rear brake dist. block/bias valve

[Hack]

I was in a wrecking yard recently looking at a pair of maroon 89s. I noticed that the rear brake distribution block and related parts looked quite a bit different then what I remembered seeing on my own 89.

While it did help me to realize why I never quite understood the modifications required when installing tubular rear control arms, I am now worried that the way my car is set up may cause a problem. I guess that I should mention that I have never had any problem with the rear brakes locking up prematurely in the past.

Anyway, here are a couple of pics of my car;

I again would like to apologize for the poor quality of the pictures, they're the best that my camera can provide.

In the second picture, you can sort of make out where the mount on the control arm is in the lower right.

So I guess that the question would be, should I hustle back to the wrecking yard and pick up one of those assemblies? Also, I have a set of tubular control arms on the way right now. Should I just leave it for now and have a cockpit adjustable proportioning valve installed instead? Any help from the resident brake gurus is appreciated.
---------------
Glen

<small>[ January 21, 2004, 09:04 PM: Message edited by: yellowSHO ]</small>

 

[Mr Anonymous]

You are missing the arm that actuates the bias valves, so you are getting almost no pressure to your rear calipers, so they are contributing almost nothing to your braking.

Best bet if you're going with tubular control arms would be to get the bias plugs from Josh or Kirk which will set the bias to a fixed setting, about 60/40 IIRC.

 

[Hack]

I talked to Todd at TCE and he told me that I definately do not want the bias plugs because I have no ABS. I forgot to secify the no ABS part in the original post.

<small>[ January 21, 2004, 09:13 PM: Message edited by: yellowSHO ]</small>

 

[Mr Anonymous]

yellowSHO:
I talked to Todd at TCE and he told me that I definately do not want the bias plugs because I have no ABS. I forgot to secify the no ABS part in the original post.

Correct, my bad! doh I missed your mention of having an '89. Ideally you should replace the arm, and even with tubulars you can have a brackets welded to an arm for it.

 

[luigisho]

You will then want to get the missing hardware or another assembly and try to fabricate a solution. Keep asking around. I'm sure a few owners have fabbed up a solution.

<small>[ January 21, 2004, 11:22 PM: Message edited by: luigisho ]</small>

 

[Hack]

Thanks guys! I will look into having a mounting tab welded on the tubular control arms. I am lucky enough to have an extremely talented engineer/fabricator who lives near me named Carl Jantz. His rates for custom work are very good. When I receive the TCAs I will run it past him.

He is also the guy I would go for on an adjustable proportioning valve. He stocks Wilwood parts. I like the idea of this because the car is mainly for track use anyway.

Just for the fun of it, here is a link to Jantz Engineering . He specializes in 4x4s, but he is a very talented guy all around.

<small>[ January 22, 2004, 12:38 AM: Message edited by: yellowSHO ]</small>