23, 2012 10:14 pm

I wanted to buy a brake cylinder brace off OMGPham in Aus as my brakes still feel spongy with steel lines when compared to when I put them on the bike and supposedly this is due to the cylinder moving, which it does - But OMGPham sold out and doesn't plan to make another batch of braces.

http://omgpham.com/store/performance/br ... brace.html

So anyway, ended up getting REDBEN to try make me one and he's thinking of an introductory price of $90 incl gst then $100 for one off's. I figure "hey, I spend more on petrol/week" and it should stop the cylinder moving about when you plant your foot.

So is anyone else keen?

WideOpenThrottle · Post by **WideOpenThrottle** » Wed Oct 24, 2012 8:20 am

I think i would be changing the fluid and doing a proper bleed first!And to make sure the calipers & pistons are working freely.

Angreal · Post by **Angreal** » Wed Oct 24, 2012 9:21 am

WideOpenThrottle wrote:I think i would be changing the fluid and doing a proper bleed first!And to make sure the calipers & pistons are working freely.

Done that and the calipers are definitely moving freely. The firewall does flex quite a lot when you push the brake. Guess I'll let you know whether it gives me the feeling I'm after where it's super stiff.

Keith Jones · Post by **Keith Jones** » Wed Oct 24, 2012 11:31 am

It sounds like there could be some firewall stiffness differences between NZ new and JDM cars. When I first read about master cylinder braces many years ago, I thought, what's their problem? I did some tests but the firewall/cylinder never moved more than a couple of millimeters even under the heaviest braking. So I never saw the need for a brace on my car.

WideOpenThrottle · Post by **WideOpenThrottle** » Wed Oct 24, 2012 11:40 am

What about your master cylinder...has that been overhauled as well?

A new seal insert kit doesnt cost much.

Angreal · Post by **Angreal** » Wed Oct 24, 2012 1:00 pm

Guess I'll add that to my list of things to service along with the clutch ones. Mine definitely moves a lot.

Possibly doesn't help that I was expecting a lot more from my steel lines since on the motorbike those things were ultra stiff!!! Then again the lines go straight to the brakes.

Will let you know how it feels when it goes in.

Donovan · Post by **Donovan** » Wed Oct 24, 2012 5:10 pm

WideOpenThrottle wrote:What about your master cylinder...has that been overhauled as well?

A new seal insert kit doesnt cost much.

Pah, the rebuild kit for my BMC cost $140 from BNT, wouldn't say that was exactly cheap.

chris · Post by **chris** » Thu Oct 25, 2012 9:23 am

heh, I have one

Born_disturbed · Post by **Born_disturbed** » Fri Nov 02, 2012 2:18 pm

Could be well keen

Snapfrozen · Post by **Snapfrozen** » Fri Nov 02, 2012 7:00 pm

Haven't used one on an MX5 but on my civic the difference was night and day. INSTANTLY felt better pedal feel and definately lowered my stopping distances

DBM58 · Post by **DBM58** » Fri Nov 02, 2012 7:27 pm

Excuse the messy engine bay, but I have one that you are welcome to borrow to try. If all goes well, there should be a photograph attached to this post.

last_resort14 · Post by **last_resort14** » Sat Nov 03, 2012 8:04 am

ive been thinking of making something like the above by drilling a hole in my strut brace, would take like 10 mins to do, but i also thought i would want to re-inforce it to make it stiffer.

the one in that above photo i dont think would do anything, looks way to flimsy.

SLYDIT · Post by **SLYDIT** » Sat Nov 03, 2012 1:34 pm

HI DBM.
long time no hear.
How is the yellow beast doin? did you sort out that annoying idle issue?

For everyone out there considering a brace.... i am just working a design similar to DBM's one, with an added support rod from the bolt to the forward mounting point.
i could whip up a batch of them if anyone is interested.

delivery wouldnt be until santa arrives though as i am flat out at work.

DBM58 · Post by **DBM58** » Sat Nov 03, 2012 2:31 pm

A fair point about it being flimsy. However, and I am not an engineer, but it is made from 6 steel with a welded on support plate in the corner to prevent any flexing. I appears to have no movement when I try to bend it, and the same when I watch it when someone else presses the brake pedal. But you may be right and I am just not seeing it.

last_resort14 · Post by **last_resort14** » Sat Nov 03, 2012 3:44 pm

I stand corrected

Hadnt noticed the triangular corner re-inforcement you have on there, which would obviously do the trick and make it solid as.