Brakes

[AlexB]

I've had a hunt through the archives and am a little confused about brakes adn the various options. I have a '95 Chimaera 400 which I believe has the small brake disk setup - ie 240mm front and the smaller than 273mm rears. I would like to upgrade to larger brakes, but want to retain the ability to return to the original setup (should I, or a future owner, want to for any reason) so don't want to drill out mounting holes etc.

I was looking at the Chim 500 setup which I think has larger calipers and discs front and rear, but have read that this may not be a straight swap (assuming I can find the kit). Is there any way to tell if I have the appropriate uprights etc?

The Cosworth caliper setup on the front I think requires the mounting holes to be drilled out on the Chim so I'm not sure about that - also what about the rears?

Otherwise it seems to be a move up to one of the 4 pot caliper setups available on the front, but again, what do I do at the back?

I would like to take the car on the odd track day, but don't pretend that I am going to get anywhere near the limits (other than by accident) - I'd just like to know that the stopping power is going to be more than I need - preferably without spending a fortune.

Any help/advice greatfully received.
Thanks
Alex

[900T-R]

Up to the 283/285 mm disc size I'd leave the rears as they are, only kitting them out with the same (uprated) pads at the front - this will sort the brake balance which is a little too rear-biased for the road with the OE set up.

If you're intent on fitting monster front brakes (personally I wouldn't unless I was running mega slick tyres and 500 bhp - my car was weighed at 1,043.5 kg at Intrax with a toolkit, a subwoofer and an amplifier in the boot and that was with the original springs/dampers; the Intrax units subsequently took off another 4.5 kgs) you'd be well advised to upsize the rears too to redress the balance.

I have a Tower View conversion kit to 285 mm with spacers for the OE callipers kicking around which looks to be a good solution albeit a bit expensive for what it is (£299 + VAT + carriage) With hindsight I'd be inclined to go with the Cosworth calliper/disc upgrade which is well documented here, or even the Hi Spec 285 mm four-pot conversion which still sounds like terrific value at £565 despite the outfit not getting a universal thumb up - you'd order them from one of the better known TVR parts suppliers anyway.

Edited by 900T-R on Wednesday 3rd September 18:27

[That Daddy]

so don't want to drill out mounting holes etc.Quote,,,, You wont be able to do the Granny Cossie caliper conversion then so i would go with the above advice

[poorpeet]

Alex,
I'd not worry about drilling out the holes. I doubt you'd want to go back to standard once you had tried the upgraded brakes. I certainly wouldn't change back.
Even if you did for some reason, a replacement pair of Sierra uprights from a breakers would not cost much.

Pete

[AlexB]

poorpeet said:

Alex,
I'd not worry about drilling out the holes. I doubt you'd want to go back to standard once you had tried the upgraded brakes. I certainly wouldn't change back.
Even if you did for some reason, a replacement pair of Sierra uprights from a breakers would not cost much.

Pete

Noooo....you are giving me more options now!

I'll probably keep my eye out for a suitable Cossy setup and if one comes along at the right price I will be very tempted - I am still wondering if the Chim 500 setup would be a straight swap onto my Chim 400 - not sure what problems I might come up against.

Thanks
Alex

[poorpeet]

Alex
OI think that That Daddy and i have the same set up. Granada Cosworth calipers/carriers and 283mm discs.
Apart from adding a couple of washers to space out the calipers and running a drill bit down the existing holes to open them out. It was pretty much a straight swap.
2 hours start to finish inc fitting braided hoses.
It's a much better feeling set up and cheap too. I paid £30 for the calipers and £50 for the pair of discs from my local motorfactors.
I am in Kent so feel free to get in touch if you want to have a look.

Pete

[Uncle Fester]

I live near the Hi Spec factory and was going to pop in and talk it over with them.

What’s this about not getting the universal thumbs up? If anyone knows something I should know before ordering, please PM me.

I have heard that they have done a Griff with 4 pot big disc fronts and a 2 pot original size disc rear with handbrake mechanism built in.

This was what I had in mind too. Anyone know whose car that was? It was rumoured to be from West of London, near the M25.

