Made my Rear Brake Valve Proportioning Bracket

[Russ Kellermann]

I dont know why it took me so long to do this. I had been meaning to rectify the proportioning valve problem for ages. Anyway, knocked up the spacer plate pretty quickly.

Cut rough steel plate to rough size
Angle grind to correct size and clean up
Dill holes
Tap the top 2 holes
Spray
Install
Drink beer

Started off by using an old Stainless Steel Parliament Hinge i had lying around

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Gave it a coat or two of Rustolium Flat Black

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Was going to use the nuts but decided to Tap the Threads instead. Used Hex head Nuts for fastenings.

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All sorted. Camera died before i could get a pic of the final assembly.

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There was a positive difference to the braking that i could feel after i had completed the mod. However, i believe that the Wagons would benefit to a greater degree due to the use of rear disk brakes, as apposed to my rear drum brakes. The drum breaks in my opinion would more than likely show slightly less effective results.

[Grant]

Hi Russ,

Great post. Will be doing mine when I get back. Will have to lift 90 to 100 mm.

[Tinus lotz]

looks cool man

[LSnyman]

would you mind explaining to a dummy how bolting a metal plate to your diff improves braking...

seriously though - i don't quite follow the procedure but assume it's an adjustment to the load/weight sensoring and how much braking gets distributed to the rear brakes?

[Russ Kellermann]

@ Grant - Yes, i bet you will find it especially beneficial due to your 100mm install.

@ Tinus - thanks

@ LSnyman - Thats exactly right. The rear brake proportioning valve "lets the vehicle's brakes know" how much extra braking is required on the wheels when extra weight that is loaded,this occurs when the valve is pushed open or closed by means of a spring and lever arm, all connected to the rear diff.
However, when one lifts a vehicle (ie: 2" / 50mm) , the effect on the valve is therefore reversed and the brakes are then told that less braking force is needed to the wheels than would normally be required on an empty vehicle.
So to combat this one can simply extend the bracket ,that locates at the diff, to match the hight of the lift (ie: 50mm lift = 50mm bracket extension).
This way you end up with the correct (stock) valve proportioning regardless of how much you lift your vehicle.

I probably could have written this in a more legible way. Hope it makes sense.

[ChristoSlang]

Nice one Russ!

I made my out of aluminium, so I did not even bother painting it as rust is not a problem. Definitely a worthwhile mod...

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