B-b-ber BREMBOS!

[Monsterlime]

I am using 16” Imola’s at the front, so will measure the inside. Am away at the moment but will check when home.

I did find the right stuff on Caprisport as well, so thanks for that!

[Classic Chim]

Monsterlime said:

I am using 16” Imola’s at the front, so will measure the inside. Am away at the moment but will check when home.

I did find the right stuff on Caprisport as well, so thanks for that!

Maybe ask Andav69 about using 16’s as it’s a tight fit.

[Zener]

And Dave/Chimpongas as he is on Imola's too

[Badgerchim]

Afternoon all
Has anyone got any good photos of their Brembo conversions particularly from the back showing the new bolts to new caliper carrier plate to hub upright connection.

Ta Tim

[Classic Chim]

Badgerchim said:

Afternoon all
Has anyone got any good photos of their Brembo conversions particularly from the back showing the new bolts to new caliper carrier plate to hub upright connection.

Ta Tim

Sorry no but what’s your problem?
If the holes in the uprights have been drilled and tapped out to receive the bigger bolts all you should see from the rear should be an extra half depth nut applied to the bolts as an extra pinch effect on these bolts and the uprights and at least 2 threads of your bolt showing through those nuts.
Some of the Ford uprights can be a bit different in size by a mm or so so to get the brackets to fit and sit back nicely you might have to file a few edges but I only had to do that with one small edge on mine.

Edited by Classic Chim on Friday 29th January 14:03

[Badgerchim]

Ta very much. No problem, yet. I've got all the bits ready to start and thought a pic or 2 would help.

I guess it will be obvious when I line the rotor and caliper up, but from your explanation the upright is drilled and tapped from the front (hub side) and the carrier plate sandwiched between bolt and upright front face with extra security nut on the back of the upright.

[Classic Chim]

Badgerchim said:

Ta very much. No problem, yet. I've got all the bits ready to start and thought a pic or 2 would help.

I guess it will be obvious when I line the rotor and caliper up, but from your explanation the upright is drilled and tapped from the front (hub side) and the carrier plate sandwiched between ut y bolt and upright front face with extra security nut on the back of the upright.

I can’t remember off hand but yes I think so if you offer the disc up it will become obvious.

Use plenty off locktite

[Badgerchim]

Will do and ta very much
Tim

[Classic Chim]

Badgerchim said:

Will do and ta very much
Tim

Yes I’ve remembered now, the bolts go through your bracket and taps into the upright.
The washer and nut on the back is just as you say a way to pinch the two together and an extra fail safe against bolts vibrating loose.
It’s a good idea to do some trial fittings by nipping the caliper up tight and disc hard back to hub then checking how central the caliper fits across the disk.
Mine varied by 1-2 mm so used 0.5 shims to get it spot on.
I had minor vibration so removed them which meant one side the caliper and pad sit closer to the disc but in truth this matters little as the pistons just neutralise this offset when you have pumped them up.




Use these lugs to work out the disc position.
Unless one of those lugs is within 1 mm of the discs try NOT to use shims just bolt the brackets direct to hub
Enjoy.
On completion and brakes bled you will notice your pedal will travel 5-8mm further before brakes engage, this is simply because you are moving more fluid into the now 4 pistons per side so after a few tests I simply raised the brake pedal position on its adjuster arm to compensate.

Edited by Classic Chim on Saturday 30th January 09:12

[Badgerchim]

Excellent. Thanks very much for the info update.

[Spiike]

I hadn't even thought about brakes yet but after reading this thread, looking to get all the parts bought asap!

Can someone tell me if this kit from caprisport is correct?

https://caprisport.co.uk/p/cosworth-2-wheel-drive-...

In the past year I've went 17/18 wheels with new tyres, Tuscan S Bilsteins from Ben Lang and done all the ball joints and roll bar joints. At least 2 of these have stemmed from reading ChimpOnGas posts! I would like to give him and the others on this and other threads a big thanks for their wealth of information!

