V8S brake discs

[pstruck]

It'll soon be time for me to replace the discs all round on my '92 V8S.

I know they are Sierra based , but looking around at some suppliers there seem to be different ones for XR4, XR4x4, Cosworth... etc.

Has anyone recently done this job and have any suggestions as to which I should be going for (part no.s)?

While I'm at it who has any thoughts on possible upgrading to drilled/grooved types, costs, benefits, suggested types?
Suppose some decent pads should go in at this stage also.

Pete

[V8Smith]

I have the larger Granada Discs, drilled and grooved Black Diamond (I am told) and my car stops very well. They were fitted by the previous owner so dont know any more but according to MrSheen, mine stops very well compared to most S Series cars.

Mike

[z_chromozone]

I have the details of the standard disks at home if you need them. As for upgrades, I would be very interested to hear of how you get on. I imagine any 4 stud Cossey brake disks from the same era would fit. I have a spec sheet of both the back and front disks, that may help if you call in at a fast-ford type motorfactors for comparison. But, as the outside diameter must be fixed and they are vented anyway will there really be much differece. Interestingly the disks are also used on an AC Cobra from about the same date, so they can't be that bad.

However, if you are moving to larger disks then you will need some kind of caliper spacer, or different calipers.

As for pads I have had good experience of Pagid fast road and Mintex pads. I have had a very bad experience with Kevlar pads (melted to disk, very messy ), I think they were green dot?????????

Grooved disks really help the stopping power, but ware out the pads real fast. They make a great noise too. Crossdrilled I found to be the best for me, they lasted quite a long time too.

Z

[z_chromozone]

www.webparts.co.uk/National/Appguide/NATI0005/BFORDSIE.HTM

Here is the National Parts list with all of the different Ford rotors on. The standard V8S has 240 mm rotors NBD002 up front and NBD 202 at the rear (bigger at 253 mm, but not vented).

There are larger disks listed for Chimera and Griff NBD 052, these are 260 mm, but I don't know if they will fit the V8S calipers.

Cossey disks are 278 mm at the front and are not likely to fit.

Hope that help some of you,

Z

[V8Smith]

z_chromozone said:

I have the details of the standard disks at home if you need them. As for upgrades, I would be very interested to hear of how you get on. I imagine any 4 stud Cossey brake disks from the same era would fit. I have a spec sheet of both the back and front disks, that may help if you call in at a fast-ford type motorfactors for comparison. But, as the outside diameter must be fixed and they are vented anyway will there really be much differece. Interestingly the disks are also used on an AC Cobra from about the same date, so they can't be that bad. However, if you are moving to larger disks then you will need some kind of caliper spacer, or different calipers. As for pads I have had good experience of Pagid fast road and Mintex pads. I have had a very bad experience with Kevlar pads (melted to disk, very messy ), I think they were green dot????????? Grooved disks really help the stopping power, but ware out the pads real fast. They make a great noise too. Crossdrilled I found to be the best for me, they lasted quite a long time too. Z

You can fit larger calipers to the S no problem, mine are the larger Granada calipers (300mm I think) and with the Black Diamond grooved and cross drilled Discs my car stops very well!

Mike

[pstruck]

Reading the 'bible' it states that bigger discs can be fitted using the same calipers, with an adapter bracket. Size is limited by the wheel size I gather. Tower View do a few different level upgrades, the lowest being drilled/grooved discs using existing calipers.

I'm not desperate to improve the braking on the car as I have not really noticed any problems, but wondered if it was worthwhile at this stage as I hope to get to a few trackdays in the future.

[GarryM]

Sorry - a Griff owner sticking his oar in...

Pete, how did you find the brakes on your 1st Lotus day? If they were fine and you like the feel through the pedal, I wouldn't advise changing the basic configuration.

If the discs are worn out try drilled and grooved with decent fast road pads. I've just renewed my discs and pads all round and am trying Ferodo pads this time. Only driven that once (following you the other day!) but initial impression is that they are a big improvement on Greenstuff pads.

[pstruck]

Hi Garry,

The stopping power of the brakes on the V8S seems ok. Pedal feel can be a little spongy and this did show a little on the airfield when things warmed up a bit.

Discs are low and need replacing soon, so was thinking of trying drilled/grooved replacements at least. Don't think I need to go as far as caliper replacement yet. Will experiment with some fast road pads also.

Pete

[GarryM]

Hi Pete
While you're at it, put Dot5.1 fluid in and replace the hoses with braided ones. That should help to eliminate the spongey pedal.

[V8Smith]

pstruck said:

Hi Garry, The stopping power of the brakes on the V8S seems ok. Pedal feel can be a little spongy and this did show a little on the airfield when things warmed up a bit. Discs are low and need replacing soon, so was thinking of trying drilled/grooved replacements at least. Don't think I need to go as far as caliper replacement yet. Will experiment with some fast road pads also. Pete

Pete shame you didnt say when we were at the driver training day, you could have had a drive of mine to see the improvement if any!! If you havent got this sorted by Aug 15th, you are welcome to give mine a quick test!

Mike

[keirangrogan]

I recently replaced my front disks (S2), I thought of uprateing them but instead decided that as they were 14 years old, I would just replace the whole lot Disks Calipers etc with reconditioned ones direct from Ford for around £100.

The stopping power is now excellent and exactly as TVR intended it to be in 1990.

However if I had some larger disks to chop in such as RS turbo or Cosworth, I suppose I may have done so as the most expensive bit seems to be the exchange.

[z_chromozone]

GarryM said:

Sorry - a Griff owner sticking his oar in... Pete, how did you find the brakes on your 1st Lotus day? If they were fine and you like the feel through the pedal, I wouldn't advise changing the basic configuration. If the discs are worn out try drilled and grooved with decent fast road pads. I've just renewed my discs and pads all round and am trying Ferodo pads this time. Only driven that once (following you the other day!) but initial impression is that they are a big improvement on Greenstuff pads.

Ah yes Greenstuff, they were the ones I melted in my golf. I had to replace my disks and pads, I was not even on a track day.

Z