Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting Guide
LOSE YOUR PEDAL DURING RACE
CAUSE SOLUTION
Fluid boiling due to wet fluid or foot drag Flush out entire system with fresh Wilwood Hi-Temp° 570 racing brake fluid. Install dashboard brake light reminder.
Undersize brake system Refer to the caliper web pages to select the correct caliper/rotor combination for your application.
Wrong size residual pressure valve Use no larger than 2lb residual pressure valve.
Incorrect or faulty master cylinder Repair or replace master cylinder.
Leak in caliper or hydraulic lines Check for leaks in caliper and lines.
Inadequate ducting Reposition air ducts to center of rotor and caliper. (refer to Wilwood air duct technical sheet)
Pedal linkage failure Check pedal assembly.
Excessive spindle deflection in corners Check spindles for warpage. Install 2lb residual pressure valve.
BRAKE DRAG
CAUSE SOLUTION
Bad master cylinde Switch or replace master cylinder.
Incorrect residual pressure valve Use no larger than 2lb residual pressure valve.
Rotors warped Replace rotors.
Calipers not square to rotor Re-align brackets or shim calipers.
Tapered brake pads Replace pads, check caliper alignment to rotor.
M/C has internal residual pressure Remove residual pressure valve.
CAR WILL NOT STOP
CAUSE SOLUTION
Glazed pads and/or rotors Grind and/or sand glaze from rotors.
HAVE TO PUSH TOO HARD ON PEDAL
CAUSE SOLUTION
Too large of a master cylinde Refer to the master cylinder web pages to select the correct size unit for your application.
Not enough pedal ratio Increase pedal ratio, see pedal web pages to select the correct pedal for your application.
Pedal mounted at bad angle Master cylinder push rod should not be off more than 5° in any angle.
Wrong pad material for your applications Pads must match rotor operating temperature range. See pad web pages to select the correct pads.
Frozen pistons in calipers Rebuild calipers.
CALIPER LEAKS
CAUSE SOLUTION
Caliper seal old or dried out Replace with new seals.
Nick or ding on piston or cut seal Replace pistons and/or seals as necessary
SPONGY PEDAL OR BOTTOMS OUT
CAUSE SOLUTION
Air in brake system Re-bleed the system.
Calipers not bled with bleed screws straight up Unbolt calipers and hold with bleed screws in the vertical position.
Wrong size master cylinder (too small) Refer to the master cylinder web pages to select the correct size for your application.
Faulty master cylinder Replace master cylinder.
Calipers not mounted square to the rotor Re-align brackets parallel to rotor, or shim caliper.
Calipers mounted equal to, or higher than master cylinder Install 2 pound in-line residual pressure valve.
Calipers flex excessively Check pressure. Do not exceed 1,200 P.S.I.
Pedal ratio too great Reduce pedal ratio.
Excessive spindle deflection in corners causing piston knock-back Install 2 pound in-line residual pressure valve. Check spindles for warpage.
OSCILLATION FEED BACK IN PEDAL
CAUSE SOLUTION
Pad material buildup on rotors Change pads, clean rotor face.
Pad material buildup on rotors Change pads, clean rotor face.
Calipers loose Tighten caliper mounting bolts.
Rotor faces not parallel Re-grind rotor faces, or replace rotors.
Cracked rotors Replace rotors. Refer to the rotor web pages to select the correct rotor for your application.
Excessive front bearing clearance Check for proper bearing size, or tighten the spindle nut.
Contact Wilwood

Didn't see the answer to your question? Call Wilwood Technical Support; we're glad to help.

Phone: (805) 388-1188

Fax: (805) 388-4938

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Version: 3.05 June 23, 2023
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