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Bought a 66 Toronado, but the front brakes lock - release within an hour. When I take it out, after about one mile the front really locks and becomes very hot. I tried to hit the brakes when cold and it locks but releases much faster. The whole installation is 3 years old (seller receipts) and has a vacuum pump and a proportioning valve? The tubes routing is a mess. Any suggestions? The booster, master cylinder and calipers all look good (I even checked the calipers and pushed in the pistons - but nothing changed). I suspect that large copper assembly (proportioning valve?), but I don't know
I suggest you remove the aftermarket brakes and get OE brakes from a parts car in the salvage yard. Here are two salvage yards that should have a first generation Toronado.
OE parts won't be cheap, but you'll spend just as much paying a shop to get that aftermarket setup to work. If you're set on fixing the aftermarket brakes yourself I would agree that there's a problem with the combination valve. Here's some good reading.
When power brakes lock like that then unlock after a while, it is often caused by an improperly-adjusted pushrod to the brake pedal that is holding the booster air admittance valve open. This applies the brakes. The vacuum in the booster leaks down over time, which is why the brakes release after an hour or so.
This is yet another example of my broken record, is that most aftermarket disc brake kits are poorly designed, and nearly all of those are incorrectly installed. It amazes me how clueless these supposed experts really are.
What brakes do you actually have on the front? Are they used factory discs, or some aftermarket bastardization?
Thank you guys for the advise.
The front brakes + master etc. were installed during the previous ownership - so I don't know if they are from a later Toronado. However all looks quite new, so I assume that they are from some aftermarket set/kit. I do have the installation bill for about $1500, and the mechanics must have been an artist (created a whole art project with all the pipe lines). Can anyone tell me what is that Cooper part in my second photo - it has some k *** on it?
The master cylinder, booster, and everything in those photos are aftermarket, not OEM from a newer Toro. My question was about the actual spindles and calipers, since no aftermarket company sells those parts for a Toro. The brass block under the master cylinder is the combination valve, which contains the metering and proportioning valves for the brakes in addition to the differential pressure switch that turns on the BRAKE light on the dash if you loose pressure in one half of the system. The fundamental problem is that these aftermarket parts are all designed for Chevelles and Camaros. GM had about seven different combination valves, each tailored to a specific car line and weight distribution. The aftermarket only has that one PV2 valve. The only certainty here is that it isn't calibrated correctly for the heavy front weight bias of a Toronado. The other problem is that you have no idea what the bore of the master cylinder is and if it is even close to being matched with the calipers that were used. Once again, very, very few brake "specialists" have any kind of clue as to how to properly design and install a brake system. That aftermarket booster also looks too small, which will seriously degrade the braking force available.
Thank you for your input. The calipers appear to be from a 68 Toronado (I'm guessing because I compared those to used ones).
Next week I'll follow your suggestions and if nothing works - I'll have to use my engineering skills.
1968 Toronado has 4 piston Calipers --- and while not pictured --- I doubt VERY MUCH --- that that set up is using a very difficult to find 1967 - 1968 Eldorado/ Toronado 4 piston caliper.....
If it is using a 4 piston Caliper, I would venture to believe it is a Corvette Caliper --- since that is a ( 4 wheel disc brake ) Corvette Master Cylinder .......( " Kind of " --- because it is a poorly designed
disc Brake Conversion Kit --- with the fittings for either side Master Cylinder..... ) that you will see on many Hot Rods and Street Rods.....
Craig.....
Last edited by mpolds; March 15th, 2024 at 07:09 PM.
Thank you for your input. The calipers appear to be from a 68 Toronado (I'm guessing because I compared those to used ones).
Next week I'll follow your suggestions and if nothing works - I'll have to use my engineering skills.
Post photos of the calipers and spindles for more positive identification. Playing twenty questions is not the best way to get useful information and it tends to frustrate people who are trying to help you. The mind reading thing still isn't working.
March 15th, 2024, 09:18 AM
