brake balance

[Tom Jennings <tomj@xxxxxxx>]

My rear brakes have been grabby since day #1 (on my 70 Hornet).  
Spelunking in my notes I found out why -- the rear wheel cylinders  
are .875" (7/8"), for a four-wheel-drum-brake car, and up front I've  
got Bendix calipers. (I was gonna go all drum but chickened out and  
switched to disks.)

(Bendix caliper small cars got .8125" (13/16") rear wheel cylinders,  
at least 1979 did.)

That would explain the overactive rear brakes (too much area on rear  
pistons).

But for the record, the 1" drum brake master cylinder, and one- 
diaphragm drum brake booster, makes for excellent pedal; plenty of  
assist but nowhere near "feather touch". The bigger M.S. bore (1970  
drum 1" vs. 1979 disk brake cars got .945" (24mm) masters) raises  
pedal pressure (but lowers travel), a nice match for a modest amount  
of boost.

Yes, I popped out the master cylinder residual-pressure valve for the  
front brakes.