Brake upgrade for Griffith
Discussion
Your options are quite limited if you're intending on keeping the original Gotti wheels. From my understanding you can do the following:
- Later 500 upgrade 260mm
- Perhaps the 888 Sierra caliper with 278-283mm disc
- WMS (£550), Alcon (£1,100) and AP racing (£1,300+) do kits that will fit under the 15" wheel I believe.
- Hans on here does a kit too at a similar price point to the WMS I think
The 500 and 888 upgrade will make a marginal difference but they are a cumbersome/heavy/antiquated setup if you're using them for anything half serious. I would be tempted to go for a proper 4 pot brake setup, depending on budget.
If you're not using 15" wheels then the sky is the limit. An e38 Brembo upgrade looks inexpensive and quite effective but I personally intend on fitting larger wheels and using the AP 5200 caliper as originally found on the MK1 Cerbera.
Please don't quote me on the above figures as they're all the top of my head
- Later 500 upgrade 260mm
- Perhaps the 888 Sierra caliper with 278-283mm disc
- WMS (£550), Alcon (£1,100) and AP racing (£1,300+) do kits that will fit under the 15" wheel I believe.
- Hans on here does a kit too at a similar price point to the WMS I think
The 500 and 888 upgrade will make a marginal difference but they are a cumbersome/heavy/antiquated setup if you're using them for anything half serious. I would be tempted to go for a proper 4 pot brake setup, depending on budget.
If you're not using 15" wheels then the sky is the limit. An e38 Brembo upgrade looks inexpensive and quite effective but I personally intend on fitting larger wheels and using the AP 5200 caliper as originally found on the MK1 Cerbera.
Please don't quote me on the above figures as they're all the top of my head
I don't think the 240mm brake setup is ever going to give the stopping power required. My pre-cat almost seemed to coast when applying the brakes and the fade was also terrible.
I'm taking the opportunity to do a brake conversion while the car is in for full restoration. I'd like to fit the 5200 AP caliper as my friend's pre-cat stops almost instantly when required, but it is also very progressive. I need to source a spacer kit, does anyone know who produces them? Perhaps ask Hans or a local engineering firm to fabricate a kit?
I'm taking the opportunity to do a brake conversion while the car is in for full restoration. I'd like to fit the 5200 AP caliper as my friend's pre-cat stops almost instantly when required, but it is also very progressive. I need to source a spacer kit, does anyone know who produces them? Perhaps ask Hans or a local engineering firm to fabricate a kit?
E38 Brembo and Focus 324mm discs. Awesome if you can fit at least a 16 rim.
I'm on 17 fronts and the brakes are arguably the best part of the car.
I had all the above mentioned problems re fading, not really ever biting hard and needing 200 ft lb pressure to stop from speed. Total difference with these progressive perfect brakes.
Excellent value and world class.
And just had to throw in ' and with those tyre's in this weather,,, chucks you over the handle bars' kinda thing, stop on a sixpence from almost any speed, match the cars acceleration potential, makes for a very fast( if you desire) but really safe car. Brilliant
I'm on 17 fronts and the brakes are arguably the best part of the car.
I had all the above mentioned problems re fading, not really ever biting hard and needing 200 ft lb pressure to stop from speed. Total difference with these progressive perfect brakes.
Excellent value and world class.
And just had to throw in ' and with those tyre's in this weather,,, chucks you over the handle bars' kinda thing, stop on a sixpence from almost any speed, match the cars acceleration potential, makes for a very fast( if you desire) but really safe car. Brilliant
Edited by Classic Chim on Thursday 6th July 23:14
simply red said:
I have a 1992 Griffith, standard brakes, thinking of upgrading the fronts, as just back from holiday in Europe and driving over St Bernards Pass, the brakes were simply not up to it. Any thoughts or suggestions?
Are you keeping original 15" front wheels and what sort of budget do you have? What's the condition of the braking system?
How old is the fluid?
How is the servo and master cylinder?
