Vin: 6457, Grey Manual

[DeLorean Cars]

I think they were just a bit cack, but I never drove it. I remember a certain woman who-shall-remain-nameless who knew what it was like to be a passenger in DGS be a passenger in mine and thought I was going to crash. Mine braked much like a modern car at the time. I remember going out with Dave once and he nearly went into the back of someone - I got the impression the brakes felt very wooden. Perhaps the pads or servo have been changed since then and that did the trick.

I suspect Dave changed the front hoses but never got around to the rears. He had a nightmare on a couple of cars and I think felt a bit allergic to that particular job (bit like me and front speakers )

It certainly looks like the car's in great hands now.

[Dan 6511]

I admit the pedal is a little harder to press than a modern car but it still pulls up ok and can lock all 4 wheels easily, and it felt no worse than another delorean I have driven.

Perhaps as you say the pads, discs etc were in poor shape when Dave owned it.

[DeLorean Cars]

It does sound like it could use a new servo - probably has been like that for a long time! DeLorean brakes can be made as effective as any modern car, as long as everything works as designed and quality pads are fitted (I'm going to add EBC redstuffs to my site shortly).

[Daniel Shane]

I originally tested EBC Red stuff pads from http://www.powerstop.co.uk, Ford Cortina fronts and Jag XJS rear, on my Delorean when I had it a few years ago and you can ask Glen how well they stopped the car.

Only thing is there a little more abrasive then standard pads so you may find that the discs dont last as long as they normally would. Also can be a little wooden until they have some heat in them so apply them before you need them, if that makes

Dan

[jerzybondov]

Going slightly off-topic here, but surely brakes on a D will always require more effort to get the equivalent stopping power than on a modern car? How do you know when your servo needs changing, as opposed to actually being in perfect condition, but simply part of an old braking system?

[bozzzydmc]

Like Dan I have the EBC ones on but the 'green' ones, personally feel these are great pads and after 3 years they are still brill at stopping the car. Seems like i dont get much brake dust on the outsite of the wheels either ....

There is a reference for these in the XParts section if your interested.

Next time I think I will go for the reds based on Glens arse clenching experience, I remember that lol

[DeLorean Cars]

I've tested the greens and reds and the reds win hands down for this reason: The reds are designed to work at a MUCH higher temperature, but their cold performance is only fractionally worse than a green stuff (still better than standard pads from Mintex or Ferodo - the best of the standard). And here's the thing: if you drive enthusiastically, the DeLorean's solid discs heat up RAPIDLY. At this point, the reds really start to grab. A DeLorean will cheerfully out-brake a GTA (with its vented discs) when wearing reds and if you use DOT 5.1 fluid, there's much less chance of problems of boiling fluid.

Rob Williams has covered over 15000 miles with 260hp to play with using reds and 5.1 fluid and they're only halfway gone - and he has been working them HARD, including pulling up to a stop from 140mph with no visible effect.

I get trade from EBC so can beat Powerstop's price. Retail on reds excluding postage is:

Fronts £50.06
Rears £58.65

I do them for £99 for a full set incl postage.

As for how to know if the servo is going - basically the pedal feels "wooden" and you have really lean on them if braking hard. It's also likely to be causing a vac leak and causing the engine to run lean.

As for performing on a par with a modern car: remember the DeLorean can play a trump card that it shares with the Alpines (which use a 50/50 split and identical discs all round) and Porsche 911: it's engine is behind the rear axle. Where most cars do 90+% of their braking on the front wheels, the DeLorean can safely use the rears for a large proportion of its braking. With the original rear calipers (NB: NOT Jag ones), and a 50/50 m/c, the braking effort on the rear exceeds that at the front, but the larger diameter wheels, greater weight and larger "footprint", the fronts still lock up first, and this is very important for safety.

A full set of calipers, stainless hoses and a 50/50 m/c is the most common job I ever do on DeLoreans. A new servo and redstuff pads really makes them keen. Of course at that point you realise from the squirrelly handling that you probably want polybushes esp at the fornt.... it never ends, but yes, the DeLorean can have very capable braking.

[jerzybondov]

So reading between the lines Martin, are you saying that Jag calipers on the back are good, or that you should avoid them as it might lead to locking the rears under heavy braking?

[DeLorean Cars]

The DeLorean rear calipers are Jag calipers but have larger pots than the off-the-shelf exchange units.

[bozzzydmc]

Arh I see, so stick with stock... or rebuilt ones... if needs be.

The DeLorean rear calipers are Jag calipers but have larger pots than the off-the-shelf exchange units.