brakes

[andrew mans]

anyone tell me wot and where the front calipers on my s3 are from got a bit of brake fade on one side

[Barkychoc]

Ford Sierra with vented 240mm diameter discs (also Escort RS Turbo Series 2 same bits)

If you get hold of xr4x4 or ABS (all models) calipers you can upgrade to 260mm discs dead easy. 260mm discs must be for a 2 wheel drive model not 4 wheel drive, but calipers don't matter they are the same for 2 or 4 wheel drive.
If you go this route all the later Sierra models with ABS had 260mm discs if you need to specify a model at the motor factors.
You'll need new pads aswell, get some decent fast road pads.

Check the inside faces of your discs - mine look fine on the outside but are shocking on the inside.
I've got all the bits to do the 260mm upgrade when I put it back together.

There's a few places that do exchange calipers, www.biggred.co.uk , www.brakeparts.co.uk though if you go this route they will only exchange like for like.

Chris

Edited by Barkychoc on Friday 11th January 21:29

[Bonefish]

"If you go this route all the later Sierra models with ABS had 260mm discs if you need to specify a model at the motor factors."

From 90-92, 2.0i DOHC Sierra's use the 260mm Discs if needing to quote specific Sierra.

[andrew mans]

i up graded to ebc disks and pads last year so dont want to go bigger at the moment so just want to put standard calipers on whats the best way to go

[Barkychoc]

Are you thinking DIY route fit them yourself or get someone to do it?
www.biggred.co.uk worth a look to surce the calipers.

Assuming DIY route I THINK you need the 54mm piston model for the sierra, but have a chat with them or if you can take the car off road may be easier just to send them your calipers first.

OR they do a caliper overhaul set, which I've bought for my bigger calipers, but TBH for what they charge its a damned site easier to send them off.

Chris

[GreenV8S]

These floating callipers normally suffer from uneven pad wear due to friction in the calliper, but if this is excessive you probably have a problem. Make sure the callipers are cleaned where the pads sit, so that the pads can slide easily. Take the calliper sliders off the car, clean them and grease them, check that they still work smoothly with no play. If they're worn and/or rough, they will need to be replaced.

[Barkychoc]

You could buy an overhaul kit from biggred and replace everything except the seals - you could do it with the caliper on the car without disconnecting any hydraulics, you'd just have to unbolt the caliper and support it so it's not hanging from the brake pipe while you do it.

MAKE SURE YOU PUMP THE PEDAL A FEW TIMES BEFORE DRIVING - otherwise the first time you brake the pedal can go to the floor and nothing happens. Pumping it brings the pads back up to the discs.

[andrew mans]

thanks guys get car back next sat had door hinges re done and bonnet painted so another couple of wweks to get the calipers re done wont be a problem

[andrew mans]

sorry back again just looked at big red will the XR4i 4 pot calipers go straight on

[Barkychoc]

xr4i single pot calipers are the ones for 260mm discs (same as later models above, I just didn't say this model as its fairly rare), so I reckon the 4 pot ones must be same size discs aswell or even bigger.

If you want to keep your discs - and assuming they are 240mm diameter (worth checking!) you need the smaller calipers for a standard sierra with vented discs.

Edited by Barkychoc on Saturday 12th January 21:00

[costina]

2wd cosworth uses 283mm discs and 4 pots
4wd cosworth uses 278mm discs and single piston calipers

hope this info helps as these fit inside a 15" rim

[Barkychoc]

Sorry I've given you a bit of duff information on this - if you go for bigger calipers not only do you need the caliper but you also need the caliper carrier bracket - this is the bit that bolts to the suspension then the caliper fixes to that.
I forgot as the calipers I got came complete with the carrier brackets.

Chris

Edited by Barkychoc on Sunday 27th January 19:29

[costina]

This is correct for the fronts and rears

there are 2 types of rear hubs for discs and 3 types of front hubs (if using sierra stuff)