If all is well mechanically. Simple 'bolt on' upgrade would be braided hoses, upgraded pads and grooved discs. Flush out the system / renew fluid with a quality fluid. I use DOT 5.1 but there are quality DOT 4 fluids.
If you want to upgrade, again simple bolt on.
The 887/888 callipers - or those off the 2.0 Fiesta ST cheaper and more plentiful supply - bolt on and if you use 283mm Cossie discs then no spacers are required - although some washers maybe required. Get the discs turned down to 278mm (by a machine shop). Again, upgraded pads are readily available and I'd suggest braided hoses.
There are loads of threads on this upgrade across the TVR forums. There is a sticky at the top of the S Forum on it. £400 should be enough to get it all done.
This set up will fit behind a 15-inch wheel. I've not had issues using it on trackdays with standard pads and drum brake rears!
4-pot upgrades will need some more coin. Although there are bolt on kits available.
How old is the fluid?
How is the servo and master cylinder?
If all is well mechanically. Simple 'bolt on' upgrade would be braided hoses, upgraded pads and grooved discs. Flush out the system / renew fluid with a quality fluid. I use DOT 5.1 but there are quality DOT 4 fluids.
If you want to upgrade, again simple bolt on.
The 887/888 callipers - or those off the 2.0 Fiesta ST cheaper and more plentiful supply - bolt on and if you use 283mm Cossie discs then no spacers are required - although some washers maybe required. Get the discs turned down to 278mm (by a machine shop). Again, upgraded pads are readily available and I'd suggest braided hoses.
There are loads of threads on this upgrade across the TVR forums. There is a sticky at the top of the S Forum on it. £400 should be enough to get it all done.
This set up will fit behind a 15-inch wheel. I've not had issues using it on trackdays with standard pads and drum brake rears!
4-pot upgrades will need some more coin. Although there are bolt on kits available.
^ as above for a simple and cost effective upgrade.
Below are screen shots showing slight variations of discs from suitable Ford cars with the corresponding calipers from the same model.
Sierra cosworth calipers are getting a bit thin on the ground as now are early mondeo v6.
Fiesta st150 are the way forward and they do work surprisingly well for a simple upgrade.
Below are screen shots showing slight variations of discs from suitable Ford cars with the corresponding calipers from the same model.
Sierra cosworth calipers are getting a bit thin on the ground as now are early mondeo v6.
Fiesta st150 are the way forward and they do work surprisingly well for a simple upgrade.
I have a set of AP calipers radial mount I paid £350 for them with brand new red stuff pads. I would be happy to post them for that price.
I believe they are designed to take up to 300mm discs.
Sorry for the poor quality. They are in good order just need a clean (the second image, that brown is some copper slip
)
I believe they are designed to take up to 300mm discs.
Sorry for the poor quality. They are in good order just need a clean (the second image, that brown is some copper slip
)My series of brake changes in the last 15 years of precat ownership-
5LT brakes fitted within 1 week of ownership as the std 240mm set up was not up to the job IMHO (smoking pads). Drilled discs from EBC.
Mintex 1144 pads fitted as I was doing the occasional track day. Warped the discs, went back to std discs- more reliable.
HiSpec 4 pots fitted with 283mm discs & DS2500 pads F&R as I was doing the TVRCC Speed championships. Won the V8+S6 class 14 & 15.
5LT brakes fitted within 1 week of ownership as the std 240mm set up was not up to the job IMHO (smoking pads). Drilled discs from EBC.
Mintex 1144 pads fitted as I was doing the occasional track day. Warped the discs, went back to std discs- more reliable.
HiSpec 4 pots fitted with 283mm discs & DS2500 pads F&R as I was doing the TVRCC Speed championships. Won the V8+S6 class 14 & 15.
ChrisRoe89 said:
I'd like to fit the 5200 AP caliper as my friend's pre-cat stops almost instantly when required, but it is also very progressive. I need to source a spacer kit, a local engineering firm to fabricate a kit?
I have CP5200 fitted to my Tuscan Challenge car 400bhp blooming awesome stopping power, I use Padgid RS16 padsGassing Station | Griffith | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff