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[05omegav6]

You say that Mr Bear, but the brakes simply don't dissipate the heat quickly enough to cool off between roundabouts

Fair enough. But we're still talking about this happening under heavy braking htough?

Moderate, and from relatively sensible speeds. If I drive from Horsham to Crawley with passengers at 65 and back again at 75, that's 23 roundabouts in 16 miles over 25 minutes. The front discs will be groaning before I'm halfway back...

Hence the desire to improve matters

When I drove to Cambridge there were loads of roundabouts on the A45 straight there. I cant tell you exactly how many.... but I was driving sensibly. and my brakes were fine.
I trust you haven't got a sticking calliper or owt like that?

MoTd every 6 months, fluid changed regularly (Dot5), as are discs and pads. Brake machine shows brakes are balanced and effective, all four wheels going to 1 o'clock on the gauges. 0 is at 7 o'clock btw.

[chrisgixer]

Ok, taste aside, but it's not good to be so far away from the average level of force applied at the pedal in other cars.

Plus, I just remembered, there is an entry in Tis regarding servos. Later models have a servo with an extra valve that gives more assistance under emergency braking conditions. Now, if that's not an admission of some level of guilt or desire for more assistance, I don't know what is.

It does take some getting used to, but I had a mk1 mondeo, and the brakes where stonking in that. Once over the whamo at what seems like the slightest touch, the first time their used.
In fact the new Astra vxr is very similar, as the sales rep complained of whip lash at the first junction on the test drive.

[05omegav6]

Has anyone owned their Omega from new? Has the feel of the brakes deteriorated over time?

Wondering if an upgrade or refurbishment of the master cylinder might be in order

[dbug]

Has anyone owned their Omega from new? Has the feel of the brakes deteriorated over time?

Wondering if an upgrade or refurbishment of the master cylinder might be in order

I've had brand new Omegas, and the brakes were always "defined" as progressive, ie as you braked harder, more servo assistance came into play, unlike Fords where max servo assistance immediately on brake application.

Would have thought on a car of the Omegas age, a refurb of the brake master cylinder, wheel cylinders and repacement flexis can only help, along with a complete brake fluid change.

[Webby the Bear]

Thing is though if ETA's had the brake balance tests and everything is working properly where does he go with that? 

[dbug]

Thing is though if ETA's had the brake balance tests and everything is working properly where does he go with that? 

May well be working well enough to pass MOT, but not possibly working at maximum potential efficiency

[05omegav6]

Thing is though if ETA's had the brake balance tests and everything is working properly where does he go with that? 

Bigger discs, better pads, braided lines and an overhauled master cylinder...

Has anyone owned their Omega from new? Has the feel of the brakes deteriorated over time?

Wondering if an upgrade or refurbishment of the master cylinder might be in order

I've had brand new Omegas, and the brakes were always "defined" as progressive, ie as you braked harder, more servo assistance came into play, unlike Fords where max servo assistance immediately on brake application.

Would have thought on a car of the Omegas age, a refurb of the brake master cylinder, wheel cylinders and repacement flexis can only help, along with a complete brake fluid change.

So the impression of a lack of decisiveness is designed in

[05omegav6]

Thing is though if ETA's had the brake balance tests and everything is working properly where does he go with that? 

May well be working well enough to pass MOT, but not possibly working at maximum potential efficiency

A bit coincidental that they're all evenly matched/worn...or is it

[dbug]

Thing is though if ETA's had the brake balance tests and everything is working properly where does he go with that? 

Bigger discs, better pads, braided lines and an overhauled master cylinder...

Has anyone owned their Omega from new? Has the feel of the brakes deteriorated over time?

Wondering if an upgrade or refurbishment of the master cylinder might be in order

I've had brand new Omegas, and the brakes were always "defined" as progressive, ie as you braked harder, more servo assistance came into play, unlike Fords where max servo assistance immediately on brake application.

Would have thought on a car of the Omegas age, a refurb of the brake master cylinder, wheel cylinders and repacement flexis can only help, along with a complete brake fluid change.

So the impression of a lack of decisiveness is designed in

Apparently so - was advised this when I trial drove my first Omega back in 1996.

Thing is though if ETA's had the brake balance tests and everything is working properly where does he go with that? 

May well be working well enough to pass MOT, but not possibly working at maximum potential efficiency

A bit coincidental that they're all evenly matched/worn...or is it

Would expect reasonably even wear of similar components over a large number of years, I guess

[Webby the Bear]

Thing is though if ETA's had the brake balance tests and everything is working properly where does he go with that? 

May well be working well enough to pass MOT, but not possibly working at maximum potential efficiency

A bit coincidental that they're all evenly matched/worn...or is it

It seems you have a problem somewhere.... break fade with normal braking in a passenger car 

[05omegav6]

Possibly at the human interface level

That said the ABS only kicks in on snow, so perhaps I'm simply not pressing the pedal progressively enough

All the calipers and brake lines are original.

[Webby the Bear]

I know you're far more experienced than me mate but have you serviced the brakes... i.e. had calipers off and made sure everythings moving smoothly, calliper, slides etc? I suppose if there were a caliper problem youd know as it would be pulling to one side...

[dbug]

Have to say when I bought my TR4A, the brakes were perfectly adequate for a TR of that age.  For the rebuild I replaced all seals in master cylinder and calipers, fitted new rear cylinders (drum brakes at rear, cylinders lightly scored), and replaced all flexis, together with new pads and shoes.  The improvement was very evident - even more so when I fitted an overhauled servo from a landcrab!

[P6UL K]

Interesting thread...

FYI... I'm running high carbon Brembo discs, yellow stuff pads - Front, red on the rear, DOT 5.1 and Goodridge hoses all round.... Stops MUCH better than the OEM set-up BUT chuck in a few roundabouts and even the standard sized carbon discs start to give up the ghost 

[05omegav6]

So what were concluding is that a more efficient set up is needed to improve the usability/fade resistance

In other words, well worth pursuing...