WILLIAMS 2 BRAKE PADS

Hi all,

I've had my Williams 2 on the road since November following a big bunch of mechanical work and all's going well after a few initial teething issues.

I'm really enjoying driving Billy but the brakes don't appear to be very good, maybe I'm comparing them with my other much more modern car but they don't inspire a lot of confidence.

I fitted new Delphi pads all round, new discs on the front, new hoses and changed the fluid. The Rear discs cleaned up really well and were well within thickness limits so I didn't see a need to change them.

After a few hundred miles I discovered the master cylinder was dumping fluid into the servo so I stripped and cleaned it all out, fitted a new master cylinder and re-bled the system.

Everything appears to be in order, nice firm pedal, servo is working, rear bias valve is working, nothing binding or sticking, no pulling, vibration or brake fade.
Seems there's plenty of clamping going on when the pedal is pressed on all 4 wheels, just feels like there's not a lot of friction going on? The brakes work but not a lot of feedback or bite?

So now I'm wondering if maybe the pads aren't the best? I've used Delphi pads before on other cars and never had issue with them but maybe they don't suit the Wiliiams so well? Maybe modern friction materials rely on a bit more pressure than the Williams provides?

Does anyone have any recommendations or experience on which brand of pads work best?

I'm not looking for eye popping performance but my weekly trip to work takes me up some pretty challenging back-roads between North & South Wales and I generally hoon it so a little more bite from the brakes would be welcome

Any suggestions?

Ta

Stu W

ferodo ds 2500 are apparently the go to pads..

Do you think you've glazed the discs because they haven't bedded in with the new pads? The rears hardly do anything anyway.

I'm posting this in nearly total ignorance, but I know there are different schools of thought on bedding in new brakes. Changing the pads may not make any difference if the new discs are glazed.

For the price of other pads/disks, I'd just swap them out and see how you go.

Paul

I take it the rears bled up ok?

Thanks for the replies,

Yup, rear brakes are bled up ok, I took the pads out a while ago and no sign of any glazing and I would doubt they've had hard enough use to glaze them anyway?

I have a long history of mucking about with old cars, spent years tinkering with a Mk2 Escort RS2000 some years back and went through all the brake upgrades including various pad upgrades and eventually went to an all disc set-up with 4 pot front calipers in the quest for better braking, usually because I had a tendency to arrive at corners a little too quickly back then ;o)

Now I just feel that a performance hot hatch like the Williams should have better brakes than this one does? I'm not looking to embark on an extensive upgrade program, the car is completely stock and I'd rather keep it that way. I'm just curious as to whether anyone has had similar experience with their own Williams or if there is a brand or type of pad that works better than others?

Cheers

Stu W

If you prefer better braking it might be worth putting 406 Brembos I believe there are straight fit.