Front Brake Upgrade 278mm Discs - Ford Callipers

[v8s4me]

I'm abandoning my front disc upgrade project so if anyone is interested in this little "kit" before I put them on eBay PM me.



Possibly the ultimate "bad-boy" brake "kit" straight from the Ford parts bin?

You will need a minimum of 13" inside the wheel rims with the weights on the inside.

[glenrobbo]

v8s4me said:

I'm abandoning my front disc upgrade project so if anyone is interested in this little "kit" before I put them on eBay PM me.

Possibly the ultimate "bad-boy" brake "kit" straight from the Ford parts bin?

You will need a minimum of 13" inside the wheel rims with the weights on the inside.

Joe,
Wouldn't there be a danger of the weights coming adrift and rattling about inside the tyres?


Sorry.

[v8s4me]

glenrobbo said:

..Wouldn't there be a danger of the weights coming adrift and rattling about inside the tyres? .....

No, because the awesome speed at which you confidently travel with these bad-boys means that energy generated by the centrifugal force would melt the weights into the rim

[AutoAndy]

v8s4me said:

No, because the awesome speed at which you confidently travel with these bad-boys means that energy generated by the centrifugal force would melt the weights into the rim

News flash...Joe plans to leave the GTS and join the bank robbers!!!

[glenrobbo]

AutoAndy said:

v8s4me said:

No, because the awesome speed at which you confidently travel with these bad-boys means that energy generated by the centrifugal force would melt the weights into the rim

News flash...Joe plans to leave the GTS and join the bank robbers!!!

No Andy, I'm guessing that Joe's alien abductor buddies have passed on to him secrets of their far more advanced technlological means of stopping faster than man has ever stopped before. It would happen so quickly that you would think he hasn't actually moved at all!

[v8s4me]

AutoAndy said:

..News flash...Joe plans to leave the GTS and join the bank robbers!!!

News flash!!! see other post

[glenrobbo]

v8s4me said:

News flash!!! see other post

Ah yes! The breakfast...

[Blue 30]

To mk1fan....
Great topic, thanks for the info. I have just obtained a pair of 557/8 ST calipers. Did you say its the Cougar 2.5 48mm high discs that are the best option/fit ?? TerryB

[mk1fan]

Check out the brake wiki at the top of the forum page.

Ideally, a 55mm high 278mm disc is what is required. Unfortunately, the Granda Scorpio that had that size is 5-stud.

Alternatively, you could get some 283mm cossie discs turned down to 278mm as TGTVR did. Or get a spacer made up to move the calliper out to meet a 45mm or 48mm disc.

You could always swap over to 5-stud using the Granada hubs.

[phillpot]

Or re-drill the 5 stud disc's to four stud if all the other dimensions are good

[v8s4me]

mk1fan said:

...Ideally, a 55mm high 278mm disc is what is required. Unfortunately, the Granda Scorpio that had that size is 5-stud...

When I researched the WIKI the information I got for the Granada Cosworth indicated a height of 53mm so you would still need a spacer. Is the Granada Scorpio different again? However, that might be the case for 887/888 calipers but as you are using 557/8 ST calipers, the off-set may be different again. The only way to be sure is to bolt the caliper onto the hub and measure.

Then you can use the online catalogues from Mintex, Ferodo & Brakeparts to track down what you need.

No one said brake up-grades were easy Well, apart from bolting on the 260mm disc and caliper. That is easy.

[mk1fan]

phillpot said:

Or re-drill the 5 stud disc's to four stud if all the other dimensions are good

Not sure there's the space on the face for four new holes. It is something I've considered.

[mk1fan]

v8s4me said:

last post

Even if the dims aligned, washersa maybe required to get the calliper perfect. I wouldn't consider a washer as a spacer. We do seem to be getting closer to a 'simple' bolt on conversion from stock parts (no bespoke machined parts needed).

[Lewis's Friend]

Inspired by this thread, I am just finishing off a Fiesta ST brake upgrade. I went for the spaced caliper option, as for a little pain now in sizing things I thought getting replacement discs would be easy - just type in ST150 and the discs will fit.

[v8s4me]

It might help some one further down the line if you were to add a line to the WIKI once you have worked everything out

[Lewis's Friend]

v8s4me said:

It might help some one further down the line if you were to add a line to the WIKI once you have worked everything out

Will do. I thought I'd see how it worked before telling everyone how smart I was though!

[Top Gear TVR]

phillpot said:

Or re-drill the 5 stud disc's to four stud if all the other dimensions are good

i can help but prefer the turn down method - naturally balanced and no less strength

[Lewis's Friend]

Small update in case anyone else does this. I had to have my front wheels re-balanced, and the weights moved from just inside the rear face of the spokes (if that makes sense) as the calipers just kissed the weights.

Weights moved, and loads of clearance now.

[v8s4me]

Lewis's Friend said:

.... I had to have my front wheels re-balanced, and the weights moved from just inside the rear face of the spokes (if that makes sense) as the calipers just kissed the weights. Weights moved, and loads of clearance now.

For future reference then, what combination of disc diameter/height and spacer did you use?

[Lewis's Friend]

v8s4me said:

Lewis's Friend said:

.... I had to have my front wheels re-balanced, and the weights moved from just inside the rear face of the spokes (if that makes sense) as the calipers just kissed the weights. Weights moved, and loads of clearance now.

For future reference then, what combination of disc diameter/height and spacer did you use?

I'm using EBC discs from an st150, so that's a 278mm diameter. I believe the height is 48mm, but would have to check that.

The spacer thickness was about 14mm. I have the drawing at home that I can post if it would be helpful, with the specific dimensions I used?