GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Hi everyone! This is my first post. I have been reading this forum since I got my 2003 Vibe Base in 2005. Anyway, I have been working at improving the brake system recently. I have been on a quest for better stopping power and better brake feel. I think I have got the stopping power I am looking for, the criteria being just better then stock, but I am still struggling to improve the brake feel. Here is what I have done so far:-Installed Brembo OE Replacement Rotors-Installed ATE PremiumOne Pads (ceramic)-Installed Technafit SS Brake Lines-Flushed system with ATE Super Blue Brake FluidAfter all that work I am still left with a brake pedal that does not feel like it engages immediately. My brother has a 2004 RSX Type S, and the brakes feel like they start to grab as soon as you touch the pedal, and his brake system is completely bone stock down to the pads. That is more of what I am looking for out of my brakes. Does anyone have any ideas on how I can further improve the brake system to get the feel I am looking for? I have read that upgrading the rear to discs doesn't yield appreciable results, so I have ruled that out for the time being. Thanks in advance everyone!

Wow, you've done all the things that I would have suggested, SS lines are probably one of the biggest improvements I could think of.. at least they made a real big difference on my bike for the feel...The only other thing I coud think of would be to upgrade to a big brake kit, or maybe 4-6 piston front calipers... (not even sure if they make them)oh, and BTW... welcome to the site!

Get a Porsche?

Are the brake lines steel? That might help.

Quote, originally posted by NibCrom »Are the brake lines steel? That might help.Installed Technafit SS Brake LinesSS: Stainless Steel

Oh...I thought it might be Super Sport.

Quote, originally posted by Raven »Get a Porsche? Yeah I had considered that, but I guess I would need a better job first In any case I was thinking that maybe a different master cylinder or some kind of master cylinder brace would help. Both of these things seem to help on other cars, but I don't know if other master cylinders are compatible and larger. I also have not seen any mention of an MC brace on here before, but I guess that they could be out there. Any thoughts?

about the only thing you can do to improve your brakes beyond what has already been suggested is to upgrade your brake booster to an aftermarket application which would be custom

oh well, i figured it was worth asking about anyway. At least I know that something on my car is as good as it gets Now I just have to do the engine, transmission, suspension.....

Quote, originally posted by synchro »Does anyone have any ideas on how I can further improve the brake system to get the feel I am looking for? I have read that upgrading the rear to discs doesn't yield appreciable results, so I have ruled that out for the time being. YES!!! Manually adjust the Rear Brakes! I find this makes a HUGE difference with my OE Brakes.

Quote, originally posted by Ol’ Timer »YES!!! Manually adjust the Rear Brakes! I find this makes a HUGE difference with my OE Brakes.I too would love to have a better brake feel. It has always seemed a bit soft to me compared with other vehicles I drive. And with my job I drive several types a day and most seem to have a better brake feel. The Nissans seem to have a supper sensitive brake feel.How would I do this myself...Dont feel like paying a shop $100 for a brake job if they only tell me that it is within some arbitrary spec.

Quote, originally posted by zionzr2 »I too would love to have a better brake feel. It has always seemed a bit soft to me compared with other vehicles I drive. And with my job I drive several types a day and most seem to have a better brake feel. The Nissans seem to have a supper sensitive brake feel.How would I do this myself...Dont feel like paying a shop $100 for a brake job if they only tell me that it is within some arbitrary spec.It's usually a simple job. Don't forget to use jack stands whenever you remove the wheels from the car and work on a firm level surface.After you remove the rear tire, the brake drum SHOULD slide off. Did you release the Emergency Brake???!!! Of course if you have never had the drums off they probably need some extra persuasion. You can either tap (Bang!) the drum with a hammer around its perimeter, to free the rust up, or put some bolts (8.8mm???)through the two holes that are on the front of the drum.http://forums.genvibe.com/zerothread?id=26369After the drum is removed, spray lots of Brake Cleaner around the entire rear brake assembly to get rid of all the crap that has been built up. Don't worry about getting the Brake Cleaner on the shoes it evaporates quickly. This is also a good time to use emery cloth on the brake shoes as well to get rid of any "glaze" that has built up. Also spray Brake Cleaner inside the brake drum to clean it as well. Next, take some emery cloth and rub it around the hub and the center hole of the brake drum to remove the rust. Also rub it around the brake drums outer lip to remove the built up rust there as well. The drum will go back on and off the car easier. Using a small screw driver move the adjusting star wheel a few clicks. I forget which way it goes but it only "clicks" one way. Put the drum back on the car and spin it. If it spins with no drag, then take the drum off the car and move the star wheel a few more clicks. Repeat as necessary until you get the drum to drag a bit. Then button it up and do the same for the other rear wheel. You should notice that, if done correctly, your emergency brake will not take more than a click or two to fully engage. And, most importantly, the brakes will be MUCH more responsive. Good Luck

Adjusting the rear breaks won't adjust your emergency brake cable. Thats a different adjustment.

Quote, originally posted by keithvibe »Adjusting the rear breaks won't adjust your emergency brake cable. Thats a different adjustment.By adjusting your rear brakes you are not touching the emergency brake cable at all. But by adjusting the shoes so that they are closer to the drums, you will not have to pull up on the emergency brake handle as far to engage the emergency brake. I hope I've made myself clearer. Also, for those of you that say that these are "self-adjusting brakes" wellllll, in all the years that I have driven a car with "self-adjusting rear drum brakes" they (self-adjuster's) have never worked.

I will definantly have to give that a try! I didn't really know how to adjust the rear drums, although I did just have to replace left rear wheel cylinder. I just put the adjuster to about where the right side was since the shoes were at about the same thickness. Anyway, I will try this on Friday morning when I get off of work.

My GT has lovely brakes, yours having drums probably doesn't help you on your quest for awesome brakes...Your rear brakes don't do much stopping anyways, you could try a big brake kit for the front if you felt like spending the money.Does anyone know if the gt and the base have the same front disks?

Quote, originally posted by synchro »I did just have to replace left rear wheel cylinder. I just put the adjuster to about where the right side was since the shoes were at about the same thickness.BINGO!!! I am positive THAT is your issue! Once your rear brakes are adjusted properly, I have no doubt you will see a dramatic improvement in your braking response and feel. Let us know.

Have you done a proper pad bedding procedure? Or rotor seasoning? If not, or you don't know exactly what it is, or the proper procedure, please follow the second link in my signature, to Baer Brakes, then find the tech section at the top of the page and follow into the Tech 202 section and finally into the bedding and seasoning sections... It helps, quite a bit, hardens the pads up properly, and applies the proper tempering to the rotors/drums... I just did a brake job on my moms car (front) and took it out and had the pads smokin, to burn off the phenolic material that is the beginning binder for the pad friction material, this has to be burnt off and the pad material sintered before good proper braking occurs... Gets to reading mang...