Tech Talk
VIBRATION: In either steering wheel, brake pedal or even the entire vehicle can be caused by the disc rotor surface being scored, loose brake components or faulty steering components.
HARD OR LOW (SOFT) BRAKE PEDAL: Possible causes are restricted brake lines, frozen calipers or wheel cylinders, or even damaged brake linings. Soft brake pedal indicates adjustment required or more serious problems.
GRAB: Low foot pressure causing brakes to grab is a sign of contamination of the braking surface or a component getting ready to fail - usually in an extreme braking situation.
PULL OR DRAG: if your vehicle pulls to one side when braking, possible causes are low tyre pressure, frozen callipers or brake adjustment required. Drag is caused by your brakes failing to release, which leads to poor economy and eventually brake failure.
SQUEAK OR SQUEAL: some noise is expected however excessive squealing, grinding or chatter requires attention. Correct fitment procedure by experienced brake technicians is paramount in eliminating these noises.
| Car Usage | Tech Details | Product | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Normal Road Use | Your brakes are worn out and you need good quality replacement brakes at less than vehicle manufactures's prices. | RDA Economy Range | |
Better Brake Performance |
You need better stopping power in normal road use plus reduces brake dust. | EBC Ultimax Reg 90 Kevlar | |
| Road Sport Upgrade | You want to upgrade your brakes to better than original parts with less dust. | EBC Greenstuff | |
| Club Sport/Targa Compound | You have a highly tuned sedan or performance car and want the best brakes for fast road use and occasional track use. | EBC Redstuff Ceramic | |
| Full Range & Targa Compound | You have a race car or performance car and wish to use it regularly on the track | EBC Yellow Stuff | |
| Full Race | You have a dedicated race car, track use only. | EBC Blue Stuff | |
EBC's standard material compound for road going vehicles is the Ultimax ECE Reg 90. It's approved (Original Equipment Grade) range is certified for all road vehicles, including light commercials. Recommended upgrades for fast road, race, or rally use are as follows:
GREEN for road/sport upgrade on cars and race use on lighter cars up to 750 kilos. RED CERAMIC for Performance cars in fast street, rally or asphalt racing.
YELLOW for race use on Group N & full race cars. BLUE for longer races. See below for appropriate compound selection.
To gain optimum performance from Noltec components take the following precautions when installing:
a. Ensure all suspension parts are free from rust, scale, paint and previous rubber deposits.
b. Shackle and mounting pins, control arm and spring eyes and shoulders must show no major signs of pitting or damage - any damaged components must be replaced or repaired to vehicle manufacturer's tolerances.
c. Goop grease has been supplied in the kits where required and must be used to optimise bush performance and durability. Goop grease has been formulated from a reinforced No. 2 lithium complex base and selected additives with molybdenum disulphide for mechanical stability, extreme pressure qualities for extended life and a high melting or drop point of 2300 C minimum. Goop grease should only be applied to the bores and outer flanges of all bushes and components - it is not recommended to grease the outside surfaces of bushes and components.
d. Tighten mounting bolts with the vehicle at normal ride height, to minimise risk of premature bush failure.
Replacing bushes and ball joints has always been a headache for the trade and DIY installers. The time spent carrying out such jobs reduces workshop efficiency and ultimately profit.
Out with the old, in with the blue!!!
Noltec Softride spring eye and shackle bushes...
Induce free pivot in spring length changes under bump and droop loading
Enhance manoeuverability
Eliminate pitching (rocking horse ride) in short wheel based 4WD's
Permit camber and spring length change ultimately reducing axle tramp
Shock absorber advances and demands for improved travel and load bearing has placed extra importance and stress on shock absorber bushings.
Out with the old, in with the blue!!!
Noltec Softride shock absorber bushings...
Eliminate low speed valving lag, including the use of heavy duty hydraulic and gas shocks.
Enhance the performance of both new and used shock absorbers
Have superior density and linear flow properties, radically enhancing capacity to cope with bump and rebound travel.
Power steering, aggressive wheel alignment geometry, wider wheels and lower profile tyres have all put radically increased loadings on the steering systems of modern cars. This has resulted in more premature wear and failure of steering components and rack mount bushings. Most OEM designs employ soft rack mount bushings to minimise road harshness being transferred into the steering wheel. Engine oil leaks also help to degrade the performance of steering rack mount bushes.
Out with the old, in with the blue!!!
Noltec Softride steering rack mount bushes...
Exude characteristics that are chemically resistant to oils, coolants and solvents
Enhances the stability of the steering rack.
Load transfer whilst cornering, resulting in body roll is controlled by the vehicle's stabiliser or sway bars. As the suspension is loaded during cornering, the sway bar links attached to the wishbones, transfer movement through the sway bar to the opposite side of the vehicle's suspension. Fitment of urethane link bushes will reduce lag in the sway bar as the suspension moves (refer to notes on shock absorber bushes). Rubber bread loaf or D mount bushes which attach the bar to the chassis dampen the bar's rate by not permitting total load transfer across the bar. Making the sway bar free pivoting with the fitment of urethane bushings actually increases the bar rate - urethane link and D mount bushes will increase the active bar rate 20-30%.
Out with the old, in with the blue...
Noltec Softride sway bar bushes
Increase bar rates by 20-30%
Reduce lag in the suspension as the bar moves
Pivot at both mounting points, utilising entire bar length
Live axles on the majority of passenger vehicles, light and heavy commercials and 4WD's are located by trailing arms or torque rods. Rubber bushings in these links permit excess pinion angle changes resulting in premature differential, universal, tailshaft and sometimes gearbox failure. Vehicles with two piece tailshafts suffer shudder on take-off and driveline shudder when heavily loaded in open highway conditions. Properly designed and lifted urethane bushes will immediately address the pinion angle change and associated problems.
Out with the old, in with the blue
Noltec Softride trailing arm bushes
Permit optimum pinion angle changes eliminating differential, tailshaft and/or gearbox failure.
Eliminate take off and driveline shudder under heavy loads
Inability to control fore and aft movement of the suspension under minor braking, turning, bump and dynamic suspension loads is common to vehicles with single blade control arms held in position by radius rods, in attempting to achieve optimum ride comfort many OEM manufacturers are designing radius rods with bushes at both ends.
Under brakes or bump the wheels move back and then recover forward as the brakes are released, the vehicle comes to rest or continues ahead. This rearward movement of the wheels induces negative castor increases in the suspension geometry. The following problems can occur during driving along a changing road surface running diagonally across the road:
- Left wheel impacts joint and moves back. As negative caster is induced, wheel pulls left. Right wheel steers straight ahead.
- Left wheel moves forward into positive caster- wheel pulls right. Right wheel impacts joint and moves back. As negative caster is induced wheel pulls right.
- Right wheel moves forward into positive caster- wheel pulls to left. Left wheel steers straight ahead.
- The opposite will occur if the change in road surface runs in the other direction across the vehicle.
