Spitfire Brakes

Author
Discussion

mattius

Original Poster:

457 posts

216 months

Saturday 13th May 2006
quotequote all
I've just bought a triumph spitfire 1500, and the first thing i want to do is improve the brakes.
unfortunatly due to just forking out for the car money is a bit tight so im looking for a cheapish
soloution to improve the stock brakes.

sports pads?

ARH

1,222 posts

240 months

Sunday 14th May 2006
quotequote all
What is the problem that you want to fix?? Is the force needed to operate them too much? or do they not stop the car? If it is the later it will more likely be the tyres and shocks, as the brakes are more than up to the job. if it is the former, either press harder or fit a servo. old cars need more force on the pedal to stop them. It will only be worth upgradeing the brakes if you are having over heating issuse with what is there already.

spitfire-ian

3,848 posts

229 months

Sunday 14th May 2006
quotequote all
If you've just jumped from a modern car into the Spit, give it a bit of time. Once you get used to the fact it actually takes effort to stop the thing you'll end up enjoying it. Standard brakes are definately up to the job.

//j17

4,491 posts

224 months

Sunday 14th May 2006
quotequote all
As ARH said, in general it depends what's wrong with them.

Regardless of anything else the following will be a good idea, unless you know they have only just been done.

1) Replace flexable pipes, cylinder seals and break fluid.
Go for a set of Goodridge stainless braided hoses all around to improve pedal feel (www.tssc.org.uk/catalog.asp?category=20020407103022736925780).

A) Pedal takes too much force
=> Fit a servo (www.canleyclassics.com/newproducts.asp?uid=brakeservokit).

B) Want to stop a bit quicker
=> ECB Greenstuff pads (www.tssc.org.uk/catalog.asp?category=200301222023035753429867).

C) Want to reduce fade
=> EBC Greenstuff + drilled/grooved/vented disks (such as www.tssc.org.uk/catalog.asp?category=200301222023245753429867).

D) I want to stop quicker than B)
=> GT6 uprights, disks and calipers (bigger than Spit.) (call people like www.jigsawracingservices.co.uk/).

E) I want to stop a lot quicker than B)
=> Either fine an Austin Princess and steal it's 4-pot calipers (pick up a bag of hens teath while your at it!) or spend loads on a more modern kit (try www.moss-europe.co.uk/MossUK/ - not on onlince cataloge but get the printed one. Your looking for the kit, part# SPB3452)

By the time you get to E) your going to need some better rubber to break any faster!

>> Edited by //j17 on Sunday 14th May 23:27

mattius

Original Poster:

457 posts

216 months

Monday 15th May 2006
quotequote all
chears for the reply guys, well judging by my drive tonight the brakes are horrific, its not just classic brakes, i've driven a classic before.
the pedal is well spongy and there just isn't stopping power there. think a set of steel hoses and new pads are in order for starters. don't particularly want a servo as i quite like the classic brake feel.

//j17

4,491 posts

224 months

Monday 15th May 2006
quotequote all
You should have a very firm pedal in a Spitfire that needs one hell of a push to get anything interesting to happen at the wheels.

A spongy pedal normally points to:
- old fluid
- old flexible pipes

Now as your dumping the fluid and bleading the system you might as well shove new seals in everywhere as they will need doing at some point and only cost a couple of quid.

mattius

Original Poster:

457 posts

216 months

Wednesday 17th May 2006
quotequote all
think the brakes just need a bit more initial umph.
ordered the brake pads, and hopefully if it ever stops raining here i might get some work done on the car this weekend.

typical as soon as i buy a convertable it rains all day every day.

//j17

4,491 posts

224 months

Friday 19th May 2006
quotequote all
If you have too much money you can get a set of brand new Princess calipers machined from billet... for £162+VAT...each - www.hispecmotorsport.co.uk/b4_princess.htm

Maybe just leave those for the racers ^_^