Brake issues

[SHO5]

First issue,
Well, as of right now I have the 11.6 in rotors in the front and my rear brakes work for crap. When i put the pedal to the floor they will not kick the abs in. They never have. I have stainless steel brake lines all around, just replaced brake fluid with Valvoline sythetic. The rear proportioning valve is completely rusted and does not function at all. I had it on the lift the other day at school and the valve wouldn't budge. The spring thingy connected to the control arm isn't even tight when rested on the ground. I was wonder i i would have to get a whole new proportioning valve for the back just to put the bias plugs in. What the difference if i were to take the proportioning valve out and just join the two ends in the back.

Second issue,
My dad just got done doing a brake upgrade on his 00' gt and he said i could have the calipers. Would i be able to mount these with my 11.6'' brakes or would i have to use my old 10.9''ers. I like to keep this as easy as possible but do the brake lines match up right. I like to keep my surface area with my 11.6'' brakes but i could sacrifice if the calipers indeed make up for this.

any replies would be greatly appreciated

 

[JEM]

The rear brakes should never lock, the only time you should ever be able to get the rears to kick in the ABS is if one wheel hits a wet paint stripe or some such under braking.

On dry pavement in a straight line it should always be the fronts triggering the ABS.

The rear brakes on a SHO do almost nothing anyway, the axle valve mostly shuts them off under hard braking.

 

[SHO5]

First off my abs never ever kicks in. My brakes aren't good enough. I don't know the problem. my 89 could lock them up but not this one.

For day to day driving the car with more brake bias to the rear would give better pedal feel and less pedal effort to slow the car down to a stop. On the other hand it may drive different but overall the brake should be better. I have driven my dads car many times. He joined the two ends and his brakes blow his mustangs away. he also has no abs, just never fixed it. can i just join them or is this bad

 

[JEM]

For day to day driving the car with more brake bias to the rear would give better pedal feel and less pedal effort to slow the car down to a stop.

Lock the rear wheels when braking hard and you're going off the road sideways.

 

[ohfosho]

the taurus is a pretty heavy car. under normal and most harder braking, you will probably not get the ABS kicking in. if you really want to know, go brake ******* a stone road. (i was going to say in snow...but i see california in you're info...so yeah...not so much)i have only felt mine in the snow...i feel they kicked on too hard, and too early...actually scared me a few times, i feel i would have more controlled stops without it.

 

[keny_kimmel]

I didn't think that 89's had ABS, IIRC. Also, I got mine (94) to lock and I almost ended up needing a new pair of shorts. Since the back spun out and I was facing an embankment and a ditch. I was going too fast and put too much break on it too late. I know, stupid on my part. flame away.

 

[38SHO]

Lock the rear wheels when braking hard and you're going off the road sideways.

I've done that many times and that has never caused me to crash, now it could have caused many other drivers to crash but learn some GD car control, man I'd really like to goto a track event with SHO's just to see how everyone drives them. With a couple choice suspension mods and good small sidewall tires, the taurus becomes more of a predictable, controllable, beast. I will admit as far as oversteer is concerned the Taurus can be a handful, but if you know its characteristics and plan to use the road accordingly, you can have a lot of fun if you have a lot of balls. Another thing I've noticed that really helps with these cars more so then others is to brake hard going in a straight line before the corner. I know thats a common thing people point out, but it plays a key role in Taurus balancing and handling. It is all about comming into the corner properly in a Taurus.

 

[Markus]

The rear brakes on a SHO do almost nothing anyway, the axle valve mostly shuts them off under hard braking.

I disagree. I just replaced my proportioning valve and my braking distance from any speed, under light and heavy braking, dropped substantially.

 

[SHO Dude]

I disagree. I just replaced my proportioning valve and my braking distance from any speed, under light and heavy braking, dropped substantially.

I agree with that as well. I highly recommend replacing the proportioning valve and not installing the bias plugs. Proper adjustment of the valve will help your braking a bunch.

 

[ml98188]

I agree with that as well. I highly recommend replacing the proportioning valve and not installing the bias plugs. Proper adjustment of the valve will help your braking a bunch.

So just how DO you adjust the proportioning valve and how much adjustment is there???? I just put preloaded calipers on all 4 corners and mine has the same problem - little or no percievable braking from the rear brakes.

 

[SHO5]

my whole valve assembly is rusted completely where can i buy a new one

 

[luigisho]

my whole valve assembly is rusted completely where can i buy a new one

I haven't seen them offered at the ususal parts stores. I guess you have to go through a dealer --or I would go with Torrie at fastpartsnetwork.com. Alot of stuff doesn't show up in the online catalog, but Torrie is usually quick to respond to requests.

 

[SHO Dude]

Give us a call. I think they're just a little more than $100.