ZZP Brake Upgrade, Comments, and a Question: Pads Dragging

mcanderson0

mcanderson0

Member
I just finished a nightmarish ZZP brake install. Just a few kinks to work out still...

Basically, they sent front calipers with the wrong mounting holes (had to heli-coil to M12-1.75) and the right rear caliper locked up and wouldnt return to resting position under normal use. Seems like the piston is stuck. So I manually pushed the piston back down, reinstalled, then it locked up again when I drove home.

Henry at ZZP is taking care of me, but a lot of time went down the drain since I had to reinstall my stock drums in the rear for now. Oh well, experience is gold, right?

So the fronts are mounted and feel great under hard use. The pedal is still a bit soft initially, but each bleed comes out clean, so I figure maybe the pads need a good break in. Any comments on this?

The next day, the front end alignment felt off, but I havent done anything to the suspension since the alignment 4 months ago. I jack up the car and spin each wheel. The front brakes are dragging a bit. For those that have done the ZZP install (or any for that matter) and have experienced the pads dragging, what is the best way to fix it? I am driving to Indianapolis next week and there's no way I can make the trip with the brakes tugging on my steering wheel the whole time.

I appreciate any help. Thanks!
 
B

Big Turbo Sonic

Member
mcanderson0 said:
I just finished a nightmarish ZZP brake install. Just a few kinks to work out still...

Basically, they sent front calipers with the wrong mounting holes (had to heli-coil to M12-1.75) and the right rear caliper locked up and wouldnt return to resting position under normal use. Seems like the piston is stuck. So I manually pushed the piston back down, reinstalled, then it locked up again when I drove home.

Henry at ZZP is taking care of me, but a lot of time went down the drain since I had to reinstall my stock drums in the rear for now. Oh well, experience is gold, right?

So the fronts are mounted and feel great under hard use. The pedal is still a bit soft initially, but each bleed comes out clean, so I figure maybe the pads need a good break in. Any comments on this?

The next day, the front end alignment felt off, but I havent done anything to the suspension since the alignment 4 months ago. I jack up the car and spin each wheel. The front brakes are dragging a bit. For those that have done the ZZP install (or any for that matter) and have experienced the pads dragging, what is the best way to fix it? I am driving to Indianapolis next week and there's no way I can make the trip with the brakes tugging on my steering wheel the whole time.

I appreciate any help. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Sorry to hear about your experience. I have certainly been there before. Its frustrating as all heck. My zzp big breaks did not necessarily feel any stronger on light breaking. So yeah it still felt a little soft if your light breaking, but then under medium breaking, its significantly increased.

My zzp rear disk break conversion did not go smooth either. The e-brake cable wasnt long enough!? At the time I had an automatic so I didnt care, but now with my manual I just didnt even bother installing them. When they were on the auto the rears would hang up and cause an obnoxious squeak from time to time. Never messed with my steering.

Where are you from out of curiosity? I am from Northwest Indiana.
 
Natesriv

Natesriv

Lead Foot
rear brakes dragging?

There's an adjustment nut at the base of the parking brake in the interior. Deep socket, like 10mm I think... that tightens or lets out the e-brake cable. I had to do it on my rear conversion too...
 
B

Big Turbo Sonic

Member
Natesriv said:
rear brakes dragging?

There's an adjustment nut at the base of the parking brake in the interior. Deep socket, like 10mm I think... that tightens or lets out the e-brake cable. I had to do it on my rear conversion too...
Click to expand...

Yeah from a stop the rear brakes would hang up just enough to cause a squeaking noise from a stop. And thank you for that bit of information. ZZP never even mentioned that to me.
 
MaD

MaD

Member
On the disk calipers make sure you lube the pins, I like using sil-glyde, it does not run with high temps and stays where you put it, or white lithium greese, that works too. Make sure the alignment is good too, take the disk off and put the caliper pins in and see if it slides good too... not being there makes it kinda hard to diagnose.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk
 
mcanderson0

mcanderson0

Member
Thanks for the input guys.

One thing I read was to not fill the brake fluid reservoir to MAX since the two-piston calipers will displace more fluid back to the reservoir. Makes sense, so I used a syringe to pull some fluid out. I left it at a little over half full now.

Thanks for the input MaD, I think I'm going to remove them tomorrow and make sure everything is free-moving and shave the pads down a bit. I think the pads are just too thick. I'll report back after I remove the pads tmrw and sand away some of the height.

Big Turbo, I'm in Houston but driving to Indianapolis for Slamology.
 
SouthFLSonic

SouthFLSonic

Active member
minitrucking02 said:
Basically, the kit is calipers and pads (02 chevy Camaro ss) and rotors (14 buick encore)



You can build the kit yourself for half that price
Click to expand...



So the 02 Camaro calipers bolt right up? Sounds like ZZP had a special bracket to make them fit.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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