Sorry- brake upgrade question again!

[s3dave]

I am sorry to bring this up again. I know there is a number of old past threads, but I am still confused, as there has been a lot of contradictory statements in the past. I also note the front disc upgrade Wiki, but again it fails to spell out all the issues with an upgrade.

My chassis is away being refurbished. When it returns I intend to upgrade the brakes front and rear. I don’t want any clever comments about “they are good enough”, or “just slow down!” So please accept, I am doing it – I just want some help.

I want a simple conversion with no fabrication or machining. For the front it would appear I need 887/888 ford calipers and 278mm discs. Where do I get these? Is it just Sierra or Granada 4x4? If so, is it the ABS version or the non ABS version, or does it not matter? For the rear is it again just the Sierra 4x4 or any Sierra with rear disc, hanger, hub etc?

With the age of the Sierra there is very little being advertised on ebay, are there any alternative newer cars that can easily be adapted. I would prefer to keep to 4 studs as I would like to keep the standard wheels.

Also anyone know if Hans Daalhuizen is still doing kits?

Thanks in advance

[phillpot]

s3dave said:

Also anyone know if Hans Daalhuizen is still doing kits?

Ask him?

[s3dave]

I apologise for my ignorance, and I am probably not as clever as you, but how? I can’t find his address to PM him.

[GreenV8S]

Click on the link Phillpot posted to see Hans' user profile, and click on the 'Email me' link you see there.

[s3dave]

Thank you, did not realise it was a hyperlink. Thanks again

[v8s4me]

s3dave said:

...I want a simple conversion with no fabrication or machining. For the front it would appear I need 887/888 ford calipers and 278mm discs...........

You can't fit the 887/888 calipers and 278mm discs without either machining down 285 discs or using spacers between the caliper and the upright to take the slightly smaller discs.

For a simple bolt on fitting use the 260mm disc and suitable caliper (XR4i I think from memory). No machining and no spacers. Simple!

s3dave said:

..Also anyone know if Hans Daalhuizen is still doing kits? ........

Great guy, good kits but supply your own wheel bearings!

[v8s4me]

s3dave said:

...I want a simple conversion with no fabrication or machining. For the front it would appear I need 887/888 ford calipers and 278mm discs...........

You can't fit the 887/888 calipers and 278mm discs without either machining down 285 discs or using spacers between the caliper and the upright to take the slightly smaller discs.

For a simple bolt on fitting use the 260mm disc and suitable caliper (XR4i I think from memory). No machining and no spacers. Simple!

s3dave said:

..Also anyone know if Hans Daalhuizen is still doing kits? ........

Great guy, good kits but supply your own wheel bearings!

[Stwdv]

Simple or cheap?
This will cost you about a grand.

[Bert68]

Hi, in response to Phillpot's question about Hans. I purchased a complete brake upgrade kit from Hans last month. Total cost was £600. The kit has everything needed for both front and rear, that's discs, calipers, pads rear drive shafts, rear hubs and bearings etc. I will get all the parts out and take a picture and upload. Hans was actually able to deliver as he was taking an engine to Coventry then onto bath. Really nice man to talk to even at 3 am when he arrived at mine. Certainly knows his stuff, I would get in touch with him as he did say parts are getting more scarce. I have his email if you need. I had not intended doing the rear brakes but when I saw his and for the kit I went for it.
On another note I will say I purchased my S2 a while back and have slowly started work on the old girl but have not had as much time as I would like but will get there in the end

[s3dave]

Bert68 said:

Hi, in response to Phillpot's question about Hans. I purchased a complete brake upgrade kit from Hans last month. Total cost was £600. The kit has everything needed for both front and rear, that's discs, calipers, pads rear drive shafts, rear hubs and bearings etc. I will get all the parts out and take a picture and upload.

Bert, thanks. Hans is running out of parts, but promised to check this weekend and get back to me. Certainly sounds a good conversion. It would be great to see pictures of yours

[Bert68]

Hi Dave
Here is the package I bought from Hans. The front calipers are brand new old stock the rear calipers just need cleaning and probably new seals. The rear hub bearing carriers which I have painted ( not sure of colour yet ) I have seen new milled aluminium ones on the net on a site which makes kit racing karts and uses the Sierra parts. Decided to buy this pack as I thought they would start to get hard to find. Hans is a good man and will help if he can. Rob

[v8s4me]

Bert68 said:

.....Here is the package I bought from Hans.

Those are the same bearings he supplied me with. Hope they last longer than mine.

[AutoAndy]

v8s4me said:

s3dave said:

...I want a simple conversion with no fabrication or machining. For the front it would appear I need 887/888 ford calipers and 278mm discs...........

You can't fit the 887/888 calipers and 278mm discs without either machining down 285 discs or using spacers between the caliper and the upright to take the slightly smaller discs.

For a simple bolt on fitting use the 260mm disc and suitable caliper (XR4i I think from memory). No machining and no spacers. Simple!

s3dave said:

..Also anyone know if Hans Daalhuizen is still doing kits? ........

Great guy, good kits but supply your own wheel bearings!

Ref the cheap options and Joe's comment on 260mm discs for front wheels (not the back as these are drums on our cars)....these are also off of Griffs and Chims who sell them on when they are upgrading their brakes....should be less than £100. Refurbishing the calipers is relatively cheap (and easy if you do yourself with a Big Red Brake kit), plus you get the correct carriers so it is a simple bolt-on mod....

They may not seem too much bigger but are in the flesh, but the surface are is a square of the increase so much better at dispersing heat....haven't done the rears yet, but the fronts are better....two track days down and no brake fade issues (plus used red stuff pads and dot 5.1 brake fluid)...

[themee]

I found a noticeable difference with the cheap and simple 260 upgrade but I also upgraded hoses pads/discs and fluid at the same time. I think each of these made a smidge of difference adding up to a noticeable one

[Maffe]

Did the easy upgrade on my s3c, 260mm discs and Callipers from a Chim. Also changed to braided hoses front and rear. Did not change the drums to discs due to time was an issue and did not have all the parts needed.
Now I don’t feel the need to convert the drum to discs any longer.