Calling Tallbloke . . . Breaks upgrade update

[leorest]

Roger, if I recall correctly you have upgraded your front breaks with the Motorsport callipers and vented disks.
How are you finding them, now that they have had plenty of time to bed in?
Leo

[tallbloke]

I'm very very happy with them. I took the car to Snetterton at the weekend, and the brakes performed excellently under track conditions on fast road pads. When we came in after a 10 lap session, there was a bit of heat smoke coming off the rears, but the balance of the car under braking was fine. I wish I'd taken more notice of the new vented Jag rears with widened calipers which went on fleabay last year now.

The kit Keri offers has undergone further development since the pic below was taken, with better routing for the lines from the inner top bleed nipple port instead of side exit. Bleeding isn't a problem, as there are internal transfer ports at the top of the calipers.

I'd guess that bigger diameter fronts would take some strain off the rears, but at the potential cost of upsetting the balance. Someone with more experience of higher speed braking will be along with more informed opinion shortly...

[FrenchTVR]

Hi guys,

I fitted 330mm AP racing discs and 4 pot calipers to my 350i. I spent a day abusing them at Spa and found them to be fantastic.

Same as Roger, I had some smoke off of the rears a couple of times but the balance of the car, even at (and beyond) the limit could not be faulted.

If anything it feels more stable than it used to.

[tallbloke]

Mick, did you have to go to bigger wheels for 330mm discs?

[350zwelgje]

Smoke at the back sounds familiar for trackdays. Understood that upgrading the brakes is not necessary, only ducting (cheap) will do.
Still on my list, but have other things on my list now (fuel pump is on its way out as the camshaft and gearbox, oil pressure going up and down as a jojo, air intake hose to disintegrate any minute.... - type of they all do that sir probably, at least after 18 years and 170.000km abuse).

Rob

[tallbloke]

Hang in there Rob, we'll try to help you source the spares you need. i got a nice intake hose from a range rover last month for about 15 Euros, I'll see if they have any more.

[leorest]

Thanks for the update Roger.
I am seriously thinking of doing this upgrade as I think it is a reasonable price and will fit under 15 inch wheels. Can't believe more people havn't gone this route!
BTW Did the insurance(which company?) have anything to say about the upgrade?
Leo

[FrenchTVR]

tallbloke said:

Mick, did you have to go to bigger wheels for 330mm discs?

I have to admit I already had 17" rims on mine, came with the car

I also got the impression on mine the a lot of the smoke from the rear is caused by oil and grease residue in the vicinity of the brakes being burnt off by all the extra heat generated by the heavy use.

>> Edited by FrenchTVR on Friday 9th September 07:15

[tallbloke]

leorest said:

Thanks for the update Roger. I am seriously thinking of doing this upgrade as I think it is a reasonable price and will fit under 15 inch wheels. Can't believe more people havn't gone this route! BTW Did the insurance(which company?) have anything to say about the upgrade? Leo

Keri can't believe it either. He's been left with 7 kits on his hands crippling his cashflow. Come on you lot, get some decent brakes sorted at a decent price!

I told my insco Aon that I'd improved the brakes by going to vented discs of the same diameter as the originals, and that I'd replaced the calipers with 'new ones which bolted straight to the original mounting holes'

The cost of the cover actually went down a tenner from last year!

[leorest]

FrenchTVR said:

...a lot of the smoke from the rear is caused by oil and grease residue in the vicinity of the brakes being burnt off by all the extra heat generated by the heavy use.

That'll be grease melting/burning out of the inner UJs. Has anyone ever fitted shields like those used on Jags?
Leo

[tallbloke]

Eek, that can't be good. I've been meaning to regrease the UJ's since I got back from Snetterton with a slight roadspeed grumbling noise on right handers...

[keri]

In case anyone's interested (hope this is ok) I've still got the stuff on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7997661819 - New 4 pot kit

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4574764767 - 2 pot kit

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7999585841 - Grooved discs

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7999585838 - Normal discs

The forum discount does still apply (free pads if bought direct) but there is only ONE set of Hawk pads left, and the calipers may even end up in different cars' kits at this rate!

In case people are interested I'm working on the late Tasmin, Chim and Griff kits at the mo, to be followed by a bigger kit for the early Tasmin. (Cashflow permitting!!)

Keri