Rear brake upgrade
Discussion
The Chimaera can become very light at the rear, with little force on the rear tyres the ability of the rear discs to stall rotation shouldn't be overlooked. Standard brakes are 66% front 33% rear. Locking front wheels results in interesting handling, locking of rear wheels results in total loss and often roll over. Just google it.
My Chim has 4 pot AP's on the front and standard rears giving arround 80-20 split which I have found far more compliant. Early days with a standard Chim I found the car susceptible to rear lock up during hard braking on trackdays. Don't underestimate the penalty if rear lock up. It really will kill your car
My Chim has 4 pot AP's on the front and standard rears giving arround 80-20 split which I have found far more compliant. Early days with a standard Chim I found the car susceptible to rear lock up during hard braking on trackdays. Don't underestimate the penalty if rear lock up. It really will kill your car
Sound advice. The 887 upgrade it still only single pot so unless you have some monster brakes on the front then I would leave the rears on their original callipers. I have the Alcon 4 pot system on the front of mine, I am upgrading the rears but keeping the rear callipers standard, just a larger disc which will mainly aid cooling and to reduce unsprung weight being 2-part, importantly the braking effort will be largely the same as standard. The only reason I am upgrading is because I need new pads and discs I thought may as well go slightly larger discs.
Don't forget also if you do change the rear callipers then you need to think about what to do with the handbrake, most aftermarket kits do accommodate this.
Don't forget also if you do change the rear callipers then you need to think about what to do with the handbrake, most aftermarket kits do accommodate this.
I do many track days too, and have upgraded my front brakes to 324mm Focus RS with track pads and grooved disks.....
......but I too found that rear lock up was an issue, so have retained the original TVR 273mm rear caliper set up.
My only upgrade has been to change the disks to grooved Black Diamond disks, and have changed the pads to Ferodo DS2500.
Brake balance seems fine to me now.
......but I too found that rear lock up was an issue, so have retained the original TVR 273mm rear caliper set up.
My only upgrade has been to change the disks to grooved Black Diamond disks, and have changed the pads to Ferodo DS2500.
Brake balance seems fine to me now.
I wouldnt dream of uprating the rear brakes especially the 273mm vented rears on even a moderatly tracked car
if you remember that the rears dont do much more than around 25% of the stopping and the best performance IMO is achieved with the genuine Lucas/Motorcraft brake pads this also gives the best handbrake performance too
like mentioned premature lock up/bite of the rear brakes at speed is bloody dangerous and risky the rear brake lines are already fitted with pressure reducing/bias valves as it is to avoid this scenario, just to add I have never witnessed a set of over-heated/faded rear brakes on one of these cars even post track session its not hard to spot either
if you remember that the rears dont do much more than around 25% of the stopping and the best performance IMO is achieved with the genuine Lucas/Motorcraft brake pads this also gives the best handbrake performance too
like mentioned premature lock up/bite of the rear brakes at speed is bloody dangerous and risky the rear brake lines are already fitted with pressure reducing/bias valves as it is to avoid this scenario, just to add I have never witnessed a set of over-heated/faded rear brakes on one of these cars even post track session its not hard to spot either I had 253mm original rear discs and calipers. I had already fitted 300mm vented discs (Focus ST170 with Mondeo calipers) at the front which filled the 15" wheels so the rears looked a bit tiny as the wheels are 16".

I fitted single pot Mondeo calipers with 280mm soild discs which now look better.

I have done some serious 70mph to a standstill with no problems. This is a cheaper option compared to some of the more expensive branded name conversions. Ideal for Jocks living in Yorkshire...
I fitted single pot Mondeo calipers with 280mm soild discs which now look better.
I have done some serious 70mph to a standstill with no problems. This is a cheaper option compared to some of the more expensive branded name conversions. Ideal for Jocks living in Yorkshire...

Edited by N7GTX on Monday 19th December 13:16
I have done some serious 70mph to a standstill with no problems. This is a cheaper option compared to some of the more expensive branded name conversions. Ideal for Jocks living in Yorkshire...boxedin
Edited by N7GTX on Monday 19th December 13:16
bobfather said:
^^you appear to be missing a wheel nut^^
And afew teeth after that remark, not all Scots have deep pockets portzi said:
I have done some serious 70mph to a standstill with no problems. This is a cheaper option compared to some of the more expensive branded name conversions. Ideal for Jocks living in Yorkshire...boxedin
Edited by N7GTX on Monday 19th December 13:16
Calm down laddie. Born and raised in Aberdeenshire. Now living in Heckmondwike, West Yorks. We can laugh at ourselves. Edited by N7GTX on Monday 19th December 13:16
bobfather said:
^^you appear to be missing a wheel nut^^
And afew teeth after that remark, not all Scots have deep pockets 
But, no, the front teeth are missing. Head butted on two separate occasions. Nothing to do with cars I should add

Edited by N7GTX on Monday 19th December 13:37
N7GTX said:
portzi said:
I have done some serious 70mph to a standstill with no problems. This is a cheaper option compared to some of the more expensive branded name conversions. Ideal for Jocks living in Yorkshire...boxedin
Edited by N7GTX on Monday 19th December 13:16
Calm down laddie. Born and raised in Aberdeenshire. Now living in Heckmondwike, West Yorks. We can laugh at ourselves. Edited by N7GTX on Monday 19th December 13:16
bobfather said:
^^you appear to be missing a wheel nut^^
And afew teeth after that remark, not all Scots have deep pockets 
But, no, the front teeth are missing. Head butted on two separate occasions. Nothing to do with cars I should add

Edited by N7GTX on Monday 19th December 13:37

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