350i Front brake upgrade.

[mrzigazaga]

Hi Peeps..Been trying to find the discussion but i think it was a while back cos i can't find it..So the question is...Are there any 4-pot front brake calipers other than the Austin Princess available that are a straight swap over albeit spacers needed...I would like to upgrade mine later on even though the standard ones do stop me...


I have looked at a Hi-spec kit but that is £500 including the brake lines and disc's & Pads which in the great scheme of things are not too expensive but wondered if there is a bit more of an affordable fitment.


Cheers in advance...Ziga

[Toby Tram]

I'm not keen on them myself, but wasn't there a kit which David Gerald's were displaying at BBWF this year, which I could have sworn he said was £200....probably +vat

Adi

[chapperssx]

Mark 908glen has the Hi Spec kit on his 350i and talks very highly of them, not sure weather that helps bud but give him a call...

[chapperssx]

Also this might help http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=116...

[Rockettvr]

Might be worth sneaking onto a "fast ford " forum to see what they're fitting ?

[superwedge]

i took the single disc off zig, i got some vented,off granada,you could put the spacer in your one then get some vented disc,

[superwedge]

some rust on disc as used car yet,

Edited by superwedge on Monday 30th December 17:26

[Jack Valiant]

Get some new vented disks and Ferrodo pads into the calipers you have and new pads for the rears, you will be surprised on the difference in performance. Bleed out all the fluid from the system while you are at it and replace. The Granny brakes were designed to stop a 1.5 ton estate car, the reason they are viewed as poor is due in the main, to worn / tired or inferior parts fitted in my opinion. If you are on a budget then go down this route before a major upgrade. (I got exchange Granny calipers for £70 each, Ferrodo pads £37, Jag rear main pads £21 plus fluid from my local Motor Factors)

Chris

[superwedge]

you can put some red or green pads in as well which are good zig,

[chapperssx]

Another lead Zig is trying a better pad ! Give Paul a buzz to see what he lists as he does most TVR models http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/profile.asp?h=0...
it might save you having to change your discs...

[mrzigazaga]

Some food for thought there...Thanks for the info..May go the vented disc & Pads route for now..Good advice about changing the fluid...Bit worried about snapping the rear calliper nipples..(ooo missus)...So might start giving them some pre-lube.... ...Dave do you have a part number for those disc's please or are they the same as the Granada estate ones used for the princess upgrade?..Cheers...Ziga

[superwedge]

i got them off tasmin devil, he was selling then on ebay some time ago, maybe put a call out for him on here, i would just go for the spacer,and red pads/green, new steel pipe too, my stop great,i think the disc zig are 256mm across,

[GV]

I went for the Hi Spec alternative. Lighter easier to bleed and work really well IMO.

[jindle]

I have a very old parts catalogue from RT racing (2006) they had standard firing brake parts back then including stock discs, so may be worth dropping them a line although they're not open until the 2nd.

[Rockettvr]

http://uk.search.yahoo.com/r/_ylt=A7x9Qb8sqsFSVRIA... Says for cortina but has same M16 fitting as Granada/ princess. Might be worth further investigation.

[mrzigazaga]

Thanks for all the info..I have bookmarked it for reference...Theres a few options there..Cheers...Ziga

[jindle]

Let us know what you end up doing anyway, I may be doing my rears in the near future

[mrzigazaga]

jindle said:

Let us know what you end up doing anyway, I may be doing my rears in the near future

Will do...

[ElvisWedgely]

My 350SE was fitted with a 'Bremsport Brake System' on the front which included the vented discs and four pot callipers in the year 1999 and still look fairly newish on the car having covered about 20,000 miles since. The bill states £1000.00 + VAT for parts and labour back then. I'd hate to think how much it would cost now.

Tony. TCB.

Edited by ElvisWedgely on Monday 30th December 20:44

[RCK974X]

Perhaps a bit of detective work required, but......

There is a website (which I've lost the link) showing that a TR6 can be fitted with 4 pot calipers from a Toyota pickup, and it all fits perfectly with original disc.

This is relevant because Cortina/Wedge calipers are the same as TR6 calipers (Girling PB16), and so this should work on a wedge, and it would be great to find out which Toyota it is.

And they've got to be cheaper than some of the official conversions !