Discussion
An age-old subject I'm sure, but with all the other jobs I'm trying to get done for that better weather we're all waiting for, I cant afford to upgrade the brakes on the 400SE at present so getting the best out of what I've got already is on the 'to do' list. Not sure what pads are in at the moment but they are very hard and only work with a lot of pressure and heat. So if you had to choose a brake pad which made the most out of the existing braking system for use purely on the road, which would you choose and best place to buy? Thanks all
I've been using Ferodo pads for a few years now, currently on their DS2500 compound, which works well on the road and on the occasional track day which I do. No squealing, unlike some very hard compounds, which can also chew the rotors. Part numbers are FCP815H for the rears and FCP832H for the Princess 4 pot fronts.
Worth also changing the rubber hoses for braided versions, and replacing the fluid with DOT 5.1 (not DOT 5). The last set of rotors I had made also incorporated some grooves (8 I think) in the face.
I buy mine here:
http://www.circuitsupplies.com/
Last price I had for the rears was £69 for the set, which was about 9 months ago. Tim Phillips at the above company is very helpful.
7.
Worth also changing the rubber hoses for braided versions, and replacing the fluid with DOT 5.1 (not DOT 5). The last set of rotors I had made also incorporated some grooves (8 I think) in the face.
I buy mine here:
http://www.circuitsupplies.com/
Last price I had for the rears was £69 for the set, which was about 9 months ago. Tim Phillips at the above company is very helpful.
7.
The calipers are fairly old now - so it might be worth checking each piston is free and maybe getting them refurbished .. it's fairly cheap.
http://www.tvrwedgepages.co.uk/
http://www.tvrwedgepages.co.uk/maint_brake_refurb....
http://www.tvrwedgepages.co.uk/
http://www.tvrwedgepages.co.uk/maint_brake_refurb....
Edited by rev-erend on Monday 4th January 11:47
mikesp said:
Thanks. Are the standard discs Granada of a similar year if I wanted to order some grooved ones?
Your 400 should be fitted with TVR special brakes: vented rotors bolted to alloy (I think) bells, rather than the one piece arrangements that the 350 etc. used. If your're interested, I'll dig out some info from when I last bought a pair.7.
Number 7 said:
mikesp said:
Thanks. Are the standard discs Granada of a similar year if I wanted to order some grooved ones?
Your 400 should be fitted with TVR special brakes: vented rotors bolted to alloy (I think) bells, rather than the one piece arrangements that the 350 etc. used. If your're interested, I'll dig out some info from when I last bought a pair.7.
OK, these are the guys who supplied my last set of rotors:
http://www.bgdevelopments.co.uk/
They are AP dealers, and machined mine from AP blanks, with grooves. Not cheap though - 6 years ago they were £250 per pair, plus vat. Sizes are 270mm x 28mm. Probably worth checking the thickness of your rotors. I was told by AP that the allowance for wear /machining is 1.2mm, i.e. minimum thickness would be 26.8mm.
If you're going down that route, I would replace the bolts as well - BG sell sets (a couple of sets cost £25 when I got my rotors).
7.
http://www.bgdevelopments.co.uk/
They are AP dealers, and machined mine from AP blanks, with grooves. Not cheap though - 6 years ago they were £250 per pair, plus vat. Sizes are 270mm x 28mm. Probably worth checking the thickness of your rotors. I was told by AP that the allowance for wear /machining is 1.2mm, i.e. minimum thickness would be 26.8mm.
If you're going down that route, I would replace the bolts as well - BG sell sets (a couple of sets cost £25 when I got my rotors).
7.
Number 7 said:
OK, these are the guys who supplied my last set of rotors:
http://www.bgdevelopments.co.uk/
They are AP dealers, and machined mine from AP blanks, with grooves. Not cheap though - 6 years ago they were £250 per pair, plus vat. Sizes are 270mm x 28mm. Probably worth checking the thickness of your rotors. I was told by AP that the allowance for wear /machining is 1.2mm, i.e. minimum thickness would be 26.8mm.
If you're going down that route, I would replace the bolts as well - BG sell sets (a couple of sets cost £25 when I got my rotors).
7.
Blimey, wouldn't want to wear many of those out eh? And there's me thinking that all TVR parts are mass-produced by donor companies and therefore reasonably priced. Just new pads a calliper clean-up/refurbish and some decent fluid if the present discs are okhttp://www.bgdevelopments.co.uk/
They are AP dealers, and machined mine from AP blanks, with grooves. Not cheap though - 6 years ago they were £250 per pair, plus vat. Sizes are 270mm x 28mm. Probably worth checking the thickness of your rotors. I was told by AP that the allowance for wear /machining is 1.2mm, i.e. minimum thickness would be 26.8mm.
If you're going down that route, I would replace the bolts as well - BG sell sets (a couple of sets cost £25 when I got my rotors).
7.
Thanks for the info
I use Mintex 1144 pads all round with braided hoses and DOT 5.1 fluid.
Im a big fan of mintex pads, a little softer than others but good braking with little to no faid
also its good to change the brake fluid every 2 years or so, I just blead the calipers and top up, if there was any water in there it could boil on hard braking or cause a soft pedal.
Cambelt
Im a big fan of mintex pads, a little softer than others but good braking with little to no faid
also its good to change the brake fluid every 2 years or so, I just blead the calipers and top up, if there was any water in there it could boil on hard braking or cause a soft pedal.
Cambelt
hi mike
the pads fitted to my 400 were new back in 07 but the car then only move 400 miles after, i've now added 1500 miles in couple of months and the pads feel great.
Green stuff ( the prevous owner bought from ebay he paid 85 quid front and rear)I don't know if they are the cheaper alternative than most
cheers
the pads fitted to my 400 were new back in 07 but the car then only move 400 miles after, i've now added 1500 miles in couple of months and the pads feel great.
Green stuff ( the prevous owner bought from ebay he paid 85 quid front and rear)I don't know if they are the cheaper alternative than most
cheers
Mintex or EBC greenstuff (fast road type), DOT 5.1 brake fluid as pointed out earlier and braided hoses at the front would be a good start.
If you 'upgrade the pads then do all (front and rear), or only front, NEVER only the rear as this can get you into serious trouble due to the bias of the brakes being too much towards the rear or even locking up before the fronts do = car goes into a spin before you know it!
Very often bleeding and the replacement of the original and old brake fluid will at least restore the original braking capacity. I tend to replace the brake fluid (DOT 5.1) once a year to be sure the system is up to scratch and bleed if any doubts about pedal sponginess.
Rob
If you 'upgrade the pads then do all (front and rear), or only front, NEVER only the rear as this can get you into serious trouble due to the bias of the brakes being too much towards the rear or even locking up before the fronts do = car goes into a spin before you know it!
Very often bleeding and the replacement of the original and old brake fluid will at least restore the original braking capacity. I tend to replace the brake fluid (DOT 5.1) once a year to be sure the system is up to scratch and bleed if any doubts about pedal sponginess.
Rob
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