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Author Topic: Pumping the brakes  (Read 13853 times)

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GTRS Fiero

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Pumping the brakes
« on: January 25, 2019, 10:49:09 pm »
How many of you have to pump the brakes on your Fiero?  Is this for hard stops, for slick stops, or just regular stopping?

pgackerman

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Re: Pumping the brakes
« Reply #1 on: January 26, 2019, 08:06:50 am »


Only pump my brakes in slick conditions.

ABS is the one modern item I'd like in Fieros.
Red '88 GT 5-Speed, 7730ECM, 1.6 Rockers, and KEYLESS Entry! 
Now with a trailer hitch for my bike rack.
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GTRS Fiero

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Re: Pumping the brakes
« Reply #2 on: January 26, 2019, 08:14:03 am »
Shouldn't be too hard to add.  You could use the solenoid and such from an early Saturn.  Probably easier on an automatic, due to space concerns.

I think that the issue is more about feel and control of the brakes.  Any vehicle with numb brakes is hard to control.  Some vehicles brake more like an on/off switch.  Since the brake work on my Fiero, this hasn't been an issue.

Fierofool

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Re: Pumping the brakes
« Reply #3 on: January 26, 2019, 08:19:02 am »
During RFTH, I pump my brakes rapidly to warn vehicles behind that we're approaching a very sharp curve.  Though I can stop efficiently with the 87, I sometimes let off once and reapply the brakes to get a better pedal because I failed to properly adjust my calipers when I installed new pads on the rear.

When I lived in snow country, before ABS and FWD cars became the norm, I had tried pumping, but it wasn't that effective.  I eventually realized that with an automatic, the rear wheels are still pushing the car while the front wheels lock up and slide on the ice or snow.  It can be frightening when coming to a stop sign or light.  I found that by placing the vehicle into Neutral allowed all 4 wheels to brake without sliding. 
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