350i Front Brakes

[mrzigazaga]

gmw9666 said:

Knew I had an old price list somewhere

225 bhp = £1200 option

Well I must say that if its still pushing 225 after 30 years then thats incredible...but what did they do?...

[John042]

Thanks Glen, Steve & Mark. Wonder how they managed to find the extra horses? Still trying to identify the calipers and therefore the fitting kit. Fitted some L/R ones, extra long split pins but the springs are still really too small and could slide, with use, on the locating pins thereby rubbing on the disc. Seems OK at the moment but would prefer the right springs.

[John042]

Hi again , festive greetings. This is the front caliper pad spring I'm trying to identify. As you can see really beyond useful life. It measures 2.5" (6mm) long, 1.25" (3mm) wide. So far various ideas Austin Princess/L/R have proved unsuccessful. Any ideas please?

[gmw9666]

So you are after princess vented Caliper springs right

Bigg Red know all there is to know about calipers:-)

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Austin-Princess-Front-B...

[John042]

Many thanks Glen, ordered. I reckon the ones I previosly bought were for non vented discs. I've used Big Red before and found them great with odd fittments. Cheers J C.

[SEvans]

Just be aware that there are different vented setups. The setup you have uses an AP special rotor which I think is specific to this setup. Some have fitted Princess calipers but used a Granada vented disk. This disk is not as thick as the AP one. You will probably find you have 2 spacers in the caliper. Not sure which setup the kit below is for.
Cheers Steve

[John042]

Thanks Steve, bu**er I'll be collecting fitting kits! Hopefully what turns up fits. Still they'd look OK on the Christmas tree? J C.

[John042]

Hi just an update to the saga of obtaining a fitting kit for my front vented discs/calipers. After two attempt Big Red came up with the correct fitting. Apparently brought in for a customer who refurbs' MGRV8's. It appears my calipers have a 7mm distance piece to fit over the vented discs. What they are?? Fitted when the car was built in 1988. So thanks for the post recommending "Big Red" who took the time to search his stock to identify the items.

[gmw9666]

Good result :-)

[SEvans]

John, pleased you got it sorted. Do Big Red stock the item and do you have any part numbers etc for future reference? Cheers Steve

[John042]

Hi Steve. Unfortunately the packet only has a Big Red part number. I asked if they could provide the fittment details but they said they'd been bought in for a customer. I'm going to contact Big Red tomorrow to see if I can get further details. J C

[John042]

Hi again Steve. Big Red bought the vented disc pad kits in from another supplier so can't verify the original fitting. However their part number is BRH2741 and they have stock. J C.

[SEvans]

John, that's great thanks for the info. I think I may order one to have in. Cheers Steve

[John042]

Glad the info helped. Incidentally Tony at "Big Red" did inform me that the person who ordered them for a MGRV8 had to grind a bit off to fit into his caliper but on mine, no problem. Which raises the question of what did TVR fit whilst building my car? The calipers, 4 x pot Austin Princess, discs who knows? TVR's don't you love them? Cheers John C.

[mrzigazaga]

Hi John


I should imagine your 350i had the original single pot and solid front discs...I have a spacer in my originals to house a vented disc, I had AP on the 280i and there is not much difference between the two...providing you dont drive like a lead foot numbskull all the time or track it...




Mr Cake doing a good job as always...

[John042]

Hi Mark, Happy New Wedge/Year. I have the original bill of sale for my 1988 350i. On it was extras, ie Alarm, Up Rated Engine and brakes. Therefore fitted on build? The calipers are definitely 4 x pot and the discs vented. That's where the fun started in myself jumping to the wrong conclusion that it was all Austin Princess parts. The caliper has a 7mm distance piece fitted obviously to fit over the discs. That's when Big Red got involved eventually sourcing a fitting kit. One post did mention Ford Granada Estate? J C.

[mrzigazaga]

Ah...if thats the case then they are probably AP racing and not Austin Princess....as fitted to the 400SE etc...The vented disc is from a mk2 Granada estate 2.8i rear...NOT front disc's...

I wonder if your half shafts are also bigger?

[John042]

Thanks Mark, that makes some sense in that it was a factory fit not a previous owners upgrade. Don't know about the drive shafts but I've replaced the rear discs/calipers with XJ6/XJS items from British Car Parts. What a pain of a job. Not sure about the drive shafts Mark, at least these have grease nipples all except for one UJ. Unlike my 280i. With the correct front caliper fitting kit there's a light at the end of the tunnel.

[mk2 24v]

mrzigazaga said:

Ah...if thats the case then they are probably AP racing and not Austin Princess....as fitted to the 400SE etc...The vented disc is from a mk2 Granada estate 2.8i rear...NOT front disc's...

I wonder if your half shafts are also bigger?

Hate to disappoint (and upset) but mk2 Granada never had discs fitted to the rear, let alone vented.
The 2.8 cars had vented front discs though, but only about 247mm diameter

[KKson]

mk2 24v said:

Hate to disappoint (and upset) but mk2 Granada never had discs fitted to the rear, let alone vented.
The 2.8 cars had vented front discs though, but only about 247mm diameter

I was thinking that myself. I fitted new discs to my 390 the other year and the front vented Granada discs I ordered fit perfectly.