[rigga]

Yes that's the kit, if you get it all from the same place, major bit is the brackets, calipers and discs can be sourced elsewhere, but that's a ready to fit, as new calipers, and new discs.

Had mine since about 2011, and best thing I've done.

[Classic Chim]

rigga said:

Yes that's the kit, if you get it all from the same place, major bit is the brackets, calipers and discs can be sourced elsewhere, but that's a ready to fit, as new calipers, and new discs.

Had mine since about 2011, and best thing I've done.

Couldn’t agree more. What pads are you using Rigga.
I feel my Brembo BMW road pads are running a tad cool for normal road driving.

[rigga]

Classic Chim said:

Couldn’t agree more. What pads are you using Rigga.
I feel my Brembo BMW road pads are running a tad cool for normal road driving.

Standard Brembo pads, not really had any issues pad wise, how are you finding them to be cool?

[Classic Chim]

rigga said:

Standard Brembo pads, not really had any issues pad wise, how are you finding them to be cool?

They don’t get very hot and the cut lines on the discs suggests pads could do with more metal flake in them.
I think Qbee uses Carbon Lorraine pads which seem to be more aggressive on the discs but I’ll bleed the brakes first before considering this again. Thanks

[Spiike]

Thanks guys! Seemingly CapriSport are having some serious issues, recent comments on their Facebook page with people saying they've been waiting months for their orders and not getting replies to messages. Unfortunately I can't find much else, there is one listing on ebay, it's £645, comes with refurbed calipers, bracket, EBC discs and Yellowstuff pads. Tempting but I'd probably prefer to go for the Brembo discs and pads from what I've read on this thread.

Edited by Spiike on Monday 22 March 08:57

[Classic Chim]

Look up “Old phone bloke” on eBay. He has supplied these brakes to lots of Ford / Lotus boys and who I bought my calipers and brackets off complete.
He has a relationship or did have with Caprisport I recall.
He might have more luck getting the brackets
I have no idea if he is still trading but he is well worth contacting.

[Spiike]

From looking at his ebay he owns CapriSport.

Doubt i'll have much better luck but I can give him a try there.

Thanks again for the help!

[Spiike]

Actually got a reply on email just now, he says they're unlikely to be in stock for the forseeable future These ebay ones might be the way to go hopefully, bit more expensive but I imagine it's worth it.

[Spiike]

ChimpOnGas said:

And here they are...





Brembo actually use a QR code and Brembo logo seal, I've checked and this is 100% correct.

So a full front axle set of excellent performing genuine Brembo pads for just £26.36, with top quality consumables available at such pocket friendly prices this Brembo brake conversion really is an extremely practical and cost effective brake upgrade.

When it comes to pads the Brembo brake upgrade is actually as cheap if not cheaper to service than the standard brakes, while at the same time delivering big improvements in feel and stopping power. If your standard Chimaera front calipers need fully refurbishing as mine did, this upgrade kinda becomes a no-brainer!

For the record and in period there were a number of other cars fitted with the same caliper so obviously use the exact same pads, this late 1990s Brembo four pot caliper was not only used on the larger engined E38 BMW 7 series but it was also fitted to the Maserati 3200GT and the mighty 1.8 ton 199mph Ferrari 550 Maranello..... so trust me they're just fine on a 155mph 1,060kg Chimaera

Of course if you quote the Ferrari 550 when buying your pads you might find they are a little more expensive for what is exactly the same pad

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/222818481498

Dave.

Dave, your information on here has been wonderful! Super helpful for me gathering the parts required for this conversion, however, I just want to confirm I'm ordering the correct pads, as you mentioned here about the larger engined E38s using these calipers, however when searching it appears they're only fitted to the smaller engined cars? Up to the 735, larger engined cars used a different caliper and pad. The reason I'm checking is that the original discs on the E38 with these calipers appears to have been a 316mm rather than the Focus 324mm we're using. I'm going black diamond discs and pads all round so just trying to confirm i'll be getting the correct pads. Discs already sorted!

Looking forward to fitting them this winter, thanks again for all the info!