Aftermarket brake calliper manufacturers?

[auyt]

I’ve been in contact with HiSpec and BCC endeavouring to buy some callipers but after initial contact .. nothing.

I am wanting to buy some replacement callipers for 3 Spot Girlings that are off P6 3500 rover.

Just wondering if it’s because they are to busy to sell to an Australian Customer or they are Just short staffed, or ...should I go else where?

[GreenV8S]

You haven't mentioned Wilwood so you could give them a try. If you can find a production caliper that will do the job, you will have far more options.

[tr7v8]

Heard a lot of adverse things on HiSpec on the Track Time FB page. I would avoid.

[stevieturbo]

auyt said:

I’ve been in contact with HiSpec and BCC endeavouring to buy some callipers but after initial contact .. nothing.

I am wanting to buy some replacement callipers for 3 Spot Girlings that are off P6 3500 rover.

Just wondering if it’s because they are to busy to sell to an Australian Customer or they are Just short staffed, or ...should I go else where?

The HiSpec product looks nice, and seen them at some of the Autosport shows. However stories of poor customer service have been around for years.


Why not source locally ? Although I'm sure there are cheaper makers too ? Importing from across the world bound to be expensive ? Or just adapt something from a car available locally ? Lots of modern cars have very good brakes.

http://www.brypar.com/

[bigothunter]

tr7v8 said:

Heard a lot of adverse things on HiSpec on the Track Time FB page. I would avoid.

We had an enquiry with HiSpec but they were not interested. Race car application seemed to deter them

Wilwood calipers have proved cost effective and reliable on several race car builds

[mmm-five]

AP Racing, or Alcon?

Can be configured in lots of formats to fit different race applications, but may be more costly than you are hoping to pay, and may still require custom adapters/brackets to fit.

[auyt]

Guys that's just the insight I was hoping to get thank you all very much.

Yes importing from across the globe especially at the moment as the exchange rate is bad.

The current set up is on a Ginetta G27 road car and my main reason for the change is the matching the piston area of the 3 spots with a much lighter caliper as these P6 ones weigh 5 KGs each.

I wasn't wanting to change the discs as they are 1/2" 10" from an ELAN PLUS 2 and the pedal feel with the current brakes is very good.

BCC advertise off the shelf replacement, Hi Spec initially said they have a caliper but then after I sent a CAD DXF file .... nothing.

I will look at Wilwood again and also I had forgotten about Alcon so will have a look at there selection.

Edited by auyt on Friday 27th August 22:08

Edited by auyt on Friday 27th August 22:13

Edited by auyt on Friday 27th August 22:29

[bigothunter]

auyt said:

Guys that's just the insight I was hoping to get thank you all very much.

Yes importing from across the globe especially at the moment as the exchange rate is bad.

The current set up is on a Ginetta G27 road car and my main reason for the change is the matching the piston area of the 3 spots with a much lighter caliper as these P6 ones weigh 5 KGs each.

I wasn't wanting to change the discs as they are 1/2" 10" from an ELAN PLUS 2 and the pedal feel with the current brakes is very good.

BCC advertise off the shelf replacement, Hi Spec initially said they have a caliper but then after I sent a CAD DXF file .... nothing.

I will look at Wilwood again and also I had forgotten about Alcon so will have a look at there selection.

Current exchange rate is £1 = $1.38 but has been much worse in recent times.

Wilwood calipers were cheaper in UK than US, probably to help marketing. That may still be the case

Go for stainless steel rather than aluminium pistons. Weight penalty is marginal and stainless is less prone to corrosion and seizure.

[auyt]

The Exchange has improved in a week it was 52p but still only 53

Freight is cheaper from the US than the UK and I buy things through Summit. Freight from the UK is so slow at the moment as most comes via ship and takes about 8 weeks unless its from big companies like Burtons which is about 10 days

Funny I was Just looking at the ally piston calipers as they had dust seals which is a requirement here. Which is why I was chasing BCC calipers as they have stainless pistons and dust seal and should bolt straight on.

All the Wilwood calipers would need new caliper mounts which as I don't have machining capability adds to the expense

[stevieturbo]

auyt said:

The Exchange has improved in a week it was 52p but still only 53

Freight is cheaper from the US than the UK and I buy things through Summit. Freight from the UK is so slow at the moment as most comes via ship and takes about 8 weeks unless its from big companies like Burtons which is about 10 days

Funny I was Just looking at the ally piston calipers as they had dust seals which is a requirement here. Which is why I was chasing BCC calipers as they have stainless pistons and dust seal and should bolt straight on.

All the Wilwood calipers would need new caliper mounts which as I don't have machining capability adds to the expense

With a bit of planning it isn't difficult to make new brackets ( tends to be easier when going for larger discs though ) with basic hand tools...ie drill and a grinder.

What actual size of discs etc is it using ? solid/vented ? Also factor in a caliper where there are plenty of cheap pad options too.

[auyt]

Your comments echo my thinking as this isn't the first project car with a different brake setup I have done.

Having a Caliper in ally as a straight swap is my first preference as the BCC ones are, and they will have standard pads available in decent spec.

What in effect I am chasing is a brake setup for a Plus two Elan but with bigger pistons as the brakes are not vacuum assisted as the PLUS 2 and I have no intention of adding boosters.

[tr7v8]

I used to mechanic a Plus 2 in the late 70's I always thought the brakes were pretty good TBH but that maybe with the benefit of hindsight & also what was "good" in the day. I always found that the limiting factor was the tyres. Especially as standard Elans ran 155 x 13.
Aren't they Triumph Herald/Vitesse uprights? In which case I'd have thought that would be a valid route through one of the Triumph specialist.
Lots of modern callipers on cars are ali & useable on other things. Boxsters, Subaru etc.

[GreenV8S]

auyt said:

Your comments echo my thinking as this isn't the first project car with a different brake setup I have done.

Having a Caliper in ally as a straight swap is my first preference as the BCC ones are, and they will have standard pads available in decent spec.

What in effect I am chasing is a brake setup for a Plus two Elan but with bigger pistons as the brakes are not vacuum assisted as the PLUS 2 and I have no intention of adding boosters.

I'm confused. Are you looking for brakes for an Elan or a Rover? Is this just replacing worn parts or reengineering the brakes? What problem are you trying to solve?

[auyt]

Sorry for the confusion.
This is for a Ginetta G27,, has Triumph GT6 stub axles (Early with bolt on caliper mounts) Lotus Elan Plus 2 discs 245 mm Dia 12.7mm .5" thick and some cleaver person worked out Rover P6 3500 3 piston Girling calipers bolt straight on. These calipers are 5KG each so my intention was to improve the wheel control by reducing the unsprung weight

[auyt]

Up date on my eventual purchase. Going through my records I started this quest in May 2021 with HiSpec.

I finished up buying a set from from BCC as these a 4 spot direct replacement for the the GT6 units.

These finish up having a bigger piston area than the GT6 originals but not as big at the 3500P6, Jag and others that use the 3 spot lumps.

Also I could get the Mintex 114 pad material I wanted, the pistons also have wiper seals many other Manufactures don’t.

Finally and probably the best part was the customer service was brilliant, right down to better freight price and even finding out I could get the Mintex pads.