[That Daddy]

poorpeet said:

Alex
OI think that That Daddy and i have the same set up. Granada Cosworth calipers/carriers and 283mm discs.
Apart from adding a couple of washers to space out the calipers and running a drill bit down the existing holes to open them out. It was pretty much a straight swap.
2 hours start to finish inc fitting braided hoses.
It's a much better feeling set up and cheap too. I paid £30 for the calipers and £50 for the pair of discs from my local motorfactors.
I am in Kent so feel free to get in touch if you want to have a look.

Pete

Yes we do Poorpeet,hows it going

[poorpeet]

Contemplating redundency

[Wildfire]

I have the 500 set up on my car and I was more than happy with them, until I drove 450Nick's car with the 300mm Willwood setup on it. MASSIVE improvement. If you have the cash these are the ones to go for.

[900T-R]

Wildfire said:

I have the 500 set up on my car

What pads? They can make all the difference.

[That Daddy]

poorpeet said:

Contemplating redundency

Woops sorry to ear that Pete,hope it all works out for ya

[Chimjunkie]

Would these be any good?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Sierra-Cosworth-Brake-Discs-...

[TVRobin]

That Daddy said:

so don't want to drill out mounting holes etc.Quote,,,, You wont be able to do the Granny Cossie caliper conversion then so i would go with the above advice

I'm a little confused. I bought some 283 mm disks from a Sierra Cosworth 2WD and a pair of second hand Granada Cosworth brake calipers and all I had to do was fit a washer between the caliper and the hub carrier.

No drilling of anything! Brakes are now awesome!

Regards, Robin

[VerySideways]

Time to resurrect this thread - i need help!

Not worried about rear brakes but i need to ditch the rubbish single pot fronts. Either a caliper conversion or a disc and caliper conversion.

Given the weight of the car and my intended use i'm sure i can get something that fits under the Estoril 15's up front and still do a decent job.

So, four pot kits? Wilwood, Hispec? Anyone know where i can get the HiSpec 285 conversion described earlier in this thread?

Also, what's this stuff about Granada Cosworth calipers and discs - how easy is the conversion and what are the calipers, two pot/four pot?

Thanks!!!

[scotty_d]

I just refurbed my whole brake system over the winter new seals pistons braded hoses good discs +pads it is like night and day and did not cost too much to do.

[robbri]

I have just had 285mm dics and 4 pot AP calipers fitted as part of my rebuild at dulfords the same as the hi-spec kit except the calipers.

www.tvrcarparts.com/pages/default.asp

[VerySideways]

robbri said:

I have just had 285mm dics and 4 pot AP calipers fitted as part of my rebuild at dulfords the same as the hi-spec kit except the calipers.
www.tvrcarparts.com/pages/default.asp

Thanks - how much difference over stock?
£580?
I recently replaced the single pots on my daily driver with slightly bigger discs and six pots and it's utterly transformed the car...

[That Daddy]

TVRobin said:

That Daddy said:

so don't want to drill out mounting holes etc.Quote,,,, You wont be able to do the Granny Cossie caliper conversion then so i would go with the above advice

I'm a little confused. I bought some 283 mm disks from a Sierra Cosworth 2WD and a pair of second hand Granada Cosworth brake calipers and all I had to do was fit a washer between the caliper and the hub carrier.

No drilling of anything! Brakes are now awesome!

Regards, Robin

You must have had the later spec brakes already(500 size)both me and my brother have late 95 registered cars but his came with the bigger 500 spec brakes but mine came with the 240mm spec fronts and non vented rears hence why i did the front upgrade,when both cars are driven back to back we both agreed mine had the nicer feel and stopping power,i have never overwhelmed this set-up on the road,unfortunately i had to drill the front hubs to accommodate the bigger diameter bolts VerySideways,the Granada cossie conversion(dont bother with the sierra 4 piston,to heavy to much aggro)is big single piston caliper but its a doddle to do

Edited by That Daddy on Saturday 28th February 08:50

[spend]

Consider the weights of your corners when doing brakes/wheels. The offerings vary considerably, so evaluate what you want with this in mind, generally ally brakes and bells will be the lightest.