Are BX brakes TOO good?
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Are BX brakes TOO good?
I ask this after coming very, very close to smashing my super-rare BX estate into a Merc Sprinter on a tiny mountain road. My fault entirely - too much hoon - and it was only cadence braking (ie manual ABS) that allowed me to bring the BX to a somewhat skiddy halt with milimetres to spare. I really did think I was going to hit it.
What struck me is that in the heat of the moment, it's very, very difficult to moderate brake pedal pressure to find that sweet point that offers maximum braking without locking up. Modern cars can have brakes as sharp as a BX (and Mk1 BX brakes really are sharp) because they have ABS.
S'pose I've demonstrated that despite it's not-100% engine, the BX still can manage too quick! On the plus side, the handbrake is a hell of a lot better now! Tells you something about how much pedal pressure is needed to make it self-adjust.
What struck me is that in the heat of the moment, it's very, very difficult to moderate brake pedal pressure to find that sweet point that offers maximum braking without locking up. Modern cars can have brakes as sharp as a BX (and Mk1 BX brakes really are sharp) because they have ABS.
S'pose I've demonstrated that despite it's not-100% engine, the BX still can manage too quick! On the plus side, the handbrake is a hell of a lot better now! Tells you something about how much pedal pressure is needed to make it self-adjust.
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If your used to a 2CV, BX brakes will feel inferior for this kind of situation. I have driven many types of cars, but the one with the most progressive brakes where that "sweet spot" can be found easiest was a Dyane. You could pick a point on the road and know that you can stop before it. I once had a fright in my Dyane when hurtling down a fast windy mountain road, and a T-Junction came out of nowhere. I thought I was a gonna, but the Dyane just stopped.
- citsncycles
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I believe that any Citroen with high pressure brakes are too good, but only because of the number that seem to be shunted from behind!
Mike Sims
BX 19RD Estate Mk1 - Timex!
BX 4X4 Estate - Oh god, I've done it again!
BX 17RD MK1 - it called to me!
BX14 TGE, - SOLD
XM Turbo SD,GS Club Estate,Visa 17D Leader,HY Pickup,Dyane Nomad,Dyane 6,2CV AZL,Falcon S,Trabant P50,3x Land Rovers (88" series 1,109" series 2a FFR,series 2a Marshall ambulance),DKW F7, Lambretta LD150 x 1.5,Mobylette SP93,Ural Cossack,Ural M63,CZ 250 Sport,Honda Varadero 125,lots of bicycles & tricycles including (but not only) Sunbeams,Higgins & Bates!
BX 19RD Estate Mk1 - Timex!
BX 4X4 Estate - Oh god, I've done it again!
BX 17RD MK1 - it called to me!
BX14 TGE, - SOLD
XM Turbo SD,GS Club Estate,Visa 17D Leader,HY Pickup,Dyane Nomad,Dyane 6,2CV AZL,Falcon S,Trabant P50,3x Land Rovers (88" series 1,109" series 2a FFR,series 2a Marshall ambulance),DKW F7, Lambretta LD150 x 1.5,Mobylette SP93,Ural Cossack,Ural M63,CZ 250 Sport,Honda Varadero 125,lots of bicycles & tricycles including (but not only) Sunbeams,Higgins & Bates!
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I generally agree that the BX brakes are hard to modulate and the 2CV's non-servo brakes offer a more linear feel but it's not just about the brakes... I've found the BX fronts are far more inclined to lock up when the struts are a bit sticky and/or the spheres are past their best - basically instead of the front of the car dipping and transferring weight onto the front contact patch, the suspension doesn't compress and the weight is acting to push the tyres along the tarmac. Especially noticeable when towing a trailer.
1990 BX TZD Estate ('the grey one', 1991 BX TZD Estate ('the white one'), 1982 2CV6 Charleston (in bits), 1972 AZU Serie B (2CV van), 1974 HY72 Camper, 1990 Land Rover 110 diesel LWB, 1957 Mobylette AV76, 1992 Ducati 400SS, 1966 VW Beetle, 1990 Mazda MX-5, 1996 Peugeot 106D, 1974 JCB 2D MkII, 1997 BMW R1100RS, 1987 Suzuki GSX-R1100, 1978 Honda CX500A, 1965 Motobecane Cady, 1988 Honda Bros/Africa Twin, 1963 Massey Ferguson 825, and a lot of bicycles!
the only time i find hydraulic citroen brakes to sharp/fearce is when air is in the system,
what happens there is you loose your first braking presure on the pedel, so when you find some brakes it locks every thing up,
regards malcolm
what happens there is you loose your first braking presure on the pedel, so when you find some brakes it locks every thing up,
regards malcolm
curent ride
K reg BX 17TD TZD est
also own
K reg D special
no longer have
H reg CX saffari 2.5 TRI (now gone to Malaysia)
R reg xantia 1.9TD est (gone to meet its maker)
K reg BX 17TD TZD est
also own
K reg D special
no longer have
H reg CX saffari 2.5 TRI (now gone to Malaysia)
R reg xantia 1.9TD est (gone to meet its maker)
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I'm convinced there is nothing wrong with the brakes. They feel like hydraulic Citroen brakes should feel. Lots of stopping power.
Suspension is an interesting call. The spheres are hard and the car has been feeling a bit wayward. Maybe it's time I got them replaced. Well, I know it's time I got them replaced, just waiting for pay day! Full set of spheres including accumulator is my plan.
Suspension is an interesting call. The spheres are hard and the car has been feeling a bit wayward. Maybe it's time I got them replaced. Well, I know it's time I got them replaced, just waiting for pay day! Full set of spheres including accumulator is my plan.
- Mike E (uk)
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Thing is, I'm very used to those roads. It was less about learning a lesson and more about the classic inattention. If you drive quickly, you really do need to focus.
Came through the same section in the 2CV today at a much steadier pace, though I did get the back end airborne on a different mountain road section...
Came through the same section in the 2CV today at a much steadier pace, though I did get the back end airborne on a different mountain road section...